Griffins Shutout Barons in Game 5, Look to Advance to First Ever Calder Cup Finals

Van Andel Arena will play host to Game 6 on Tuesday night
as the Griffins look to advance to their first ever Calder Cup
Finals.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Red Wings loss in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals may have been a blessing in disguise for the Grand Rapids Griffins. Following the loss, Detroit sent forwards Gustav Nyquist and Joakim Andersson back down to Grand Rapids along with goalie Jordan Pearce. Nyquist and Andersson each had a tremendous impact during the Red Wings playoff run, and are now helping the Griffins in the playoffs as well, each recording a point in the Game Four victory of the Western Conference Finals.

Despite the great performance by those two in Game Four, Petr Mrazek stole the show, stopping all 40 shots faced on Saturday night. After evening the series, the Griffins wanted to take a 3-2 series lead back to Grand Rapids, and they did just that in Game Five. Mrazek picked up right where he left off, shutting out the Barons once again on Sunday night, giving the Griffins the 3-2 series lead that they were searching for. The Griffins got three goals from Tomas Jurco, Mitch Callahan, and Tomas Tatar in a mater of five minutes late in the second period to give them the 3-0 victory. Now, the series will move back to Grand Rapids for Game Six on Tuesday night and Game Seven on Wednesday, if it's necessary.

Following the back-to-back shutouts in Oklahoma City, Griffins goalie Petr Mrazek now has four postseason shutouts during this year's playoffs. If you find that impressive, you'll love the fact that Mrazek has also stopped 100 consecutive shots and has a 161 minute scoreless streak, which isn't even his longest of the playoffs. The Griffins will now look to advance to their first ever Calder Cup Final with a victory on Tuesday or Wednesday night in Grand Rapids.




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