Notes
Grand Rapids improved to 19-14 all time in playoff overtime games, including an impressive 10-3 on the road.The Griffins’ 46 shots on goal tied a franchise record for most in a road playoff game, set on April 26, 2014 in a 7-2 win at Abbotsford in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.Only once before have the Griffins played consecutive overtime games in the playoffs, defeating Houston in Games 5 and 6 of the 2003 Western Conference Finals.The Griffins are attempting to become the 15th team in AHL history to rally from a 0-2 deficit to win a best-of-five series, and just the fifth to do it after losing the first two games at home. Their 2015 edition was the 11th to accomplish the feat, coming back against the Toronto Marlies with three straight wins at Van Andel Arena after dropping the first two games of the Western Conference Quarterfinals on the road. Current Grand Rapids assistant coach Brian Lashoff was a defenseman on that squad. It’s become a frequent accomplishment in the Central Division of late, with the Milwaukee Admirals pulling it off in the division semifinals both in 2025 against Rockford and 2024 versus Texas.
Box Score
Grand Rapids 2 1 0 1 – 4
Chicago 2 1 0 0 – 3
1st Period-1, Grand Rapids, Mazur 5 (Lombardi, Postava), 1:13. 2, Grand Rapids, Leonard 1 (Dries), 4:30 (PP). 3, Chicago, Fensore 2 (Vierling, Gunler), 5:40. 4, Chicago, Robidas 2 (Unger Sörum, Välimäki), 14:42 (PP). Penalties-Foote Chi (slashing), 4:19; Fensore Chi (roughing), 9:30; Mazur Gr (roughing), 10:02; Legault Chi (roughing), 10:02; Foote Chi (high-sticking), 10:05; Lagesson Gr (double minor – high-sticking), 13:50; Pavlychev Chi (high-sticking), 13:50; Tuomisto Gr (roughing), 15:52; Nyström Chi (holding), 19:31.
2nd Period-5, Chicago, Unger Sörum 3 (Nadeau, Suzuki), 5:27 (PP). 6, Grand Rapids, Angle 1 (Stachowiak, Gustafsson), 7:14 (PP). Penalties-Stachowiak Gr (high-sticking), 5:02; Ryabkin Chi (interference), 5:56; Leonard Gr (slashing), 18:17; Gunler Chi (slashing), 18:17.
3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Foote Chi (delay of game), 6:51.
OT Period-7, Grand Rapids, Brandsegg-Nygård 4 (Gustafsson, Dries), 9:22. Penalties-Fensore Chi (high-sticking), 5:20.
Shots on Goal-Grand Rapids 16-8-17-5-46. Chicago 8-6-3-3-20.
Power Play Opportunities-Grand Rapids 2 / 7; Chicago 2 / 3.
Goalies-Grand Rapids, Postava 4-3 (20 shots-17 saves). Chicago, Primeau 5-3 (46 shots-42 saves).
A-4,814
Three Stars
1. GR Brandsegg-Nygard (overtime goal); 2. CHI Primeau (L, 42 saves); 3. GR Postava (W, 17 saves)
Record/Next Game
Grand Rapids: 4-3 / Central Division Finals Game 4 / Thu., May 21 at Chicago 8 p.m. EDT
Chicago: 5-3 / Central Division Finals Game 4 / Thu., May 21 vs. Grand Rapids 7 p.m. CDT
Photo by Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins