Oct. 23, 2010 - GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 4 at Rochester Americans 1

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Griffins overwhelmed the Americans Saturday night at the Blue Cross Arena, tallying Grand Rapids’ largest goal margin of the season with a 4-1 win over Rochester.

The Griffins (3-2-0-1) will travel to Toronto Sunday to take on the Toronto Marlies at 5 p.m., wrapping up a three-in-three stretch before heading home for a four-game homestand.

Grand Rapids landed on the board a little less than halfway through the first period when Jordan Owens scored a goal at 9:55. Willie Coetzee launched a shot from the right boards that caught the heel of Owens’ stick, giving Grand Rapids a 1-0 advantage heading into the second period.

Thomas McCollum preserved the Griffins' lead with a quick save with less than three minutes to go in the period, denying Michael Duco.

Rochester (3-4-0-0) fought back in the second period, as Kenndal McArdle slipped the puck through the legs of McCollum at 11:23, tallying an unassisted goal to even the score 1-1. Grand Rapids responded with a power play goal at 16:42 to regain the lead, as Cory Emmerton snapped a shot from the right circle to claim his team-leading third goal of the season.

Derek Meech widened the spread for the Griffins to 3-1, burying a power play goal into an empty net as Americans goaltender Jacob Markstrom scrambled at 9:35 of the third period. Emmerton handed a pass off to Francis Pare, who fed the puck to Meech when it came free in the slot.

Grand Rapids found an empty net with only 53 seconds remaining in the game, when Pare notched a goal off assists from Jamie Johnson and Chris Minard to secure the 4-1 win. Markstrom finished the game with 22 saves while McCollum earned the road win with 26 stops.

Three Stars: 1. GR McCollum (W, 26 saves); 2. GR Emmerton (goal, assist); 3. GR Meech (goal, assist)