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Pulkkinen nets hat trick, Griffins take Game 1 vs. Rockford

Posted at 12:54 AM, May 07, 2015
and last updated 2015-05-07 00:54:40-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Teemu Pulkkinen and the Grand Rapids Griffins say they didn't play their best hockey on Wednesday night.

It was good enough to get a win and a 1-0 series lead in the Western Conference Semifinals of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Pulkkinen scored the franchise's seventh playoff hat trick -- raising his postseason goal total to 9 -- and the Griffins won Game 1 of their best-of-seven series against the Rockford IceHogs by a score of 5-3.

Kevin Porter and Marc-Louis Aubry added goals for the Griffins, who led 3-1 after two periods before Rockford scored twice in the third to tie the game.

Pulkkinen's game-winner -- his third goal of the night -- came with 2:46 remaining in regulation.

Game 2 of the series is Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Van Andel Arena.