Grand Rapids Griffins’ season comes to a close

By Michael Caples –

Things would have been different, had they won Game 5.

But in that Game 5, the Griffins lost in overtime to the Texas Stars, putting them on the brink of elimination as the series shifted back to Texas for the final two games of the season.

Sunday night, the Stars wrapped things up in convincing fashion in Game 6, giving the Griffins an end to their 2013-14 season.

The Stars, after seizing control of the series with a 3-2 overtime victory in Friday night’s Game 5 in Grand Rapids, beat the Griffins 7-1 last night, eliminating the defending Calder Cup champions in the AHL’s second round.

“We’ve talked a lot about momentum in this series, and they took momentum back right away and never let it go,” coach Jeff Blashill told MLive after the game. “They’re a really good team, overall, and a really good team at home.”

Teemu Pulkkinen scored the Griffins’ lone goal in their season-ending contest, and it came just 36 seconds into the contest. However, two goals from the Stars 1:02 apart a few minutes later vanquished any hope for the Griffins, who were already facing a steep task in needing back-to-back wins away from Van Andel Arena to extend their season.

Former Red Wings defenseman Derek Meech took home first star honors in Game 6 after recording a goal and an assist.

Pulkkinen finishes in the second spot in the AHL playoff scoring race; he recorded 11 points in 10 games. Cory Emmerton was second on the Griffins in playoff scoring, recording two goals and seven assists for nine points in nine games.

Petr Mrazek finishes with a 5-5 record, a 2.80 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.

The Griffins are now 2-1 in elimination games under Blashill; the 2013-14 AHL Coach of the Year had not lost a playoff series since taking over at the start of last season.

Blashill just completed the second season of his three-year contract and could draw the attention of NHL clubs after capturing an AHL championship and an AHL coach of the year award in under 24 months.

The season-ending loss came exactly 11 months after the Griffins had claimed their first pro hockey title in city history.