San Antonio Rampage 4 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 0

Oct. 17, 2015

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A Grand Rapids Griffins squad that led the AHL in goals scored during 2014-15 has struggled to find the back of the net to start this new season. The latest evidence came on Saturday, when the San Antonio Rampage rode an early three-goal outburst to a 4-0 victory at Van Andel Arena, dropping the Griffins to 0-4 on the season.

The Griffins, who return 19 skaters from the roster that averaged 3.28 goals per game last season, have totaled only four goals on 141 shots over their first four games. Calvin Pickard made 35 saves tonight to hand Grand Rapids its second shutout loss of the year and continue the frustration of the Griffins’ forwards, whose only two goals this season came in last Saturday’s 4-2 loss at San Diego.

If history is any indication, the Griffins’ slow start need not have a bearing on their ultimate success in 2015-16. Last season, Grand Rapids started 0-4-1-0 at home but eventually won a Midwest Division title, while the Griffins began Jeff Blashill’s first campaign in 2012-13 with a 1-3-1-1 mark en route to winning the Calder Cup at season’s end.

Grand Rapids will continue its four-game home stand on Wednesday when the Charlotte Checkers pay a 7 p.m. visit to Van Andel Arena.

Three goals by San Antonio (2-0-1-0) in the game’s first 7:04 spelled an early end to Tom McCollum’s night between the pipes. Dennis Everberg punched home a rebound from the bottom of the right circle during a power play at 5:18, before Zach Redmond’s shot from the high slot solved McCollum just 57 seconds later.

Andrew Agozzino then chipped a backhand into the net for his third goal in two nights against the Griffins, ushering Jared Coreau into the game for his first Van Andel Arena appearance of the season.

Coreau turned aside all 22 shots he faced over the final 50-plus minutes, but Pickard prevented any chance at a Grand Rapids comeback by making double-digit saves in each period and backstopping a San Antonio penalty kill that denied the Griffins’ four power play chances.

Everberg added his second goal of the night into an empty net with 60 seconds remaining in the third to account for the final margin.

Three Stars: 1. SA Pickard (W, SO, 35 saves); 2. SA Agozzino (goal, two assists); 3. GR Coreau (ND, 22 saves)

San Antonio Rampage 4 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 0

Oct. 17, 2015

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A Grand Rapids Griffins squad that led the AHL in goals scored during 2014-15 has struggled to find the back of the net to start this new season. The latest evidence came on Saturday, when the San Antonio Rampage rode an early three-goal outburst to a 4-0 victory at Van Andel Arena, dropping the Griffins to 0-4 on the season.

The Griffins, who return 19 skaters from the roster that averaged 3.28 goals per game last season, have totaled only four goals on 141 shots over their first four games. Calvin Pickard made 35 saves tonight to hand Grand Rapids its second shutout loss of the year and continue the frustration of the Griffins’ forwards, whose only two goals this season came in last Saturday’s 4-2 loss at San Diego.

If history is any indication, the Griffins’ slow start need not have a bearing on their ultimate success in 2015-16. Last season, Grand Rapids started 0-4-1-0 at home but eventually won a Midwest Division title, while the Griffins began Jeff Blashill’s first campaign in 2012-13 with a 1-3-1-1 mark en route to winning the Calder Cup at season’s end.

Grand Rapids will continue its four-game home stand on Wednesday when the Charlotte Checkers pay a 7 p.m. visit to Van Andel Arena.

Three goals by San Antonio (2-0-1-0) in the game’s first 7:04 spelled an early end to Tom McCollum’s night between the pipes. Dennis Everberg punched home a rebound from the bottom of the right circle during a power play at 5:18, before Zach Redmond’s shot from the high slot solved McCollum just 57 seconds later.

Andrew Agozzino then chipped a backhand into the net for his third goal in two nights against the Griffins, ushering Jared Coreau into the game for his first Van Andel Arena appearance of the season.

Coreau turned aside all 22 shots he faced over the final 50-plus minutes, but Pickard prevented any chance at a Grand Rapids comeback by making double-digit saves in each period and backstopping a San Antonio penalty kill that denied the Griffins’ four power play chances.

Everberg added his second goal of the night into an empty net with 60 seconds remaining in the third to account for the final margin.

Three Stars: 1. SA Pickard (W, SO, 35 saves); 2. SA Agozzino (goal, two assists); 3. GR Coreau (ND, 22 saves)