The Milwaukee Admirals had an easy goal going into Game 3 of the best-of-five Central Division Finals on Wednesday.
They had to settle the crowd at Van Andel Arena, where the Griffins held the third best record in the AHL during the regular season (23-7-4-2).
Egor Afanasyev two second-half goals with 4:40 left in overtime to give the Admirals a 3-2 win and a 2-1 lead in Game 4 tonight.
“The first two halves, there's not much I didn't like about our game,” the Admirals coach Karl Taylor he told the media after Game 3. “I thought we played well. The goal was to get the crowd out of it, like everybody did in the first road game, so I thought we did a good job.”
Afanasyev deflected any praise.
“I think as long as everyone plays consistently, that's what it's all about at this point in the season,” Afanasyev said.
But Taylor was happy to praise his third-year player, who has scored a team-leading 27 goals this season.
“You can see his determination,” Taylor said of Afanasyev. “He rips pucks.”
Griffins head coach Dan Watson he discussed his plan for Game 3, putting forward Matt Luff for the first time since Game 2 of the semifinals and wear Hunter Johannes and the protector Wyatt Newpower in their first playoffs.
Forward Taro Hirose again Amadeus Lombardi they were out, when the captain Josiah Didier it was not on the blue line.
The protector Simon Edwinsson missed his second straight game for Grand Rapids.
― with files from Patrick Williams
Source link
