Noah Philp two points, Cayden Primeau made 33 saves and the Chicago Wolves eliminated the Central Division champion Grand Rapids Griffins with a 3-2 win in Game 4 of their best-of-five series at Allstate Arena on Thursday night.
Chicago will face the Colorado Eagles in the Western Conference finals, with Game 1 scheduled for next Thursday in Loveland, Colo. It will be the Wolves’ seventh conference finals appearance since joining the AHL in 2001-02.
Meanwhile, Grand Rapids’ loss leaves the division champions among the AHL’s final four teams for the second time since 1997.
Philp broke a 0-0 tie with two minutes left in the second period, and added another goal 4:02 into the third. It was Philp’s first two points of the series.
Justin Robidas then netted his third goal of the series with 3:56 to play to make it 3-0, and that was the game-winner as the Griffins scored twice late in the period. Michal Postava close for an extra attacker. Eduards Tralmaks spoiled Primeau’s shutout bid with 2:47 left, as well Sheldon Dries he deviated from the shot Michael Brandsegg-Nygård 14.9 seconds left.
Postava, who started all eight postseason games for the Griffins, turned away 18 of 21 shots in the loss.
(Chicago wins series, 3-1)
Game 1 – Thursday, May 14 – Chicago 2, GRAND RAPIDS 1
Game 2 – Sat., May 16 – Chicago 4, GRAND RAPIDS 3 (OT)
Game 3 – Tue., May 19 – Grand Rapids 4, CHICAGO 3 (OT)
Game 4 – Thursday, May 21 – CHICAGO 3, Grand Rapids 2
