GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Griffins defeated the Toronto Marlies 5-4 at Van Andel Arena in Game 3 of their Calder Cup Western Conference semifinal series. The Griffins now lead the series 2-1.
Adam Almquist opened the scoring 3:45 into the first frame with his third goal of the postseason. Griffins captain Jeff Hoggan gave Grand Rapids a 2-0 lead exactly two minutes later. Toronto’s Ryan Hamilton made it 2-1 at the 14:21 mark in his first game back with the Marlies after being reassigned by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Grand Rapids opened the scoring early in the second period. Tomas Tatar scored his sixth of the postseason at 2:38 in the second period to give the Griffins a 3-1 lead. However, the Marlies would score two in the second period to tie the game 3-3, before Francis Pare capped the scoring in the second frame with his second of the postseason at 17:06 on the power play.
For the third period in a row, the Griffins scored early. Francis Pare lit the lamp just 46 seconds into the final frame to put the Griffins back up by two goals, 5-3. Carter Ashton would make it a one-goal game again with 15:00 left in the third period, but that would be it for the scoring.
Grand Rapids outshot Toronto 32-20. Both teams were 1-for-4 with the man advantage. Game 4 is 7:00 p.m. Friday at Van Andel Arena.
