The second round of the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs got underway on Wednesday night with Grand Rapids’ 4-1 win at Chicago in Game 1 of the Central Division Finals.
The Griffins took an early lead just 40 seconds into the game as Martin Frk backhanded home a shot from the left-wing circle for his first goal of the postseason.
Grand Rapids then made it 2-0 at 8:07 of the first period when Matthew Ford deflected Frk’s shot past Ville Husso for a power-play goal, his third of the postseason.
Chicago got on the board at 9:25 as Kenny Agostino took a pass from Ty Rattie and beat Jared Coreau with a backhand shot for his third goal of the playoffs.
After a scoreless second period, the Griffins regained their two-goal lead on Tomas Nosek‘s third goal of the postseason at 3:48 of the third.
Ben Street capped the scoring with his first goal of these playoffs and the second postseason goal of his AHL career, into an empty net with 1:51 to play.
Coreau (4-0) made 27 saves in the win, the Griffins’ ninth in 11 meetings with the Wolves this season. Husso (3-3) stopped 31 of 34 shots in the loss.
Central Division Finals – Series “K” (best-of-7)
C1-Chicago Wolves vs. C2-Grand Rapids Griffins
Game 1 – Wed., May 3 – Grand Rapids 4, CHICAGO 1
Game 2 – Fri., May 5 – Grand Rapids at Chicago, 8:00
Game 3 – Sat., May 6 – Chicago at Grand Rapids, 7:00
Game 4 – Mon., May 8 – Chicago at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sat., May 13 – Grand Rapids at Chicago, 8:00
*Game 6 – Mon., May 15 – Chicago at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 7 – Tue., May 16 – Grand Rapids at Chicago, 8:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
A backhanded beauty by @Nosy92 puts @griffinshockey up by a pair. #CHIvsGR pic.twitter.com/zZFmWVcYhm
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 4, 2017
