IF IN THE FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED...
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A comeback attempt from an early 3-0 deficit fell a goal short for the Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday, as they lost 3-2 to the San Antonio Rampage at Van Andel Arena.
Jan Mursak extended his goal streak to a career-high four games midway through the second period to pull the Griffins within one, but they could not net the equalizer against Josh Tordjman over the final 28:48 and suffered their sixth consecutive loss on home ice.
Grand Rapids (19-18-0-1) will try to earn just its third win in a 12-game span on Friday, when the Griffins visit the Rochester Americans at 7:05 p.m.
The Rampage jumped on the Griffins only 1:07 into the contest on Gavin Morgan’s second goal of the season, before Sean Sullivan followed up at 6:08 to make it a 2-0 game. When Ryan Hollweg scored during a power play at 16:06, it sent Daniel Larsson to the bench in favor of Jordan Pearce, marking the sixth time in the last eight games that the Griffins pulled their starting netminder.
With still 1:03 remaining in the opening period, Logan Pyett began the rally by solving Tordjman from the top of the right circle.
Grand Rapids, which has distinguished itself this season as one of the AHL’s top come-from-behind teams, made it a 3-2 contest at 11:12 of the second period when Mursak scored on a rebound from the slot. His four-game goal streak matches Tomas Tatar’s earlier run for the longest by a Griffin this season.
Despite holding a 21-13 advantage in shots over the final two periods, the Griffins were unable to prevent the Rampage (16-15-3-2) from improving to 5-0-0-1 in their last six outings.
Tordjman earned the win and third-star honors with 27 saves. Larsson was saddled with the loss after making nine stops, while Pearce turned aside all 13 shots he faced in relief.
Three Stars: 1. SA Hollweg (power play goal); 2. GR Mursak (goal); 3. SA Tordjman (W, 27 saves)
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