NO MAGIC TONIGHT

HAMILTON, Ontario – The Grand Rapids Griffins suffered a 3-1 loss to the Bulldogs Friday night at Copps Coliseum as the Hamilton goaltender, Carey Price gave a 27-save performance during his professional debut.

As a result of the loss and Peoria’s 4-0 victory over Omaha tonight, Grand Rapids’ magic number to clinch a playoff berth remains at three points over the Rivermen with two games left.

The Griffins return home tomorrow night for the season finale of their regular season home schedule, competing against the Hamilton Bulldogs for the third time in four nights at 7 p.m.

Duncan Milroy gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead during a power play at 5:01of the middle stanza by centering the puck from behind the net, which redirected off Derek Meech’s shin pad and over the goal line as he was kneeling to block the pass.

Hamilton increased their lead at 10:21 while on another power play as Andre Benoit fired one by Jimmy Howard from Maxim Lapierre and Matt D’Agostini.

But the Griffins capitalized on their own man advantage opportunity just 1:34 into the third period when Danny Syvret let a wrist shot go from 30-feet that Jonathan Ericsson tipped between Price’s pads.

The lamp lighter turned out to be only Grand Rapids goal of the night as the Bulldogs managed an empty netter from Jonathan Ferland with only three seconds remaining.

Howard made 19 saves on the evening while Price stopped 27.