A couple of recent Detroit Red Wings first-round picks played key roles as the Grand Rapids Griffins forged ahead in the AHL Calder Cup playoffs.
Axel Sandin-Pellikka (No. 17, 2023 draft) and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (No. 15, 2024) each scored a goal on Friday, May 8, as the Griffins downed the Manitoba Moose, 5-2, at Van Andel Arena.
The goals helped the Griffins close out the Central Division semifinals four games into the best-of-five series.
The Griffins advance to meet the Chicago Wolves in the Central Division finals, also a best-of-five round. Game 1 opens the series Thursday in Grand Rapids.
Eduards Tralmarks, a free-agent signing, scored in the first period. Goaltender Michal Postava, another free-agent signing, made 19 saves in his fourth straight start.
Carter Mazur, who had two goals in Game 3, had two goals and an assist Friday, scoring his first on a power play and his second into an empty net (his second straight game with an empty-net goal). Mazur is a third-round pick from 2021 who played eight games for the Wings this season.
Sandin-Pellikka, who appeared in 68 games for the Wings this season, scored his first goal of the playoffs with about five minutes to play in the second period, giving the Griffins a 2-1 lead.
Dylan Anhorn (second period) and Phillip Di Giuseppe (third period) scored for the Moose.
Brandsegg-Nygård, who played in 14 games, scored his second goal of the playoffs early in the third period.
The Griffins were shut out, 1-0, in Game 1 of the series, then came back and shut out the Moose, 2-0, in Game 2. The Griffins took Game 3 by a score of 4-2.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Carter Mazur shows why Detroit Red Wings called him up late in season
Reporting by Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
