Griffins Flashback: April 26

Take a look back at this date in Griffins history.

April 26, 2018
On the strength of Jared Coreau’s 25-save shutout – his third in his last three starts against the Moose, dating to the regular season – the Griffins tie the Central Division Semifinals at two games apiece with a 3-0 win at Van Andel Arena, improving to 7-1 when facing elimination on home ice since 2013. (Photos)

April 26, 2017
Kyle Criscuolo tips a feed from Dan Renouf past Marek Mazanec 10:03 into overtime to give the Griffins a second straight three-game sweep of Milwaukee in the Central Division Semifinals and propel them into the second round for a franchise-record fifth consecutive year. The 3-2 victory also continues the Griffins’ remarkable success at closing out opponents, as Grand Rapids wins its fifth straight game in which its opponent faces playoff elimination and improves to 4-0 in such games on the road since the beginning of its Calder Cup run in 2013. Jared Coreau’s 41 saves and Matt Lorito’s tying goal with 3:38 remaining in regulation set the stage for Criscuolo’s heroics. (Photos)

April 26, 2016
The Griffins finish off their first series sweep in 13 years, earn their first-ever series win against a No. 1 seed and advance to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs for the fourth straight season with a 4-1 triumph over Milwaukee in Game 3 of the Central Division Semifinals. Anthony Mantha leads the way with a pair of second-period goals while Tom McCollum makes 28 saves and allows just a single goal for the third straight game, finishing the series 91-of-94 (0.968) between the pipes. (Photos)

April 26, 2015
T.J. Brennan’s power play goal with 6:36 remaining breaks a 2-2 tie before Toronto adds a pair of empty-net goals in the final minute to escape with a 5-2 victory over the Griffins at Ricoh Coliseum and go up 2-0 in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. After losing an early two-goal lead, Grand Rapids was unable to capitalize on a five-minute power play during the third period that included a two-man advantage for two full minutes, setting the stage for Brennan’s late heroics. (Photos)

April 26, 2014
In one of the most dominant road performances in their playoff history, the Griffins score six unanswered goals to rally from an early deficit and claim a 7-2 win over the Heat in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Their 46 shots set a franchise record for a road playoff game, while their 21-7 shot advantage during the first period sets a team playoff mark for most shots in a road period and ties the record for shots in any period. The Griffins head home with a 2-0 series lead after extending another franchise record with their seventh consecutive road win during the playoffs. (Photos)

April 26, 2013
The Midwest Division-champion Griffins return to the Calder Cup Playoffs for the first time in four years but fall 3-0 at Houston in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Petr Mrazek, just the second rookie goalie to start a playoff season for the Griffins, stops 27 of 29 shots but is trumped by Aeros netminder Darcy Kuemper, who makes 36 saves in one of the best playoff performances ever by a goaltender against Grand Rapids. (Photos)

April 26, 2009
The Griffins claim their first playoff series win since 2006 with a convincing 4-1 victory at Hamilton, winning the series 4-2 to advance to the North Division Finals against Manitoba. Ville Leino enjoys a four-point night, including an empty-net goal with 38 seconds left, and Jimmy Howard finishes with 22 saves as the Griffins shrug off a Bulldogs goal nine seconds into the game to earn their first playoff series victory ever as the lower seed.

April 26, 2006
The Griffins endure their first postponement of a playoff game, caused by a power outage affecting Ricoh Coliseum. Game 4 of the North Division Semifinals at Toronto is rescheduled for the following night at the Air Canada Centre, home of the Marlies’ NHL affiliate, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

April 26, 2000
Following a 10-day layoff, the Griffins open the IHL Turner Cup Playoffs and the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a 2-1 overtime loss to Cleveland.