Big start helps Griffins even series

Photo: Jonathan Kozub

Down a game in the series and down a goal early in Game 2, Grand Rapids erupted for four goals before the end of the first intermission and rolled to a 5-1 win over Manitoba at Bell MTS Place on Sunday afternoon.

With the best-of-five Central Division semifinal series square at 1-1, the teams head to Grand Rapids for Game 3 on Wednesday.

Matthew Ford and Ben Street each had a goal and two assists and Eric Tangradi and Turner Elson also scored during the Griffins’ four-goal first.

Evgeny Svechnikov put home the fifth Griffins goal in the second period.

Francis Beauvillier scored the only goal for the Moose, who were outshot 39-22 for the game.

Tom McCollum (1-1) made 21 saves for Grand Rapids. Eric Comrie (1-1) allowed five goals on 24 shots in two periods of work; Jamie Phillips stopped all 15 shots he faced in the third.

Central Division Semifinals – Series “F” (best-of-5)
C2-Grand Rapids Griffins vs. C3-Manitoba Moose
Game 1 – Sat., Apr. 21 – MANITOBA 3, Grand Rapids 2 | Recap
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 22 – Grand Rapids 5, MANITOBA 1
Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 25 – Manitoba at Grand Rapids, 7:00
Game 4 – Thu., Apr. 26 – Manitoba at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 5 – Mon., Apr. 30 – Manitoba at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern