North Division Finals Start at Van Andel Arena

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. After dispatching the Toronto Marlies four games to one in the division semifinal round, the Grand Rapids Griffins will continue their chase for the Calder Cup against the Manitoba Moose in the North Division Finals. The best-of-seven series will begin with Games 1 and 2 at Van Andel Arena this Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6. The complete schedule is as follows:

2006 Calder Cup Playoffs North Division Finals Best-of-Seven
Game 1 - Fri., May 5 - Moose at GRIFFINS - 7 p.m. (Game C)
Game 2 - Sat., May 6 - Moose at GRIFFINS - 7 p.m. (Game D)
Game 3 - Tue., May 9 - GRIFFINS at Moose - 8:30 p.m.
Game 4 - Thu., May 11 - GRIFFINS at Moose - 8:30 p.m.
*Game 5 - Sat., May 13 - GRIFFINS at Moose - 8:30 p.m.
*Game 6 - Mon., May 15 - Moose at GRIFFINS - 7 p.m. (Game E)
*Game 7 - Tue., May 16 - Moose at GRIFFINS - 7 p.m. (Game F)

* If necessary. All times Eastern and subject to change. All games on WOOD 1300 AM.

The third-seeded Moose advanced to face the AHLs regular season champions by pulling the only upset thus far during the Calder Cup Playoffs, besting the second-seeded Syracuse Crunch four games to two. Manitoba trailed 2-0 in the series before winning the next four games, topped off by Sundays 3-2 overtime victory at Syracuse.

The Griffins won the season series against the Moose with a 5-2-0-1 mark, but only one of their victories came during regulation. Five of the eight meetings were decided in either overtime or a shootout; Grand Rapids claimed three shootout wins and one overtime victory, while Manitoba earned one shootout win. The Griffins posted a 2-1-0-1 series record at Van Andel Arena and a 3-1-0-0 mark at the MTS Centre, where the Moose took a 4-2 win in the final regular season meeting on April 1.

Single-game tickets for Griffins home playoff games are $26, $21, $18, $16, $14 and $6 (advance purchase only). They may be purchased in person at The Zone at Van Andel Arena and all Star Tickets Plus locations (including Meijer stores), by phone through Star Tickets Plus at 800-585-3737, or by clicking here.