Calder Cup Playoffs – Western Conference Quarterfinals – Game 3 – Toronto Leads Series, 2-1

Toronto Marlies 2 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 5

April 29, 2015

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – With an inspired, rugged performance by captain Jeff Hoggan -- aka "Two Dogs" -- leading the charge, the Grand Rapids Griffins clawed their way to a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals at Van Andel Arena.

Now down 1-2 in this best-of-five series, the Griffins will face another must-win when they host Game 4 on Saturday at 7 p.m. If necessary, Game 5 will also take place at Van Andel Arena on Sunday at 5 p.m.

Following an early Marlies goal, the Griffins rattled off four straight markers – including the first of two on the night by Teemu Pulkkinen – en route to improving to 3-1 overall and 3-0 at home under Jeff Blashill when facing elimination.

Toronto scored that typically critical first tally 6:33 into the opening period. Tom McCollum made the initial save on Sam Carrick at the right post, but Troy Bodie was waiting atop the paint to bang home the rebound before McCollum could control it.

Andy Miele answered for Grand Rapids just 1:18 later, swooping around a defender and the bottom of the right circle before cutting toward the net and roofing a near-side shot over Christopher Gibson’s left shoulder.

The Griffins went ahead 2-1 courtesy of their fourth power play goal of the series 7:18 into the second period, as Andreas Athanasiou beat Gibson with a snap shot from the right hashmarks off a feed from Tomas Nosek.

Toronto had an opportunity to knot the score during its own man-advantage soon after, but McCollum robbed Matt Frattin on a redirection at the right post before the Griffins killed off 38 seconds of a Marlies 5-on-3. Pulkkinen then had a chance to add to Grand Rapids’ lead after being pulled down from behind by T.J. Brennan on a shorthanded breakaway, but Gibson swallowed his penalty shot to keep it a one-goal game entering the final 20 minutes.

Two Griffins goals in a 38-second span midway through the third period provided the home squad a 4-1 cushion. Tyler Bertuzzi, playing in his first playoff contest and third AHL game, staked out his position at the top of the crease to deflect Nick Jensen's shot for his second pro goal at the 9:11 mark, before Pulkkinen ripped a shot past Gibson’s glove from the slot during a rush.

Hoggan logged the first assist on Pulkkinen’s goal, tying him for seventh in Griffins history with his 21st postseason point. He would eventually earn a misconduct penalty with less than a minute remaining during a scuffle with multiple Marlies, capping off a night in which he was a constant physical, disruptive force.

Awarded a power play on a roughing call to Xavier Ouellet, the Marlies pulled Gibson for a 6-on-4 advantage, and the tactic paid dividends when Brendan Mikkelson connected from above the right circle at 12:32. After trying the same strategy in vain with Pulkkinen in the box for high-sticking, Toronto pulled Gibson for a third time, only to have Pulkkinen score into the vacated net from long distance with 3:53 remaining.

Pulkkinen, whose 34 regular season goals led the AHL, now paces the league with five lamp-lighters during the postseason.

In a strong bounce-back effort following his Game 1 loss in Toronto, McCollum turned aside 25 of 27 shots to record his first career AHL playoff victory. Gibson also made 25 saves, but the Griffins snapped the Marlies’ nine-game winning streak that started after their 7-2 loss in Grand Rapids on April 4.

Notes: Only once in franchise history have the Griffins trailed 1-2 in a best-of-five series. In 2002, wrapping up their first AHL campaign, the Griffins won Game 4 in Chicago before dropping the decisive Game 5 to the Wolves at Van Andel Arena…Grand Rapids is attempting to become the 11th team in AHL history to win a best-of-five series after trailing 0-2. Providence last accomplished the feat in 2013.

Three Stars: 1. GR Pulkkinen (two goals); 2. GR Bertuzzi (goal, assist); 3. GR Hoggan (assist)

Calder Cup Playoffs – Western Conference Quarterfinals – Game 3 – Toronto Leads Series, 2-1

Toronto Marlies 2 at GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 5

April 29, 2015

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – With an inspired, rugged performance by captain Jeff Hoggan -- aka "Two Dogs" -- leading the charge, the Grand Rapids Griffins clawed their way to a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals at Van Andel Arena.

Now down 1-2 in this best-of-five series, the Griffins will face another must-win when they host Game 4 on Saturday at 7 p.m. If necessary, Game 5 will also take place at Van Andel Arena on Sunday at 5 p.m.

Following an early Marlies goal, the Griffins rattled off four straight markers – including the first of two on the night by Teemu Pulkkinen – en route to improving to 3-1 overall and 3-0 at home under Jeff Blashill when facing elimination.

Toronto scored that typically critical first tally 6:33 into the opening period. Tom McCollum made the initial save on Sam Carrick at the right post, but Troy Bodie was waiting atop the paint to bang home the rebound before McCollum could control it.

Andy Miele answered for Grand Rapids just 1:18 later, swooping around a defender and the bottom of the right circle before cutting toward the net and roofing a near-side shot over Christopher Gibson’s left shoulder.

The Griffins went ahead 2-1 courtesy of their fourth power play goal of the series 7:18 into the second period, as Andreas Athanasiou beat Gibson with a snap shot from the right hashmarks off a feed from Tomas Nosek.

Toronto had an opportunity to knot the score during its own man-advantage soon after, but McCollum robbed Matt Frattin on a redirection at the right post before the Griffins killed off 38 seconds of a Marlies 5-on-3. Pulkkinen then had a chance to add to Grand Rapids’ lead after being pulled down from behind by T.J. Brennan on a shorthanded breakaway, but Gibson swallowed his penalty shot to keep it a one-goal game entering the final 20 minutes.

Two Griffins goals in a 38-second span midway through the third period provided the home squad a 4-1 cushion. Tyler Bertuzzi, playing in his first playoff contest and third AHL game, staked out his position at the top of the crease to deflect Nick Jensen’s shot for his second pro goal at the 9:11 mark, before Pulkkinen ripped a shot past Gibson’s glove from the slot during a rush.

Hoggan logged the first assist on Pulkkinen’s goal, tying him for seventh in Griffins history with his 21st postseason point. He would eventually earn a misconduct penalty with less than a minute remaining during a scuffle with multiple Marlies, capping off a night in which he was a constant physical, disruptive force.

Awarded a power play on a roughing call to Xavier Ouellet, the Marlies pulled Gibson for a 6-on-4 advantage, and the tactic paid dividends when Brendan Mikkelson connected from above the right circle at 12:32. After trying the same strategy in vain with Pulkkinen in the box for high-sticking, Toronto pulled Gibson for a third time, only to have Pulkkinen score into the vacated net from long distance with 3:53 remaining.

Pulkkinen, whose 34 regular season goals led the AHL, now paces the league with five lamp-lighters during the postseason.

In a strong bounce-back effort following his Game 1 loss in Toronto, McCollum turned aside 25 of 27 shots to record his first career AHL playoff victory. Gibson also made 25 saves, but the Griffins snapped the Marlies’ nine-game winning streak that started after their 7-2 loss in Grand Rapids on April 4.

Notes: Only once in franchise history have the Griffins trailed 1-2 in a best-of-five series. In 2002, wrapping up their first AHL campaign, the Griffins won Game 4 in Chicago before dropping the decisive Game 5 to the Wolves at Van Andel Arena…Grand Rapids is attempting to become the 11th team in AHL history to win a best-of-five series after trailing 0-2. Providence last accomplished the feat in 2013.

Three Stars: 1. GR Pulkkinen (two goals); 2. GR Bertuzzi (goal, assist); 3. GR Hoggan (assist)