Griffins Clinch Berth in 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs
April 8, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The defending Calder Cup champion Grand Rapids Griffins clinched a berth in the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs on Saturday following a 4-1 victory at Tucson and Milwaukee's 5-1 loss at Chicago.
The Griffins have reached the playoffs for a franchise-record sixth consecutive campaign and will attempt to become the first team since Hershey in 2009 and 2010 to repeat as champions. Including Grand Rapids' first Calder Cup in 2013, the Griffins have advanced to at least the second round in each of the previous five postseasons.
Third-year head coach Todd Nelson is the second coach (Jeff Blashill) in franchise history to lead the Griffins to three straight postseason appearances. This season's berth also marks the seventh time in as many full seasons as an AHL head coach that Nelson has guided his team to the playoffs.
The Griffins are the third team in the Central Division to clinch a playoff spot as Chicago and Manitoba also punched their postseason tickets tonight. Grand Rapids' 88 points currently tie Manitoba for second in the division, while trailing first-place Chicago by one and leading fourth-place Rockford by two. The Griffins have three games remaining in the regular season.
Matchups and dates for the best-of-five Central Division Semifinals are still to be determined. Playoff tickets will go on sale Friday, April 13 at 10 a.m.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from April 8, 2018
- Sateri Shuts down Wolf Pack 2-0 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Crunch Burned by Devils, 4-2 - Syracuse Crunch
- Moose Announce Team Award Winners - Manitoba Moose
- Seney, Appleby Lift Devils over Crunch, 4-2 - Binghamton Devils
- Iowa Drops Game to Milwaukee 3-2 in Overtime - Iowa Wild
- Smith Wins It in OT for Admirals - Milwaukee Admirals
- Sateri Shuts the Door Again in 2-0 Shutout Win - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Moose Fade Late to Bakersfield 4-3 - Manitoba Moose
- Phantoms Double-Up Providence 6-3 to Clinch Division Title - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Rampage Score in Final Minute to Defeat Monsters 4-3 - San Antonio Rampage
- Rough First Dooms P-Bruins in 5-2 Loss to Phantoms - Providence Bruins
- Despite 43 shots, Bridgeport falls in weekend finale at Webster Bank Arena - Bridgeport Islanders
- Russell Scores Shorthanded Twice in 4-3 Condors Win - Bakersfield Condors
- Monsters Clipped by Rampage, 4-3 - Cleveland Monsters
- Four-Goal First Period Gives Penguins 5-2 Win at Bridgeport - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Phantoms Secure Atlantic Division Regular Season Title - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Wolves Headed to Playoffs for 19th Time in 24 Years - Chicago Wolves
- Hershey Drops Final Road Game in Charlotte, 3-1 - Hershey Bears
- Checkers Sweep Bears to Close out Home Schedule - Charlotte Checkers
- McKenna, Heatherington Assigned to Texas from Dallas - Texas Stars
- Coreau Assigned to Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Coyotes Assign Strome, Murphy, Mermis & Hanley to Tucson - Tucson Roadrunners
- Rockford's Roster Bolstered with Six Players from Blackhawks - Rockford IceHogs
- Flames Assign Spencer Foo, Rasmus Andersson and Jon Gillies to Stockton - Stockton Heat
- Quenneville Agrees to Amateur Tryout - Bridgeport Islanders
- Comets Release Forward Matt Leitner - Utica Comets
- Sabres Assign Eight to Rochester - Rochester Americans
- Game Preview: Bears Rematch with Checkers in Final Road Game of Season - Hershey Bears
- Griffins Clinch Playoff Berth with 4-1 Win - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Roadrunners Slip in 4-1 Loss to Grand Rapids - Tucson Roadrunners
- Gulls Ride Comforts of Home to 3-2 Victory - San Diego Gulls
- Gill Nets Overtime Winner to Lift Amerks over First-Place Marlies - Rochester Americans
- Griffins Clinch Berth in 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs - Grand Rapids Griffins
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Grand Rapids Griffins Stories
- Griffins Clinch Second Place In Central Division With Overtime Win Over Milwaukee
- Griffins Clinch Second Place in Central Division
- Griffins Finish Regular Season Road Games with 4-1 Loss to Iowa
- Austin Czarnik Returns to Grand Rapids
- Sebastian Cossa Ties Record with 10th Consecutive Road Point
