GRAND RAPIDS – A bad overtime line change doomed the Grand Rapids Griffins in a 3-2 loss to the Texas Stars Friday night at Van Andel Arena.
Former Michigan State Spartan standout Chris Mueller scored the game-winning goal for the Stars 3:18 into overtime, bringing the Griffins’ series win streak to a close after two games.
The loss sets the Griffins back three games to two as the teams head back to Texas for Game 6 on Sunday, and Game 7 on Monday if needed.
Despite the loss, Grand Rapids head coach Jeff Blashill said he thought his team played well.
“I don’t like to compare our team to other teams, but what I will say is that was the best game I think we’ve played in this series and I think we’re just starting to find our game,” Blashill said. “I think we’ll be real good on Sunday.”
The Stars dominated the first period, outshooting the Griffins 8-5, and scoring on two of them.
The momentum shifted into the Stars’ favor when Griffins forward David McIntyre took a holding call.
On that power play, Texas showed why it was the best man-advantage unit in the AHL during the regular season as forward Mike Hedden found the net 7:35 into the game.
Almost exactly a minute later, Brendan Ranford flipped the puck into the top right corner of the Griffins net to give the Stars a 2-0 advantage in the first period.
Griffins forward Tomas Jurco stood by his coach’s sentiment by saying the first was a solid period, save a few small mistakes.
“They scored two goals, but we didn’t think we played bad,” Jurco said. “Sometimes you don’t know, you make little mistakes.”
Grand Rapids came back with a flurry of offensive chances in the second period, where they outshot Texas, 16-7. With that offensive outburst, the Griffins tied the game up at 2-2.
“We came out in the second from the very first shift and played very well,” Blashill said.
Mitch Callahan scored his first goal of the playoffs 11:22 into the second in a similar fashion that netted many of his regular-season goals, a tip of a Jurco shot that found its way past Stars goalie Jack Campbell.
Jurco’s assist on the goal ties him for 7th all-time in Griffins playoff scoring, with Tomas Tatar and Kevin Miller at 21 points.
Forward Teemu Pulkkinen struck with a rocket from the left of the Texas net at 17:57 of the period to tie it up, heading into the third period.
The third period was a culmination of the first two periods as both teams had several chances but couldn’t capitalize on any of them and sent the period into overtime.
A back and forth first three minutes of overtime eventually led to a bad line change for the Griffins and Mueller took advantage with a big wind-up and a shot that blew past Griffins goalie Petr Mrazek.
“Right-hand guy from the side, just went in,” Mrazek said of the goal. “Nothing else to say about it.”
Although the loss will force the Griffins to win two games in Texas to advance to the Western Conference Finals, the team isn’t doubting the possibility, even though they lost the first two games of the series there.
“I can say that was probably the best game we played in the series,” Mrazek said. “We have to [win both games], we’re playing to four wins and it’s not over.”