GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins will begin the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs by facing the Lake Erie Monsters in the best-of-five Central Division Semifinals.

The third-seeded Griffins and second-seeded Monsters will stage Games 1 and 2 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on Thursday, April 21 and Saturday, April 23 before the series turns to Van Andel Arena for Game 3 on Tuesday, April 26 and, if necessary, Game 4 on Wednesday, April 27. The complete schedule is as follows:

2016 Calder Cup Playoffs - Central Division Semifinals - Best-of-Five

The Griffins posted a 7-4-0-1 record in the season series against the Monsters, including marks of 4-2 at Van Andel Arena and 3-2-0-1 at Quicken Loans Arena. Four of Grand Rapids’ victories were earned in either overtime or a shootout, and Lake Erie finished the series with victories of 5-3 (April 13) and 5-2 (March 26) in Grand Rapids.

While this will be the teams’ first-ever playoff meeting, the Griffins enjoyed great postseason success against rivals from Cleveland earlier in their history, earning a pair of series wins while going 8-2 overall with a perfect 5-0 record at Quicken Loans Arena (during its previous incarnation as Gund Arena). Grand Rapids swept the Cleveland Lumberjacks 4-0 during the 2001 IHL Eastern Conference Semifinals after defeating them 4-2 in the same round in 2000, when current Griffins head coach Todd Nelson patrolled Grand Rapids’ blue line.

Other storylines of the series include:

• The 2013 Calder Cup champion Griffins have qualified for the playoffs for four straight years and in 14 of their 20 seasons overall, while the Monsters are making just the second postseason appearance of their nine-year history;
• The Griffins’ 50 playoff games from 2013-15 were the most ever by an AHL team over a three-year span, with captain Jeff Hoggan and defenseman Nathan Paetsch playing in each of those contests;
• The Monsters earned their only previous playoff berth in 2010-11, losing 4-3 to Manitoba in the division semis;
• Griffins head coach Todd Nelson played one season (1992-93) on the shores of Lake Erie for the IHL’s Lumberjacks, while Monsters head coach Jared Bednar logged one season (1998-99) for the Griffins as a defenseman. In addition, Grand Rapids assistant coach Ben Simon is a native of the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights.

Tickets for Games 3 and 4 of the division semifinals at Van Andel Arena are now on sale at all Star Tickets locations, including The Zone, online through griffinshockey.com, by phone through Star Tickets at (800) 585-3737, or via the Griffins app for iPhone or Android.

Available for all playoff home games, Playoff 4-Packs include four or more tickets at a savings of $3 per ticket plus no service fees. To purchase a Playoff 4-Pack, visit griffinshockey.com/playoffs or call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2.

Fans who want to experience every Griffins game at Van Andel Arena during the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs can now purchase a Griffins Playoff Pass. Enjoy the same great seat at significant savings plus the convenience of the “pay-as-we-play” method of payment. To reserve your Griffins Playoff Pass, please call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2.

Continuing a postseason tradition, the Griffins are extending their popular Friday promotion and will offer $2 beers and $2 hot dogs for all home playoff games for two hours after the doors open, while supplies last. In addition, 2,500 fans will receive Griffins playoff rally towels during the first round, compliments of Auto Value Parts Stores.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins will begin the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs by facing the Lake Erie Monsters in the best-of-five Central Division Semifinals.

The third-seeded Griffins and second-seeded Monsters will stage Games 1 and 2 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on Thursday, April 21 and Saturday, April 23 before the series turns to Van Andel Arena for Game 3 on Tuesday, April 26 and, if necessary, Game 4 on Wednesday, April 27. The complete schedule is as follows:

2016 Calder Cup Playoffs - Central Division Semifinals - Best-of-Five

The Griffins posted a 7-4-0-1 record in the season series against the Monsters, including marks of 4-2 at Van Andel Arena and 3-2-0-1 at Quicken Loans Arena. Four of Grand Rapids’ victories were earned in either overtime or a shootout, and Lake Erie finished the series with victories of 5-3 (April 13) and 5-2 (March 26) in Grand Rapids.

While this will be the teams’ first-ever playoff meeting, the Griffins enjoyed great postseason success against rivals from Cleveland earlier in their history, earning a pair of series wins while going 8-2 overall with a perfect 5-0 record at Quicken Loans Arena (during its previous incarnation as Gund Arena). Grand Rapids swept the Cleveland Lumberjacks 4-0 during the 2001 IHL Eastern Conference Semifinals after defeating them 4-2 in the same round in 2000, when current Griffins head coach Todd Nelson patrolled Grand Rapids’ blue line.

Other storylines of the series include:

• The 2013 Calder Cup champion Griffins have qualified for the playoffs for four straight years and in 14 of their 20 seasons overall, while the Monsters are making just the second postseason appearance of their nine-year history;
• The Griffins’ 50 playoff games from 2013-15 were the most ever by an AHL team over a three-year span, with captain Jeff Hoggan and defenseman Nathan Paetsch playing in each of those contests;
• The Monsters earned their only previous playoff berth in 2010-11, losing 4-3 to Manitoba in the division semis;
• Griffins head coach Todd Nelson played one season (1992-93) on the shores of Lake Erie for the IHL’s Lumberjacks, while Monsters head coach Jared Bednar logged one season (1998-99) for the Griffins as a defenseman. In addition, Grand Rapids assistant coach Ben Simon is a native of the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights.

Tickets for Games 3 and 4 of the division semifinals at Van Andel Arena are now on sale at all Star Tickets locations, including The Zone, online through griffinshockey.com, by phone through Star Tickets at (800) 585-3737, or via the Griffins app for iPhone or Android.

Available for all playoff home games, Playoff 4-Packs include four or more tickets at a savings of $3 per ticket plus no service fees. To purchase a Playoff 4-Pack, visit griffinshockey.com/playoffs or call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2.

Fans who want to experience every Griffins game at Van Andel Arena during the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs can now purchase a Griffins Playoff Pass. Enjoy the same great seat at significant savings plus the convenience of the “pay-as-we-play” method of payment. To reserve your Griffins Playoff Pass, please call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2.

Continuing a postseason tradition, the Griffins are extending their popular Friday promotion and will offer $2 beers and $2 hot dogs for all home playoff games for two hours after the doors open, while supplies last. In addition, 2,500 fans will receive Griffins playoff rally towels during the first round, compliments of Auto Value Parts Stores.