GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 5 at San Antonio Rampage 6 OT

Jan. 26, 2014

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Despite leading by three goals to start the third period, the Grand Rapids Griffins eventually fell in overtime, 6-5, to the San Antonio Rampage on Sunday at the AT&T Center to round out their three-in-three.

Teemu Pulkkinen put away two goals for the Griffins, and Adam Almquist had assists on three goals. Jared Coreau turned away 27 of 33 shots.

At 7:08 of the first period, Quinton Howden sent a pass to Jed Ortmeyer, who was alone in the slot and scored on a point-blank shot into the upper right corner.

Joey Crabb was sent off for boarding against Mitch Callahan at 11:19, and about a minute and a half later at 12:49, Landon Ferraro scored a power play marker. He dove at a rebound from Almquist’s shot from the blue line and swatted the puck into the lower right corner. Ferraro’s goal was his third in two games.

But Ortmeyer struck again 24 seconds later with his second goal of the night and the Rampage quickly took the lead back. Ryan Whitney made a long shot from the left point, and Ortmeyer got his stick on a rebound that popped out from underneath Coreau.

For the second straight game, the Griffins found four unanswered goals in the second period.

Travis Novak scored his first in a Griffins sweater 2:31 into the frame. Almquist sent a shot from the point, and the puck bounced around Jacob Markstrom before Novak managed to pop it into the net.

Almquist gathered another helper at 7:17. The Griffins were awarded a power play after a cross-checking call on John Lee, and Pulkkinen slammed a rocket into the top shelf from the left point.

About a minute later at 8:23, Ryan Sproul extended the lead to 4-2. Novak forced a turnover in the corner and Trevor Parkes sent it back to Xavier Ouellet at the top of the left circle. Ouellet passed to Sproul at the opposite point, and he controlled the puck with his skate before winding up and scoring.

Pulkkinen netted his second goal at 16:05. He rushed down the ice on a breakout play before shooting from up close and putting away his own rebound.

Despite the Griffins’ three-goal lead at the beginning of the third period, the Rampage quickly tightened the gap and eventually forced overtime.

Just 1:54 into the third period, Crabb slid from the high slot to just inside the left circle and sent a low slapshot past Coreau. At 4:18, San Antonio was playing with a man-advantage as Ouellet sat in the box for hooking. Doug Janik faked a shot at the blue line and passed to Bobby Butler, whose shot hit off Coreau before deflecting in.

John McFarland completed the Rampage comeback with 1:28 remaining. As Jordin Tootoo rushed out of the box following his tripping penalty, McFarland sent a one-timer sailing from the top of the left circle into the Griffins’ net.

With 16 seconds remaining in the overtime period, McFarland closed the deal. He rushed down the ice, shot from the middle of the Griffins’ zone and scored on his own rebound.

Markstrom finished the game with 35 saves.

The Griffins return to action against the Chicago Wolves at 7 p.m. Friday at Van Andel Arena.

Three Stars: 1. SA McFarland (game-winning goal, two goals); 2. SA Ortmeyer (two goals); 3. SA Howden (two assists)