Griffins Tie Series With 2-0 Win

The post Griffins Tie Series With 2-0 Win appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard

It was an afternoon to remember for Michael Brandsegg-Nygard.

As a result, the Grand Rapids Griffins are even in their playoff series with the Manitoba Moose.

Brandegg-Nygard scored one goal and assisted on the other as the Griffins evened their series with the Moose, taking a 2-0 victory and tying the best-of-five series at one game apiece.

But it didn’t come easy.

For the second day in a row, Griffins goalie Michal Postava and Manitoba’s Domenic DiVincentiis were stellar in goal.

DiVincentiis had 32 saves on 34 shots, while Postava was 30-for-30 in saves.

But the Griffins, who allowed 14 shots on goal in the period, held the Moose to 16, eight in each period, the rest of the way.

“This was a team effort, ” Brandsegg-Nygard said. “Everyone was playing hard.”

This time, it was the Griffins getting what turned out to be the winning goal on the power play. Brandsegg-Nygard scored for Grand Rapids with 2:56 left in the first period, taking advantage with assists from Sheldon Dries and John Leonard.

“Dries fed me an incredible pass,” Brandsegg-Nygard said. “So it made it easy for me to tap it in back door.”

William Wallinder, who had two goals during the regular season made it 2-0 with a little over five minutes remaining when his shot was deflected off a defenseman’s stick past DiVincentiis.

“That was a huge goal,” Brandsegg-Nygard said.

The Griffins, who had the second-mrost points in the AHL this season, were among three division winners who lost their series openers after first-round byes.

All that is in the past, and the Griffins ready themselves for another duel with the Moose and DiVincentiis on Wednesday.