Grand Rapids loses Game 3, faces elimination

Chase De Leo had a goal and three assists to lead the Manitoba Moose in a 6-3 Game 3 victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins Wednesday at Van Andel Arena, taking a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five AHL Central Division playoff series.

The Moose can close the series with a win against the defending Calder Cup champions Thursday in Game 4 at Van Andel Arena. Faceoff is 7 p.m.

Goals by Mike Sgarbossa and Nic Petan (power play) staked Manitoba to a 2-0 first-period lead before Ben Street replied for Grand Rapids at 15:28.

More: Griffins’ Colin Campbell suspended for Game 3 of series

Manitoba's Sami Niku scored 1:05 into the second, which prompted the Griffins to replace starting goalie Tom McCollum (three goals on 11 shots) with Jared Coreau.

The last two Manitoba goals were empty-netters as Grand Rapids pulled Coreau for an extra attacker during the final two minutes. Coreau stopped 11 of 12 shots.

Eric Tangradi and Zach Nastasiuk also scored for the Griffins.

CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS

CENTRAL DIVISION SEMIFINALS

Grand Rapids Griffins vs. Manitoba Moose

Game 1: Manitoba 3, Grand Rapids 2

Game 2: Grand Rapids 5, Manitoba 1

Game 3: Manitoba 6, Grand Rapids 3

Thursday: at Grand Rapids, 7 p.m.

x-Monday: at Grand Rapids, 7 p.m.

x-If necessary