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Powered by a shutout from goalie Adin Hill, the Roadrunners maintained their advantage atop the division standings and moved closer to earning the top record in the American Hockey League’s Western Conference.

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ also clinched home ice in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

“It’s huge,� Roadrunners head coach Mike Van Ryn said. “You can hear our fans, it’s a loud building. Once you get more people in here it’s going to be even better so it will be a real tough place to play.�

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, which clinched its playoff ticket last weekend, faced a Grand Rapids opponent looking to seal its own postseason berth.

A chippy affair ensued, highlighted by a second period brawl that began with Hill shoving away a Griffins attacker. Soon, every Roadrunners player on ice was involved in a squabble until the referees broke apart the fighting.

“It was a physical, high-paced game with a lot bodies flying around,� Hill said. “It was a fun game to be in.�

It took the Roadrunners some time to find a rhythm offensively. Grand Rapids had out-shot ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ by a 15-7 margin early in the second period.

Midway through the second, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Mario Kempe earned a two-minute delay of game penalty, giving Grand Rapids a man advantage.

Yet it was the Roadrunners who scored on the Grand Rapids power play when Lawson Crouse netted a goal with 9:42 to go in period. Carter Camper and Kyle Wood assisted the score.

The goal marked Crouse’s fourth straight game with a point.

“I thought our start was actually not that bad, better than it had been at least,� Van Ryn said. “We weren’t connecting on a lot but I thought we were working pretty hard.�

Ryan MacInnis expanded ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s lead to 2-0 on a goal just over five minutes into the third period. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Tye McGinn scored an empty-net goal with 51 seconds remaining.

Hill held off a streaking Grand Rapids offense by saving all 25 shots that came his away.

For Hill, it was a bounceback performance after being pulled early in his last two starts.

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is now four points away from clinching the Pacific Division title. Two more wins for the Roadrunners would give ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ the title, as would one victory combined with a loss by second-place Ontario.

“Hopefully we can just keep building some momentum here as a team and try to get the city behind us some more,� Van Ryn said.