A tough start to the season landed a team with five wins in the AHL's basement. A handful of crucial additions to the roster and refusal to punt on the season saw the club ascend the Western Conference with a 40-27-9 record. A seven game win streak to end the season clinched a playoff berth.
Their Western Conference quarterfinal against the Grand Rapids Griffins was a reminder of work ahead. Winning home games one and two carried the momentum over from the regular season. Grand Rapids responded the way you'd expect from a veteran group, regaining their legs on home ice and taking the series in five.