GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Grand Rapids Griffins certainly haven't played perfect hockey since dropping the first two games of the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs.
But their record since is.
Anthony Mantha broke a 1-1 second period tie with his first goal of the playoffs -- and Teemu Pulkkinen continued his postseason rampage with two goals, leading the Griffins to a 5-1 win against Rockford in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Grand Rapids now leads the best-of-seven series, 2-0.
Since going down 0-2 to Toronto in the conference quarterfinals, the Griffins have won five straight playoff games.
Tom McCollum has been the starter for all five of those wins -- and was stellar on Friday after giving up the opening goal of the game. McCollum stopped all of the IceHogs' 28 shots after they took a 1-0 lead in the first period.
Pulkkinen's two goals puts him at 11 for the playoffs -- tops in the American Hockey League and five shy of tying Tomas Tatar's 2013 single-postseason franchise record.
Game 3 of the series is in Rockford on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. Michigan time.
