GRAND RAPIDS — The Detroit Red Wings believe current Griffins player Axel Sandin-Pellikka can be a difference-maker as an offensive defenseman at the NHL level.

But for now, team’s management is content with the offensive flair he showed in splitting two opponents and sliding a puck through goalie Thomas Milic for the go-ahead goal in the Grand Rapids Griffins’ 5-2 win against Manitoba Moose.

The triumph gave Grand Rapids a 3-1 win in the best-of-five series against the Moose. The Griffins will now play the Chicago Wolves in the best-of-five Division Final starts Thursday in Grand Rapids. The Wolves won four of six meetings in the regular season.

ASP got the Griffins’ party started Friday night.

Sandin-Pelllikka’s goal was one of three power play goals the Griffins scored in the game. The young Swede’s effort came when the game was tied 1-1. John Leonard drew the only assist.

Early in the third period, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard converted Amadeus Lombardi’s perfect centering feed for an insurance goal.

The Carter Mazur-Lombardi-MBN trio struck again later in the period when Mazur added the team’s third power play goal. He also added an empty netter and an assist for three points.

Mazur, Brandsegg-Nygard and Sandin-Pellikka are all keys to Detroit’s future.

Eduards Tralmaks scored the Griffins first power play goal 4:40 into the game to give the home team a 1-0 lead. The Moose, who only scored five goals in the series, tied the game on Dylan Anhorn’s goal at 3:04 of the second period.

Goalie Michal Postava posted 19 saves. He stopped 86 of 91 shots in the series.

Takeaways

Counting the regular-season and playoffs, Grand Rapids goalie Michal Postava has played 29 games without giving up more than three goals. He has given up two or fewer goals in 23 of those games and three goals in six games. . . The Moose went with Milic after using Domenic DiVincentiis in the first three games of the season. The 2023 fifth-round draft pick is considered one of Winnipeg’s top prospects. . . Lombardi’s two assists were his first of the series.

Key Stat

Brandsegg-Nygard’s goal was his second of the series. If there is one forward Red Wings management wants to see produce in this postseason, it’s Brandsegg-Nygard. His combination of skill and physical make him a candidate to make the Red Wings next season. He had three points in the four games.

Key Moment

Right after Sandin-Pellikka’s goal, the Griffins penalty killing did the job killing Jakub Rychlovsky’s tripping penalty. The Moose also took a penalty to cut the Moose power play by 38 seconds. It would have been a momentum killer if Manitoba had converted with the extra man.

Coming Up

The Griffins will play the Chicago Wolves in the best-of-five Division Finals, starting later next week.