Jan. 13, 2011 - GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 5 at San Antonio Rampage 2

SAN ANTONIO – The Grand Rapids Griffins wrangled the San Antonio Rampage 5-2, Thursday night at the AT&T Center in their 41st game of the season.

Completing the first of a four-game Texas swing against the Rampage (25-15-1-0), the Griffins (18-18-1-4) brought an end to a season-high losing streak of five road games. Grand Rapids will travel to Houston to take on the Aeros at the Toyota Center Saturday at 8 p.m. EST and Sunday at 5 p.m. EST, before heading to Austin on Tuesday.

Striking first for the Griffins, Adam Keefe tallied a long shot from the left point just six minutes into the first period with an assist from Derek Meech. Following at 18:00 with a power play goal off a centering pass from Cory Emmerton, Chris Minard gave Grand Rapids a 2-0 lead heading into the second.

On a roll, the Griffins scored a second power play goal at 4:32 of the period off the stick of Tomas Tatar. Jamie Bates returned fire for the Rampage, slipping one past Jordan Pearce at 14:44. Grand Rapids quickly came alive with a shorthanded goal, Keefe’s second of the night at 17:39 of the middle frame.

Maxim Goncharov found the net for San Antonio, notching a power play goal at 12:02 of the third period. Less than 30 seconds later with an assist from Jordan Owens, Francis Pare knocked one in off the right goal post at 12:41.

Grand Rapids wrapped up the game with a 5-2 win over San Antonio. Pearce contributed 42 saves for the Griffins, while Matt Clime recorded 20 saves for the Rampage.

Three Stars: 1. GR Keefe (2 goals); 2. GR Pearce (42 saves); 3. SA Bates (1 goal)