Griffins ready for a long run

By Jim den Hollander

Midwest Hockey Editor

The Grand Rapids Griffins found its back squarely against the wall just 24 hours into the 2014-15 American Hockey League post season.

That was on April 26 as the Griffins found itself quickly down 2-0 in its Best of Five West Conference Quarterfinal against the Toronto Marlies.

The Griffins responded with wins in each of its next five games and seven of eight since then. Not out in the opening round, but instead playing for the West Conference title and a berth in its second Calder Cup Championship in the past three seasons.

A nine game winning streak back in February showed this was a team that could get on a roll. Actually since the beginning of February, the Rapids have compiled a 29-9 run, including both regular season and playoffs.

Teemu Pulkinen (23, 5-10, 185) shares the league playoff scoring with 13 goals and a couple of assists in 10 playoff games with Andy Miele (27, 5-8, 175) contributing three goals and 10 assists.

Goaltender Tom McCollum (26, 6-2, 215) has provided steady play with a 2.68 GAA and .913 save percentage.

After charging back from its deficit against the Marlies in the opening round, the Griffs took four out of five to eliminate the Rockford Ice Hogs in the Western semis, with two of the three wins coming on the road.

That sets up a Western Conference championship between the Griffins and the top seeded Utica Comets. The Comets and Griffins entered the post season as the top two seeds in the West. The Comets will host the first two and final two in the series as the top see, but these teams were separated by just three points at the end of the season.

The Comets are the top farm team of the Vancouver Canucks and relocated to this New York City just this season. However, Utica is one of the most storied professional outfits dating back to the 1930’s under different ownership and in several different leagues.

With the rash of moves to the West coast next season, Utica will also move into the East Conference in the fall.

The series will begin at Utica for the first two games May 24-25 before Grand Rapids plays host to the next three May 28-31. If necessary, games six and seven would be played in Utica June 2-3.

The winner of this series will advance to the Calder Cup championship against either Manchester or Hartford.