Griffins Look to Playoffs Following 3-2 Loss in Finale
April 16, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Despite two power play goals by Ryan Sproul, the Grand Rapids Griffins dropped a 3-2 decision to the Bakersfield Condors on Saturday at Van Andel Arena to conclude their 20th regular season.
The fourth-place Griffins (44-30-1-1) will now face the Central Division champion Milwaukee Admirals in the first round of the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs. The best-of-five division semifinals will kick off with Game 1 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center this Friday, April 22 at 8 p.m. EDT.
The Griffins used their first man-advantage to jump on top 3:44 into the game, with Sproul blasting a one-timer from the point high into the net of a screened Laurent Brossoit.
Bakersfield (31-28-7-2) evened the score with 4:35 left in the frame. Braden Christoffer stole the puck from Andy Miele at the Condors' blue line and sped up the left side on a 2-on-1 before centering a pass for Kyle Platzer, who flipped the puck over a diving Tom McCollum.
The visitors took their first lead midway through the second, when Zach Boychuk ripped a shot past McCollum from the slot at 11:02 after taking Jordan Oesterle's backhand feed from the end boards.
Sproul's second power play goal of the night made it a 2-2 contest early in the third, as he blasted Miele's pass into the near corner from the right circle 39 seconds into the period. But a misplay of the puck by McCollum in the final minutes quickly ended up out front on the stick of Brad Hunt, who whipped it home at 17:46 to give the Condors the victory in the final game of their inaugural AHL season.
McCollum ended the night with 18 saves while Brossoit took the victory behind 31 stops.
American Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2016
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