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Video: Griffins prepare for series with IceHogs

Posted at 6:56 PM, May 05, 2015
and last updated 2015-05-05 18:56:22-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich --

The Grand Rapids Griffins don't have much time to celebrate their come from behind first round series win over Toronto.  The Griffins with just two days off before opening a best of 7  Western Conference semi-final with Rockford on Wednesday, but after winning three straight less time off is preffered.

"We're pretty excited about that comeback that we had and with all the momentum that we have," said Griffins forward Tyler Bertuzzi.  "You know, the way that our team's playing at this point, you know, we're excited to get into it right away so that we can carry it over into the next series."

"We're certainly battle tested after the series we just went through," says coach Jeff Blasill  I don't think we need lots of rest for our guys, I think they're ready to roll and it should be an exciting game tomorrow night."

It should be  a pretty evenly matched series.  In eight regular season games between the two, the Griffins went 4-3-0-1 against Rockford and finsihed one-point ahead of the IceHogs in the Midwest Division.

"I think we're very evenly matched, we play similar styles and we had a lot of really tight games in the regular season," says goalie Tom McCollum.  "I think most of the goals we're a one goal game, so it will definitely be a lot of fun."

"I think it's going to be an extremely tight series," says Blashill.  "I think we were basically even all year long.  It came down to one point at the end of the year for us to finish a spot or two spots ahead of them.  I think it's two real close teams that are going to go to battle and I think it should be a great series."

Although it was just a one point difference between Grand Rapids and Rockford, it proves huge, as it was the difference between the Griffins getting home ice advantage and starting the series on the road.

"It's huge, you know, it makes you realize how important every game is during the regular season," says forward Andy Miele.  "You know, it's funny that 76 games comes down to one point and what an advantage it is here in the playoffs."