The Lake Erie Monsters are still unbeaten, and now they are one win away from a trip to the conference finals.
Joonas Korpisalo made 41 saves as the Monsters held on for a 2-1 win over Grand Rapids in Game 3 of the Central Division Finals at Van Andel Arena on Sunday afternoon.
With a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, Lake Erie can close out the Griffins with another win in Game 4 on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, AHL Live).
Korpisalo is now 6-0 during the playoffs and has won eight consecutive starts going back to the regular season.
Josh Anderson took advantage of a Griffins giveaway on the game’s opening shift, skated in alone and beat Tom McCollum 17 seconds into the contest to give Lake Erie a 1-0 lead.
Grand Rapids went on to control play the rest of the stanza, outshooting the Monsters, 22-8. But Lake Erie held the lead heading into intermission.
Zach Werenski made it 2-0 with 11:53 to go in the second period, converting a cross-ice pass from Oliver Bjorkstrand for his third goal of the playoffs.
The Griffins finally broke through late in the second period, as Ryan Sproul stepped into a one-timer and beat Korpisalo with 2:12 remaining in the frame.
Grand Rapids pressed for the equalizer in the third period putting 13 more shots on goal, but Korpisalo was up to the task.
McCollum (3-3), making his 20th consecutive postseason start in net for the Griffins, made 21 saves in Game 3.
Central Division Finals – Series “K” (best-of-7)
C2-Lake Erie Monsters vs. C4-Grand Rapids Griffins
Game 1 – Thu., May 5 – LAKE ERIE 3, Grand Rapids 2 (OT)
Game 2 – Sat., May 7 – LAKE ERIE 4, Grand Rapids 3
Game 3 – Sun., May 8 – Lake Erie 2, GRAND RAPIDS 1
Game 4 – Tue., May 10 – Lake Erie at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sat., May 14 – Grand Rapids at Lake Erie, 7:00
*Game 6 – Mon., May 16 – Lake Erie at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 7 – Tue., May 17 – Grand Rapids at Lake Erie, 7:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
Korpi pic.twitter.com/hpbhk7l54k
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 8, 2016
