Lose the special teams battles, and a hockey team will usually lose the hockey game, too.
That’s what happened to the Grand Rapids Griffins Wednesday in Syracuse, adding up to a 5-3 loss, in Game 3 of the AHL Calder Cup Finals.
The Griffins saw their 13-game playoff streak of scoring a power-play goal come to an end.
Plus, the Griffins’ allowed two Syracuse power-play goals – while taking nine penalties during the game.
The undisciplined play was a main topic of conversation among Griffins coach Todd Nelson and players afterward.
“We can’t take that many penalties, especially when we have something going,” Nelson told reporters after the game.