Tyler Bertuzzi‘s third goal of the series stood up as the game-winner as Grand Rapids pushed Central Division champion Milwaukee to the brink with a 2-1 victory on Saturday night.
The Griffins will bring a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series home with them for Game 3 on Tuesday.
Bertuzzi and Anthony Mantha scored power-play goals for Grand Rapids, and Tom McCollum (2-0) stopped 31 of 32 shots as the Griffins won for the 21st time in their last 28 meetings with the Admirals.
Vladislav Kamenev scored the only goal for Milwaukee, a power-play tally with 8:28 to go in regulation.
Juuse Saros (0-2) made 22 saves for the Admirals, who have lost 12 of their last 13 playoff contests.
Central Division Semifinals – Series “E” (best-of-5)
C1-Milwaukee Admirals vs. C4-Grand Rapids Griffins
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 22 – Grand Rapids 3, MILWAUKEE 1
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 23 – Grand Rapids 2, MILWAUKEE 1
Game 3 – Tue., Apr. 26 – Milwaukee at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 4 – Wed., Apr. 27 – Milwaukee at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 30 – Grand Rapids at Milwaukee, 8:00
