The Grand Rapids Griffins took Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals in San Jose by the score of 3-1. The win Saturday set a franchise record for their best playoff start at 8-1.
California native Mitch Callahan would start off the scoring for the Griffins with a goal 6:45 into the opening period. Just 3:08 later Ben Street would put the Griffins ahead by two after a picking up a turnover forced by Eric Tangradi. San Jose would answer with a goal of their own just 41 seconds later as Kevin Labanc scored the Barracuda's only goal of the night.
The final goal of the game would come at the 10:58 mark of the 3rd period as Matthew Ford scored his league leading fourth power play goal of the postseason.
In two regular season meetings, Barracuda goalie Troy Grosenick only surrendered one goal total to the Griffins. The Griffins' goalie Jared Coreau stopped 26 shots and shut out the San Jose power play on the night pushing the Griffins' streak of successful penalty kills to 20.
The only previous time the Griffins won game 1 of a conference final came in 2013 over the Oklahoma City Barons. The Griffins would go on to win the Calder Cup that season.
The Griffins are 9-0 all time in best of seven series after taking a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2 is slated for Sunday at 8 p.m. in San Jose.