Cory Emmerton snapped a 2-2 tie with a shorthanded goal in the final minute of the first period and the Grand Rapids Griffins rolled from there, taking a 7-2 decision from Abbotsford on Saturday night and bringing a 2-0 series lead back home with them from western Canada.
The defending Calder Cup champions, who won their seventh consecutive road playoff game, host Game 3 on Wednesday night.
Andrej Nestrasil (2g, 1a), Teemu Pulkkinen (1g, 2a) and Ryan Sproul (1g, 2a) all had three points for the Griffins in the Game 2 victory, which came a night after Grand Rapids’ draining double-overtime win in the series opener on Friday. Jeff Hoggan and Trevor Parkes also scored and Petr Mrazek stopped 15 shots as Grand Rapids finished with a 46-17 advantage in shots on goal.
Emile Poirier and Max Reinhart scored for the Heat, while Markus Granlund notched two assists.
Joni Ortio started for Abbotsford and allowed five goals on 31 shots. Doug Carr mopped up and stopped 13 of 15 shots in relief.
Western Conference Quarterfinals – Series “H” (best-of-5)
4-Grand Rapids Griffins vs. 5-Abbotsford Heat
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 25 – Grand Rapids 2, ABBOTSFORD 1 (2OT)
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 26 – Grand Rapids 7, ABBOTSFORD 2
Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 30 – Abbotsford at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 4 – Fri., May 2 – Abbotsford at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 5 –Sat., May 3 – Abbotsford at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
