NOTE: Jonatan Berggren was originally credited with three goals, but an official scoring change credited Marco Kasper with a PP goal in the third period. Berggren finished the night with 2 goals, 1 assist while Kasper finished with 1 goal, 1 assist.
Jonatan Berggren — a postseason hero.
The Grand Rapids Griffins powered past the Milwaukee Admirals in game four of the Central Division Finals Saturday night on home ice. The game started grim for the home team as Milwaukee opened the scoring in the first period, only to follow it up with a tally to make it 2-0 in the second period. Going into the third period, facing elimination, the Griffins erupted with four unanswered goals — including three from Berggren alone.
The go-ahead goal came at 10:06 of the third period — and you gotta highlight Carter Mazur’s play on this one. Mazur found Berggren on a cross-crease pass to send Van Andel Arena into absolute bedlam:
Berggren would complete the hat-trick a minute-and-a-half later, with helpers from Radim Semek and Marco Kasper. Love this highlight because as Berggren gets the puck before he snipes it home, Larry Figurski, one of the voices for the Griffins play call shouted “SHOOT IT!”
Sebastian Cossa stopped the final 17 shots he faced and finished with 31 saves, helping the Griffins improve to 11-7 all time when facing playoff elimination at home.
Coincidentally (?), Simon Edvinsson made his return to the lineup after missing some time with an injury. The blue-chip rearguard picked up one assist in his return. Carter Mazur finished the night with a pair of assists, so altogether a great night for Red Wings prospects.
The best-of-five series is now tied at two games a piece, with game five set for tomorrow in Milwaukee with a 7:00 PM ET puck drop. The winner will meet the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the Western Conference finals.
Stars of the Game
- Jonatan Berggren (3 goals)
- Sebastian Cossa (31 saves on 33 shots)
- Joel L’Esperance (1 goal)
Game Notes
-Berggren’s hat trick was the 10th in Griffins playoff history and the first since Mitch Callahan did it in another Game 4 of a division final on May 8, 2017 versus Chicago.
-Berggren became at least the second Griffin to record three or more goals in a single playoff period, echoing Yves Sarault’s four-goal third frame against Cincinnati in Game 3 of the IHL’s Eastern Conference Finals on May 19, 2000.
Full Highlights
