GRAND RAPIDS — Detroit prospect prospect Carter Mazur scored two goals and NHL veteran defenseman Erik Gustafsson contributed a goal and an assist to help the Grand Rapids Griffins regain control of their best-of-five playoff series with a 4-2 home win against the Manitoba Moose.

The Griffins will take a 2-1 series lead into Friday’s Game 4 at Van Andel Arena.

A crowd of 7,581 showed up for the game. That’s the largest Griffins attendance for a home playoff debut since it drew 7,690 in 2019.

Detroit prospect goalie Michal Postava continued his impressive play. He has given up only three goals in the first three games of the series. He had a shutout string of 101:48 minutes ended when Moose Mason Shaw scored late in the third period.

If you go back to Game 7 of the Czechia League Final last season, Postava has given up only three goals in his last four playoff games. He gave his Kometa Brno the Czech League title with a 3-0 shutout in that deciding game. He shut out Manitoba 2-0 in Game 2. Postava gave up a lone power play goal in a 1-0 loss in Game 1.

Jakub Rychlovsky gave Grand Rapids a 1-0 first period lead by scoring while he was being checked to the ice. Carter Mazur scored the Griffins’ third goal, knocking the puck out of the ice, and firing it into the Moose net.

Takeaways

The Griffins outshot the Moose 11-6 in the first period. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard had three of the 11 shots. . . . Eddie Genborg was injured earlier in the series and didn’t play Game 3.

Key Stat

Counting regular season and playoffs, Postava has played a total of 28 games for the Griffins. He has yet to give up more than three goals in a game. Postava has given up two or fewer in 22 of those 28 games. He is competing to be one of the Red Wings goalies next season.

Key Moment

Gustafsson’s long shot leaked through Manitoba goalie Domenic DiVincentiis at 4:41 of the second period to give Grand Rapids a 2-0 lead. The goal came at a time when the Moose were working hard to convince themselves they could win the game. The Griffins had only scored two goals in the first two games of the series. The two-goal lead against him was important.

What’s Next

Game 4 of this best-of-five series is Friday at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena. Game 5 (if needed) will be Saturday.