Detroit — The Grand Rapids Griffins are back in familiar territory.
The Red Wings’ minor league affiliate begins its third AHL Western Conference Finals appearance in five years (2013, 2015, 2017) Saturday in San Jose.
The Griffins play the Barracuda on back-to-back days Saturday and Sunday, before the series shifts to Grand Rapids Wednesday in a 2-3-2 format in the best-of-seven series.
This will be the first conference finals appearance by a San Jose Sharks affiliate.
Three Griffins players — Brian Lashoff, Mitch Callahan, Nathan Paetsch — still remain from Grand Rapids’ 2013 Calder Cup-winning team.