AHL preview: Grand Rapids Griffins vs. Chicago Wolves
Here's a look at the matchup for Central Division Finals of the American Hockey League:
What: Grand Rapids Griffins vs. the Chicago Wolves
When: Game 1 at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Allstate Arena
TV: U-Too
How they got there: The Wolves twice came back from one-game deficits and strung together back-to-back victories in Games 4 and 5 for their first-round series win against the Charlotte Checkers. While the Griffins swept the Milwaukee Admirals in three games, two of those contests went to overtime.
Skinny: The Wolves edged the Griffins by 1 point in the Central Division standings, which could provide big dividends during this best-of-seven series because the Wolves enjoyed a franchise-record .763 home winning percentage during the regular season.
These teams boast the same amount of firepower - they tied for fourth place in the AHL with 3.30 goals per game - but the Wolves didn't have six skaters due to injury in their Game 5 victory over Charlotte on April 26. Head coach Craig Berube hopes the weeklong layoff between the first and second rounds allows AHL First All-Star Team center Wade Megan and defenseman James Wisniewski, among others, to return to the lineup.
Grand Rapids defeated the Wolves eight out of 10 times during the regular season, though three of those wins came in overtime. Goaltender Jared Coreau, who spent nearly half the season with the Detroit Red Wings, posted a 2.10 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in the first-round sweep of Milwaukee.
Tickets: ticketmaster.com or 1-800 THE WOLVES.
Central Division FinalsWednesday: G1 at Wolves, 7 p.m.
Friday: G2 at Wolves, 7 p.m.
Saturday: G3 at Griffins, 6 p.m.
Monday: G4 at Griffins, 6 p.m.
May 13: G5 at Wolves, 7 p.m.*
May 15: G6 at Griffins, 6 p.m.*
May 16: G7 at Wolves, 7 p.m.*
*if necessary; U-Too broadcasts at 26.2; Comcast 230, RCN 35, WOW 170, Dish Network 24.