Detroit Red Wings Clips

February 14, 2015

Detroit Red Wings PAGE 2 Chicago columnist: Hossa still special on, off the ice PAGE 4 Jets game can't come soon enough for Howard, Red Wings PAGE 5 Wings content to carry 3 goalies in Howard’s return PAGE 6 Howard and Red Wings excited he's back in net PAGE 8 Red Wings' Jimmy Howard anxious for first start in five weeks, looking to

regain first-half form quickly PAGE 10 Wings like having a healthy Howard back from stretch run PAGE 12 Former Red Wing Brent Peterson to drop first puck at Griffins' Purple

Community Game; here's why PAGE 14 Duff: Howard ready to go for Wings PAGE 16 Rampage 5, Griffins 4 (OT): Rally in third period spoiled in overtime; Mitch

Callahan hurt PAGE 19 High-scoring forward Mitch Callahan helped off the ice, return to Griffins

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Chicago columnist: Hossa still special on, off the ice

By David Haugh, Chicago Tribune (TNS) 3:17 p.m. EST February 13, 2015

Whenever Blackhawks fan Kim MacNeill watches forward Marian Hossa glide down the ice as one of the NHL's top two-way players, she recalls the day he drove into her family's driveway.

It was two days before Christmas 2012 and, in one of those stories guys like Hossa, the former Red Wing, prefer to keep quiet, he stopped by the MacNeills' house in the western Chicago suburbs to see 10-year-old Ross, who was fighting a brain tumor. Hossa was the star who made Ross and his older sister, Rachel, feel like one.

"It's one of those things when your little boy is standing in the window, waiting for that car to pull in, you're ready for a 20-minute visit," Kim recalled Tuesday. "You have the pen out so he can sign an autograph, your kid's jerseys and your boy's stick, and you're going to say, 'Thank you for coming.' And be so grateful they came, right?"

Right, ordinarily.

What happened next the MacNeills always will consider extraordinary. One of the quietest Blackhawks connected as one of the warmest. Making himself at home alongside MacNeill family friend Stan Mikita, Hossa told hockey stories and answered every question — even the one Ross mustered enough courage to ask about Hossa's forearm tattoo of his daughter Mia's name and date of birth. Everybody laughed.

"Then it's two hours later, and you don't feel like he was rushed at all but came to truly spend time with your kids," Kim continued, fighting back tears. "When your child is in a battle for his life, to be able to watch him have that joyful moment was such a good fortune. Marian gave the special gift of himself to somebody who I think deserved it. Every time I see him, he makes me cry."

At Ross's wake the following May after the boy lost a brave fight, Hossa paid his respects in person. The line to enter the church stretched for blocks, and Hossa waited like everybody else to express condolences to Kim and her husband, Ross. To Kim, that gesture was as impressive as Hossa's tribute the previous night when he taped R-O-S-S on his stick and scored the first goal in a playoff victory over the Red Wings.

"What makes Marian such a special person is that he's so selfless and humble," Kim said.

The same qualities help make Hossa a special player for the Blackhawks, still going strong at 36.

Every now and then, Chicago's most unassuming and unappreciated star athlete does something like score four goals in two games — as Hossa just did — to create the kind of attention the consummate professional never seeks. Nor ever has.

From the night Hossa made his debut on Oct. 1, 1997, for the Senators as an 18-year-old phenom, he impressed older teammates such as Daniel Alfredsson with humility off

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the ice as obvious as his intensity on it. Nothing has changed in Hossa's 17 steady NHL seasons.

"Marian was a quiet person, shy, but comfortable with himself," said Alfredsson, Hossa's mentor in seven seasons with the Senators who retired last year. "His skill has stood out since he was young, but it's his work ethic and desire that drives him. He's never satisfied, so what he's still doing now is not surprising."

It only surprises retired player Todd White, another former Senators teammate, that Hossa never posted "big numbers" at any of his five NHL stops given uncanny stick-handling but believes his buddy sacrificed offense to play both ends like few forwards can. White still remembers how hard Hossa attacked knee rehabilitation before his first full season in 1998 after suffering a torn ACL playing for the Portland Winter Hawks in the Memorial Cup.

"You could tell by his practice habits that he was going to be great," said White, an analyst for TSN 1200 in Ottawa. "Professionalism is the word that described Marian best then and now. You don't just get by with talent."

Even talent that always has awed observers as much as his tenacity.

"He had speed and the ability to create something out of nothing — still does," Alfredsson said. "It's his deceptive quickness, going from fast to slower to quick again that makes him hard to defend."

The Hawks have flashier scorers and more decorated defenders. They have more vocal leaders and brighter stars. But do they have a veteran any more complete than the guy likely headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame? Hossa's act never gets old even as everybody focuses on his age.

"He might not be wearing a letter or is team captain, but he understands what the coach wants to achieve and plays within that," Alfredsson said. "As long as he has no major injuries and can find the motivation, there's no reason Marian can't play another four, five or six years."

To fans like the MacNeills, Hossa never could wear out his welcome.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 02.14.2015

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Jets game can't come soon enough for Howard, Red Wings

By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 2:08 p.m. EST February 13, 2015

Justin Abdelkader sees the standings every day and, even as victories piled up for the Detroit Red Wings, they barely moved in the standings.

"Us, Montreal and Tampa just kind of all stayed a few points around each other," Abdelkader said today as the Wings prepared to host the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night. "The season is starting to wind down. We've got to be prepared to execute against Winnipeg."

Failure to do that Wednesday at Pittsburgh left the Wings with their second loss in 11 games. The Jets game can't come soon enough, especially for Jimmy Howard, who will make his first start since hurting his groin five weeks ago.

"I'm excited to get back out there and compete with the guys," he said. "We've got to get on top of them, because they're a fast, physical team that likes to get in on the forecheck."

Petr Mrazek will back up, as the Wings continue to carry three healthy goaltenders. General manager Ken Holland said no decision would be made today, but Babcock did say it would be better for Mrazek to play at the AHL level than mostly practice and only occasionally play at the NHL level.

For now, the emphasis is on getting Howard back to the level that made him an All-Star.

"He's been real important for us," Babcock said. "Especially at the start of the year, before we earned our confidence, I think Howie was our best player in that first 10 games. So it's important for him to get up running and us to have him in the net and feel good about ourselves."

Earlier in the week, the Jets and Buffalo Sabres engaged in a massive trade that, among other assets, brought 6-foot-8 defenseman Tyler Myers to Winnipeg. Myers, 25, had been on the Wings' trade radar because he's young, shoots right and provides offense. The Jets also added Drew Stafford, who'll plug the hole left by Evander Kane, who had become the odd-man out even before opting for surgery.

"Just to get Kane out of the dressing room was probably a good thing for them," said Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey. "Myers is going to take a few weeks to get going, with a new system and everything. He's going to make a few mistakes for sure, so hopefully we can capitalize on it."

The Wings have pretty solid footing as a top-three Atlantic Division team but, as Tomas Jurco put it, "we can't afford to lose two games in a row."

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 02.14.2015

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Wings content to carry 3 goalies in Howard’s return

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 1:45 p.m. EST February 13, 2015

Detroit — Jimmy Howard is excited for the chance to start and the Red Wings are thrilled to have him.

Coach Mike Babcock reconfirmed Friday what has been known this entire week, that Howard will get the start Saturday against Winnipeg.

The minor surprise? Petr Mrazek will be the backup, remaining with the Red Wings at least one more game rather than being sent to Grand Rapids.

Jonas Gustavsson will stay the third goalie and be a healthy scratch.

General manager Ken Holland and coach Mike Babcock both said the goaltending situation will be monitored day to day, but Mrazek will at least stay in Detroit for this game.

It’s unlikely Mrazek will sit at the NHL level and back up Howard rather than play regularly in the minor leagues where he can gain more experience.

“He (Mrazek) has to play for sure,” Babcock said. “But let’s just get our goaltending situation sorted out and then we’ll decide what we’re doing.”

Howard, though, will be excited to get his first start since tearing his groin in Washington Jan. 10. Howard did relieve Mrazek Wednesday in a 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh, playing the third period and stopping all four shots he faced.

“You can work out and practice as much as you want, but until you get in there and get a taste of the speed again, you sort of forget what it’s like,” said Howard, of his 20 minutes of action in Pittsburgh.

The way Mrazek played during the Red Wings’ 9-2 stretch without Howard allowed the team to solidify its playoff position and allowed Howard to rehabilitate at his own speed.

“I didn’t have to rush back,” Howard said. “I have to thank Pete for that. He did a tremendous job for the whole month and put us in a good spot.

“I just have to pick up where he left off.”

Howard (16-7-7, 2.09 goals-against average, .920 save percentage) was selected for the All-Star team a few hours before getting hurt in Washington, and was having one of his best seasons.

“Especially at the start of the year before we earned our confidence, Howie was our best player in those first 10 games,” Babcock said. “It’s important for him to get up and running and have him in net and feel good.

“We’ll be excited to have him.”

Detroit News LOADED: 02.14.2015

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Howard and Red Wings excited he's back in net

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 9:01 p.m. EST February 13, 2015

Detroit — He's back.

And while it's obvious he's thrilled with it, so, too, are the Red Wings.

"Especially at the start of the year before we earned our confidence, Howie was our best player in those first 10 games," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said of goaltender Jimmy Howard. "It's important for him to get up and running and have him in net and feel good."

After tearing his groin Jan. 10, Howard had not played until relieving Petr Mrazek for the third period of Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Penguins.

"You can work out and practice as much as you want, but until you get in there and get a taste of the speed again, you sort of forget what it's like," said Howard, who'll start Saturday night against the Jets.

Before the injury, Howard was 16-7-7 with a 2.09 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.

With Howard back, the thought was Mrazek would be headed to Grand Rapids. But that won't happen just yet.

Mrazek is Howard's backup tonight, with Jonas Gustavsson the third option and a healthy scratch.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland and Babcock said the situation will be monitored day to day, but it's unlikely Mrazek will sit at the NHL level for long rather than play regularly in Grand Rapids.

"(Mrazek) has to play, for sure," Babcock said. "But let's just get our goaltending situation sorted out and then we'll decide what we're doing."

The Red Wings went 9-2-0 with Mrazek in goal.

Jets reinforced

Winnipeg ventures into Joe Louis Arena just days after making a huge trade, acquiring defenseman Tyler Myers and forward Drew Stafford from the Sabres.

And, the Jets own one of the two wild cards in the West.

"They've done a real good job over there and no question, they're deep," Babcock said.

'Sergei was a star'

Former Red Wings great Sergei Fedorov was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday. Babcock was his coach with the Ducks in 2003-04.

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"Sergei was a star, had elite skill," Babcock said. "He was a real good man. He was an elite performer in the league for a long time, whether he was playing center ice or defense or representing his country, he was a great player."

Fedorov and former teammate Nicklas Lidstrom are eligible for the 2015 Hockey Hall of Fame class this summer.

Detroit News LOADED: 02.14.2015

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Red Wings' Jimmy Howard anxious for first start in five weeks, looking to regain first-half form quickly

Ansar Khan

on February 13, 2015 at 1:39 PM, updated February 13, 2015 at 2:27 PM

DETROIT - When Jimmy Howard, arguably the Detroit Red Wings' most valuable player the first half of the season, suffered a groin injury on Jan. 10, the team could have gone into a tailspin.

Instead, the Red Wings went 9-2-0, due largely to the strong play of Petr Mrazek, and kept pace with Tampa Bay and Montreal near the top of the Atlantic Division.

Howard is back. He'll make his first start in five weeks Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets at Joe Louis Arena (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit). He has plenty of time to get prepared for the playoffs, but the club hopes he'll be on top of his game much sooner than that.

"We don't want to wait two months, we want him back at 'er tomorrow," coach Mike Babcock said. "Obviously, he's a real good player for us, been real important for us, especially at the start of the year, before we earned our confidence. I think Howie was our best player in that first 10 games. So it's important for him to get up and running and us to have him in the net and feel good about ourselves, so we'll be excited to have him tomorrow."

It will be Howard's first appearance at home since Dec. 31 (3-1 win over New Jersey).

He said tracking the puck is the biggest challenge after returning from a lengthy absence.

"Going from practice and feeling good in practice and then all of a sudden there are 10 guys out there in front of you, so that's the biggest thing," Howard said. "Coach has done quite a few battle drills this week with guys in front of me, whether it's penalty kill or power play or five-on-five situations, so I treated those as a game-like situation."

The club would have preferred Howard didn't have to play the third period in Wednesday's 4-1 loss at Pittsburgh, but at least it should help with his transition back into goal.

"You can work out and practice as much as you want, but until you get in there and you get a taste of the speed again, you sort of forget what it's like, so it was good," Howard said. "I just treated it like a practice."

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Jimmy Howard eager to get back Red Wings goalie said tracking the puck will be his biggest challenge on Saturday.

Howard (16-7-7) ranks third in the league in goals-against average (2.09) among goalies with at least 20 appearances.

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"It's huge," defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. "Howie's our starter. We need him to play as good as he has all season long."

Said forward Justin Abdelkader: "I know he's itching to get back. He looks back to normal. He's having fun in the locker room. We're happy to get him back. He was playing really well before he got hurt. We're excited. We know he's excited. It's important for us."

Babcock said Mrazek will back-up on Saturday, so Jonas Gustavsson will be a healthy scratch for the second game in a row. General manager Ken Holland said no decision has been made on whether Mrazek will return to Grand Rapids.

"I think (Mrazek) has got to play for sure but let's just get our goaltending situation sorted out here and then we'll decide what we're going to do," Babcock said.

Despite being pulled in three of his past eight starts, Mrazek was solid in Howard's absence -- and before that as well.

"It's huge, I mean, it allowed me to come back at the pace that my body allowed it to," Howard said. "I didn't have to rush back and I have to thank Petr for that. He did a tremendous job for us for the whole month of January and a little bit here into February and it's put us into a good spot. So I just have to pick up where he left off."

Mrazek proved a lot to his teammates and the organization.

"He can handle the pressure," Kronwall said. "In here we knew he was a great goalie, but you never really find out until someone is put in that pressure situation and they have to do it on an everyday basis. He deserved all the credit he got. He played great for us. He's one of the reasons we're where we're at in the standings right now. Good for him."

Said Justin Abdelkader: "Petr came in and I don't think anyone would have expected him to play the way he did. He was solid and showed the organization and proved to himself he's an NHL goalie and he's ready. It's good to have that depth."

Michigan Live LOADED: 02.14.2015

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Wings like having a healthy Howard back from stretch run

By Chuck Pleiness, The Macomb Daily

Posted: 02/13/15, 5:13 PM EST |

DETROIT >> Things could have gone bad quickly for the Detroit Red Wings when Jimmy Howard went down with a partially torn groin on Jan. 10.

They didn’t, thanks in large part to Petr Mrazek, and now Howard is back.

Howard will start Saturday when the Wings host the Winnipeg Jets.

“He’s a real good player for us, been real important for us, especially at the start of the year, before we earned our confidence,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said after practice Friday at Joe Louis Arena. “I think Howie was our best player in those first 10 games so it’s important for him to get up and running and us to have him in the net and feel good about ourselves, so we’ll be excited to have him (Saturday).”

His return is perfect timing with the playoffs close to two months away.

“It’s huge,” Justin Abdelkader said when asked about getting Howard back for the stretch run. “Petr came in and I don’t think anyone would have expected him to play the way he did. He was solid and showed the organization and proved to himself he’s an NHL goalie and he’s ready. It’s good to have that depth. We have it all over, whether it’s defense, offense, in net. Now Jimmy’s back. Jimmy’s our starting goalie, our number one goalie.”

Howard, who’s 16-7-7, ranks third in the league in goals-against average (2.09) among goalies with at least 20 appearances.

“It’s huge, I mean, it allowed me to come back at the pace that my body allowed it to,” Howard said of the lift the team got from Mrazek. “I didn’t have to rush back and I have to thank Petr for that. He did a tremendous job for us for the whole month of January and a little bit here into February and it has put us into a good spot. So I just have to pick up where he left off.”

With Mrazek the team went 9-2-0 during Howard’s absence and kept paced with Tampa Bay and Montreal near the top of the Atlantic Division.

“It proves that he can do it,” Niklas Kronwall said of Mrazek. “He can handle the pressure. Even in here we knew he was a great goalie, but you never really find out until someone is put in that pressure situation and they have to do it on an everyday basis.”

“He deserves all the credit he got,” Kronwall continued. “He played great for us. He’s one of the reasons we’re where we’re at in the standings right now. Good for him. Good sign too with the organization doing some great scouting and developing in the minors. When they’re ready they’re ready.”

Mrazek will back up Howard Saturday instead of Jonas Gustavsson, who has been cleared to return from a shoulder injury he suffered on Nov. 5.

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“I think he’s got to play for sure but let’s just get our goaltending situation sorted out here and then we’ll decide what we’re going to do,” Babcock said regarding having three healthy goalies on the roster.

Babcock added they’re reviewing the situation, “day-by-day.”

Like all goalies that have been off an extended period of time due to injury, Howard’s biggest issue will be tracking the puck.

“Going from practice and feeling good in practice and then all of a sudden there are 10 guys out there in front of you, that’s the biggest thing,” Howard said. “Coach has done quite a few battle drills here this week with guys in front of me, whether it’s penalty kill or power play or five-on-five situations, so I treated those as a game-like situation.”

Sergei Fedorov was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday.

“He certainly was a star,” said Babcock, who coached him a bit in Anaheim. “He had elite skill. He was an elite performer in the league for a long time, whether he was playing center ice or playing defense or representing his country he was a great player and I really enjoyed Sergei as a person.”

Michigan Live LOADED: 02.14.2015

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Former Red Wing Brent Peterson to drop first puck at Griffins' Purple Community Game; here's why

Peter J. Wallner | on February 13, 2015 at 3:00 PM, updated February 13, 2015 at 8:50 PM

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Brent Peterson never experienced anything abnormal with his health during an 11-year NHL career, which began as a first-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings.

Rather, it was in 2003, while an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators, when something strange happened.

Brent Peterson drops first puck Brent Peterson, a former first-round pick of the Red Wings who is battling Parkinson's, drops the ceremonial first puck Friday at the Grand Rapids Griffins Purple Community Game. He is with wife, Tami, and Griffins' Landon Ferraro, left, and San Antonio's Greg Zanon. (Peter J. Wallner)

"Just out of nowhere, I was just walking down the street and my right arm didn't swing," Peterson said. "My wife noticed it, we went and saw a doctor and he said, 'You have Parkinson's.' Just like that."

It was so difficult to grasp, Peterson kept it quiet for a year.

Now, he is at the forefront of raising awareness. He has led the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson's since 2007 and is the author of "My Toughest Faceoff: My Life in Hockey and My Battle with Parkinson's Disease," which describes his journey with the disease.

Peterson is a vigorous proponent of a procedure called deep brain stimulation, which, he said, saved him mentally and physically and allowed him to return to work.

"I'm sort of the poster boy because everything they did with it has worked," said Peterson, who left the Predators in 2011 because of the progression of the disease. But, thanks to deep brain stimulation, he is back as the Predators' color analyst on radio broadcasts.

Peterson was the keynote speaker Friday at Van Andel Research Institute's "Facing Off Against Parkinson's Disease" event in Grand Rapids. He also dropped the ceremonial first puck at the Grand Rapids Griffins game against San Antonio in the annual Purple Community Game to benefit Van Andel Institute and cancer research.

Peterson, now 56 and living near Nashville, is frank in discussing how to battle the progressive neurodegenerative disease marked by rigidity, slowness of movement and depression.

"To me, the most important thing is know is that it just tears you down mentally and that's where the fight is," he said.

"The main thing is your attitude. Sure, you can't walk as well, maybe you can't get a coin out of your pocket. But, you know what? It's always there and you have to mentally

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learn to be positive, to appreciate and enjoy what you have and the good days and you can get through it."

Peterson played for Detroit from 1978-81 after he was drafted in the first round in 1978. In all, Peterson played in 620 games with the Red Wings, Buffalo, Vancouver and Hartford, and he was known mostly as a defensive forward and top penalty killer. He had 213 points (72-141-213) and 484 penalty minutes.

After his playing days, he served as an NHL assistant with Hartford, was head coach of the Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) for seven years before joining Nashville in 1998, where he was an assistant before his health forced him to leave in 2011.

It is estimated seven to 10 million people worldwide have Parkinson's.

Michigan Live LOADED: 02.14.2015

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Duff: Howard ready to go for Wings

By Bob Duff / Windsor Star

The Detroit Red Wings are thrilled to have netminder Jimmy Howard back on the job,

almost as thrilled as he is to be back after missing a month due to a groin injury.

Howard will make his first start since Jan. 10 when he was hurt early into a game

against the Washington Capitals, taking the net as the Wings play host to the Winnipeg

Jets Saturday at Joe Louis Arena (7 p.m., FSN, live blog at windsorstar.com).

“Obviously, he’s a real good player for us, been real important for us, especially at the

start of the year, before we earned our confidence,” Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. “I

think Howie was our best player in that first 10 games.

“So it’s important for him to get up and running and us to have him in the net and feel

good about ourselves, so we’ll be excited to have him tomorrow.”

Howard tipped his cap to Petr Mrazek, who filled the void while both he and Jonas

Gustavsson (shoulder) healed from their injuries, keeping the Wings in the hunt for top

spot in the NHL’s Eastern Conference.

“It’s huge, I mean, it allowed me to come back at the pace that my body allowed it to,”

Howard said of Mrazek’s performance. “I didn’t have to rush back and I have to thank

Petr for that.

“He did a tremendous job for us for the whole month of January and a little bit here into

February and it’s put us into a good spot. So I just have to pick up where he left off.”

For now, the Wings will go with three goalies on the roster. Mrazek will back up Howard

Saturday and Gustavsson will be a healthy scratch for the second straight game.

Long-term, Babcock knows it’s best for Mrazek, 22, to be regularly in the net, so he’s

the most likely candidate to be reassigned to AHL Grand Rapids.

“I think he’s got to play for sure but let’s just get our goaltending situation sorted out

here and then we’ll decide what we’re going to do,” Babcock said.

Poker Party

The Wings are offering 108 fans the chance to go head-to-head with a Red Wings

player in a game of Texas Hold’Em on Monday, March 2, at Detroit’s MotorCity Casino

Hotel Charity Poker Tournament benefiting the Detroit Red Wings Foundation. Fans can

reserve a seat in the tournament by making a (all figures US) $400 donation to the

foundation.

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The evening will begin at MotorCity Casino Hotel with participants enjoying a strolling

dinner reception with Red Wings players in Sound Board at 5 p.m., followed by the

Texas Hold’Em tournament in the Poker Room starting promptly at 6:30 p.m.

Participants in the tournament can purchase up to two additional dinner seats for a $100

donation apiece.

All poker players receive a parting gift and an overnight room compliments of MotorCity

Casino Hotel. The top 10 finishers will be awarded prizes, including the grand prize trip

for two on Red Bird III during the 2015-16 preseason. The second-place finisher will

receive a suite for a Red Wings home game during the 2015-16 regular season. Third

place will receive four tickets to an upcoming home game and fourth through 10th place

will receive an autographed, game-used hockey stick.

Fans can reserve a room and seat in the charity poker tournament by visiting

www.DetroitRedWings.com/Poker or by calling 313-471-7579.

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Rampage 5, Griffins 4 (OT): Rally in third period spoiled in overtime; Mitch

Callahan hurt

By Peter Wallner / MLive.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Griffins bounced back from a disappointing second period

with a two-goal third Friday, only to lose it in overtime against San Antonio.

Rocco Grimaldi scored on the short side of Tom McCollum on a four-on-four with 1:30

remaining to give the Rampage a 5-4 win before 7,168 at Van Andel Arena.

The Rampage had scored twice in the second period - on a short-handed goal by

Bobby Butler and Vincent Trocheck followed just over a minute later on a breakaway. It

gave the Rampage a 3-1 lead in the second.

But another productive night from Teemu Pulkkinen helped. The right winger scored

twice, including five minutes into the third to start the comeback.

Pulkkinen increased his league-leading goal total to 29. He also leads in scoring with 55

points.

After Pulkkinen's goal, the Griffins tied it with 1:51 remaining. Following a penalty to

Butler, the Griffins pulled McCollum for a two-man advantage. Nathan Paetsch had shot

from inside the blue line bounced right to Mark Zengerle who had an open look against

Dan Ellis.

The Griffins may have suffered a bigger loss with an injury to forward Mitch Callahan.

The fourth-year veteran and the Griffins' third leading scorer (16-22-38) went down

along the far board in the final minute of the first period. He was helped off the ice after

about a minute and didn't return.

Pulkkinen got the game off to a good start for the Griffins. He stole the puck in front of

the Rampage net and scored four minutes left in the first period.

The second period was ugly for Grand Rapids.

First, with the Griffins on a power player, Tomas Nosek's late shot attempt was poked

away by Butler, who was joined by Jonathan Racine on a rush with Butler scoring past

McCollum at 10:40.

Just over a minute later, at even strength, the Rampage scored again on a turnover that

resulted in breakaway by Vincent Trocheck to make it 3-1.

The Griffins ((25-17-5-1) outshot San Antonio 40-22.

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The Rampage 28-16-4-0) came in an impressive 19-1-2-0 when leading after two

periods.

The teams meet again Saturday.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Andreas Athanasiou scored late in the second period to make it 4-2. It was his second

consecutive game with a goal and he has a point in each of his three games since his

return Feb. 6 from a broken jaw. He was sidelined seven weeks.

* Goalie Tom McCollum bolted out of the net to give the Griffins a 6 on 4 with Butler in

the penalty box in the final minutes of regulation. Seconds later, Zengerle scored.

LOWLIGHTS

* Jeff Hoggan was whistled for penalties twice in the first 13 minutes, the second

coming in the closing seconds of a power play.

* The short-handed goal was the third allowed this season.

NOTES

The Griffins played in their third consecutive overtime game. They split a pair last

weekend at home against Rochester ... The Griffins had picked up points in seven of

eight games before Friday ... The Griffins will make their trip to San Antonio April 10-11.

San Antonio Rampage 5 (OT) at Grand Rapids Griffins 4 - Status: Final OT

Friday, February 13, 2015 - Van Andel Arena

San Antonio 0 4 0 1 - 5

Grand Rapids 1 1 2 0 - 4

1st Period-1, Grand Rapids, Pulkkinen 28 (Aubry), 15:52. Penalties-Hoggan Gr (high-

sticking), 3:38; Trocheck Sa (charging), 11:15; O'Brien Sa (cross-checking), 13:10;

Hoggan Gr (interference), 13:10; Zanon Sa (tripping), 19:23.

2nd Period-2, San Antonio, Olson 8 (Mancari, Zanon), 4:08. 3, San Antonio, Butler 21

(Racine), 9:20 (SH). 4, San Antonio, Trocheck 5 10:08. 5, Grand Rapids, Athanasiou 9

(Mantha), 13:37. 6, San Antonio, Wilson 17 (Butler, Trocheck), 18:52. Penalties-Nosek

Gr (hooking), 5:25; Mancari Sa (hooking), 7:46; Racine Sa (roughing), 12:11; Aubry Gr

(roughing), 12:11; Pulkkinen Gr (slashing), 16:37.

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3rd Period-7, Grand Rapids, Pulkkinen 29 (Miele, Sproul), 5:15. 8, Grand Rapids,

Zengerle 8 (Paetsch, Miele), 18:09 (PP). Penalties-Racine Sa (kneeing), 1:33; Yogan

Sa (tripping), 9:24; Butler Sa (slashing), 17:06.

OT Period-9, San Antonio, Grimaldi 9 (Mancari, Zanon), 5:30. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-San Antonio 7-8-3-4-22. Grand Rapids 15-9-14-2-40.

Power Play Opportunities-San Antonio 0 / 3; Grand Rapids 1 / 6.

Goalies-San Antonio, Ellis 22-9-0 (40 shots-36 saves). Grand Rapids, McCollum 10-8-0

(22 shots-17 saves).

A-7,168

Referees-Evgeny Romasko (6).

Linesmen-Shandor Alphonso (52), Jared Hoffmeyer (91).

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High-scoring forward Mitch Callahan helped off the ice, return to Griffins unclear

By Peter Wallner / MLive.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - It's unclear how long the Grand Rapids Griffins will be without

Mitch Callahan, but any loss of time from the productive right winger is not good news to

the team.

Callahan, the Griffins' third-leading scoring (16-22-38), went down along the boards and

had to be helped from the ice in the final minute of the first period of an eventual 5-4

loss Friday to San Antonio.

It's unlikely he will play when the teams meet again Saturday. How long he will be out

was unclear.

"I got the report between periods that he was done and that was it," coach Jeff Blashill

said. "The only thing I'd say is that Callahan is a tough, tough person and he had to be

helped off the ice. That was concerning from my point."

The right winger was digging for the puck behind the San Antonio net, skated along the

board and had slight contact with Greg Zanon as he went down on both knees. He

remained down about 30 seconds before helped off the ice by the trainer and teammate

Xavier Ouellet. He did not push off his skates and went straight to the locker room

favoring his right leg.

Callahan, a fourth-year pro, is part of the Griffins top line with Teemu Pulkkinen and

Andy Miele. He came in on a hot streak with 10 points his past eight games.

Blashill did stress the importance of Callahan to the Griffins.

"Callahan is a really important part of our team and Callahan is one of our top penalty

killers on our top power-play unit and on our top line," he said. "So, when somebody

goes out mid-game, it's certainly a loss but it's a loss every team deals with a certain

times and you have to find a way to deal with it. We'll have to long-term, depending on

where he's at ... we'll evaluate tomorrow and we'll see."

Jeff Hoggan took his place most of the night, with Anthony Mantha in on a few shifts in

the third.

"I like Cally, he's a great player and we'll see what's going on with him, but Hoggan is a

great player, too," Pulkkinen said. "He can play hard, win the stick battles and be strong

in the corner."

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Blashill said he would further evaluate the line Saturday morning before determining

who plays with Pulkkinen and Miele.

Last year, Callahan was hit in the mouth on a slap shot. He fractured his jaw and lost

eight teeth.