POTENTIAL PLAYOFF SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – With the Grand Rapids Griffins and Hamilton Bulldogs’ battle for home-ice advantage in their upcoming 2009 Calder Cup Playoff series coming down to the final weekend of the American Hockey League’s regular season, the two possible scenarios for the North Division Semifinals have been announced.
The second-place Griffins (43-23-6-6) currently lead the third-place Bulldogs (46-27-4-0) by two points in the standings, with Hamilton possessing both a game in hand and the first tiebreaker (wins). With the teams set to meet this Friday, April 10 in the Griffins’ regular season home finale at Van Andel Arena, both teams currently control their own destinies. Grand Rapids’ magic number for clinching second place and securing the higher seed is five points with two games remaining, while Hamilton’s magic number over the Griffins is six points with three contests left.
The two scenarios for the best-of-seven North Division Semifinals, which will follow a 2-3-2 format, are as follows:
| Game 1 | Fri., April 17 | Bulldogs at GRIFFINS | 7 p.m. (season ticket Game A) |
| Game 2 | Sat., April 18 | Bulldogs at GRIFFINS | 7 p.m. (Game B) |
| Game 3 | Mon., April 20 | GRIFFINS at Bulldogs | 7:30 p.m. |
| Game 4 | Thu., April 23 | GRIFFINS at Bulldogs | 7:30 p.m. |
| *Game 5 | Fri., April 24 | GRIFFINS at Bulldogs | 7:30 p.m. |
| *Game 6 | Mon., April 27 | Bulldogs at GRIFFINS | 7 p.m. (Game C) |
| *Game 7 | Tue., April 28 | Bulldogs at GRIFFINS | 7 p.m. (Game D) |
| Game 1 | Fri., April 17 | GRIFFINS at Bulldogs | 7:30 p.m. |
| Game 2 | Sat., April 18 | GRIFFINS at Bulldogs | 7 p.m. |
| Game 3 | Mon., April 20 | Bulldogs at GRIFFINS | 7 p.m. (season ticket Game A) |
| Game 4 | Wed., April 22 | Bulldogs at GRIFFINS | 7 p.m. (Game B) |
| *Game 5 | Fri., April 24 | Bulldogs at GRIFFINS | 7 p.m. (Game C) |
| *Game 6 | Sun., April 26 | GRIFFINS at Bulldogs | 6 p.m. |
| *Game 7 | Mon., April 27 | GRIFFINS at Bulldogs | 7:30 p.m. |
* If necessary. All times Eastern and subject to change.
Tickets for home playoff games A and B, which are included in Griffins full season ticket packages, will go on sale to the general public this Friday at 10 a.m. Single-game playoff ticket prices are $26, $21, $18, $16 and $14, reflecting a league-wide increase of $1 over regular season prices. Playoff tickets may be purchased in person at The Zone at Van Andel Arena and all Star Tickets locations (including Meijer stores), by phone at (800) 585-3737, or through griffinshockey.com.
In addition, fans can purchase a “Playoff 4-Pack” that includes four lower-bowl tickets to any home game during the Hamilton series, plus a limited-edition Darren McCarty figurine, for either $48 (Nets and Corners) or $68 (center ice Club section). To purchase, call the Griffins at (800) 2-HOCKEY.
The Griffins did not face a Canadian playoff foe during their first nine seasons (12 series), but Hamilton will be their fourth opponent from north of the border in five postseason series over the last four years.
Heading into this Friday’s final regular season meeting, the Griffins own a 2-3-0-0 record against the Bulldogs this season, including a 1-1-0-0 mark at Van Andel Arena.
