Darren Haydar continued to improve his playoff MVP credentials, scoring with 3:06 left in regulation to give Milwaukee a 3-2 win over Grand Rapids on Monday night and a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference Final.
Game 4 is Wednesday in Milwaukee, with the Admirals one win away from their second conference championship in three years.
Haydar’s goal was his league-leading 13th of the postseason, and his third game-winner. It also extended his scoring streak to nine games, with 11 goals and seven assists in that span.
The fourth-year pro also has 13 assists in the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs, giving him 26 points in 14 games this spring.
Kent McDonell scored both goals for the Griffins, who have lost three in a row for the first time since a five-game slide in December.
Milwaukee’s special teams continued to excel, as Simon Gamache and Shea Weber tallied power-play goals in the game.
Pekka Rinne (7-0) made 26 saves for the Admirals, who won their eighth straight game.
