GRAND RAPIDS - An early two-goal deficit proved too much for the Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday in a chippy Game 3 loss to the Manitoba Moose in the Central Division Semifinals.
The Moose scored twice in the opening 8:25, added two more in the second and, despite facing 48 shots, rolled to a 6-3 win to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
The teams meet again 7 p.m. Thursday for Game 4. If necessary, Game 5 would be 7 p.m. Monday at Van Andel Arena.
MORE: Game summary | AHL scoreboard
The Griffins got goals from Ben Street in the first and Eric Tangradi and Zach Nastasiuk in the second in a game that started off with a bang - 12 penalties for 68 minutes and a number of fights in the first period.