GRIFFINS CLINCH BERTH IN 2016 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Grand Rapids Griffins punched their ticket to the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs with a 5-2 win over the Rochester Americans on Sunday at Blue Cross Arena.

Zach Nastasiuk scored a pair of goals as the Griffins earned their fourth consecutive postseason appearance and 14th in franchise history. Todd Nelson also secured his fifth playoff berth in as many full seasons as an AHL head coach.

Tom McCollum turned aside 30 of 32 shots for his ninth win in his last 11 appearances, posting a 1.52 goals against average, a 0.952 save percentage and one shutout in that span. The result sees the Griffins rise to second in the Central Division and third overall in the Western Conference.

Cole Schneider started the scoring for Rochester (33-34-2-1) with 36 seconds remaining in the opening period. Justin Bailey’s shot from the right half-boards was deflected in front off the stick of Schneider and in over McCollum’s left shoulder. Aided by 4:22 of power play time, the Amerks controlled the play for the bulk of the first frame as they outshot Grand Rapids 17-8.

Nastasiuk evened the score for the Griffins (43-25-1-1) 9:27 into the second. After Andy Miele gained the zone and sent a backhanded pass from the left point, Nastasiuk’s initial effort from the high slot forced a glove save from Andrey Makarov, but he swatted his own rebound out of mid-air and past the Rochester netminder’s left pad.

Mitch Callahan gave the Griffins the lead on the power play with 5:45 left in the middle frame. Martin Frk’s quick feed from the left circle was redirected in front by Callahan high to the glove side for his 18th of the campaign.

Louis-Marc Aubry gave Grand Rapids a two-goal advantage at the 7:16 mark of the third. Nastasiuk’s no-look, between-the-legs pass found Aubry in the slot for a backhand shot along the ice that rolled inside the right post.

The Griffins put the game beyond any doubt with two late insurance tallies. Dan Cleary made it a three-goal cushion on an empty-netter with 2:39 remaining when he got his stick on Robbie Russo’s backhanded clearing attempt before the puck went the length of the ice and into the open cage.

Nastasiuk added a fifth goal 38 seconds later. After Aubry’s pass from the left circle went to Nastasiuk in front, he managed to stab at the loose puck while seated on the ice and send it just over the goal line for his first multi-goal game as a Griffin. Alex Guptill completed the scoring for Rochester with 1:38 on the clock.

Grand Rapids finished 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Amerks failed to score on three opportunities. Makarov stopped 33 of 37 shots in defeat.

The Griffins return to Van Andel Arena on Friday for the first half of a home-and-home series against the Chicago Wolves at 7 p.m.

Three Stars: 1. GR Nastasiuk (two goals, assist); 2. GR Miele (two assists); 3. GR McCollum (W, 30 saves)

Notes: Aubry played in his 300th game as a Griffin on Sunday. Miele recorded his 200th AHL assist with the primary helper on Nastasiuk’s first goal.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Grand Rapids Griffins punched their ticket to the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs with a 5-2 win over the Rochester Americans on Sunday at Blue Cross Arena.

Zach Nastasiuk scored a pair of goals as the Griffins earned their fourth consecutive postseason appearance and 14th in franchise history. Todd Nelson also secured his fifth playoff berth in as many full seasons as an AHL head coach.

Tom McCollum turned aside 30 of 32 shots for his ninth win in his last 11 appearances, posting a 1.52 goals against average, a 0.952 save percentage and one shutout in that span. The result sees the Griffins rise to second in the Central Division and third overall in the Western Conference.

Cole Schneider started the scoring for Rochester (33-34-2-1) with 36 seconds remaining in the opening period. Justin Bailey’s shot from the right half-boards was deflected in front off the stick of Schneider and in over McCollum’s left shoulder. Aided by 4:22 of power play time, the Amerks controlled the play for the bulk of the first frame as they outshot Grand Rapids 17-8.

Nastasiuk evened the score for the Griffins (43-25-1-1) 9:27 into the second. After Andy Miele gained the zone and sent a backhanded pass from the left point, Nastasiuk’s initial effort from the high slot forced a glove save from Andrey Makarov, but he swatted his own rebound out of mid-air and past the Rochester netminder’s left pad.

Mitch Callahan gave the Griffins the lead on the power play with 5:45 left in the middle frame. Martin Frk’s quick feed from the left circle was redirected in front by Callahan high to the glove side for his 18th of the campaign.

Louis-Marc Aubry gave Grand Rapids a two-goal advantage at the 7:16 mark of the third. Nastasiuk’s no-look, between-the-legs pass found Aubry in the slot for a backhand shot along the ice that rolled inside the right post.

The Griffins put the game beyond any doubt with two late insurance tallies. Dan Cleary made it a three-goal cushion on an empty-netter with 2:39 remaining when he got his stick on Robbie Russo’s backhanded clearing attempt before the puck went the length of the ice and into the open cage.

Nastasiuk added a fifth goal 38 seconds later. After Aubry’s pass from the left circle went to Nastasiuk in front, he managed to stab at the loose puck while seated on the ice and send it just over the goal line for his first multi-goal game as a Griffin. Alex Guptill completed the scoring for Rochester with 1:38 on the clock.

Grand Rapids finished 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Amerks failed to score on three opportunities. Makarov stopped 33 of 37 shots in defeat.

The Griffins return to Van Andel Arena on Friday for the first half of a home-and-home series against the Chicago Wolves at 7 p.m.

Three Stars: 1. GR Nastasiuk (two goals, assist); 2. GR Miele (two assists); 3. GR McCollum (W, 30 saves)

Notes: Aubry played in his 300th game as a Griffin on Sunday. Miele recorded his 200th AHL assist with the primary helper on Nastasiuk’s first goal.