Detroit – Grand Rapids opened the AHL Western Conference finals Saturday night with a 3-1 victory in San Jose.
Goaltender Jared Coreau stopped 26 shots and the Griffins – the Red Wings’ minor league affiliate – killed all six San Jose power plays, as the Griffins took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Grand Rapids has now killed 20 consecutive penalties in the playoffs.
Game 2 is Sunday in San Jose, before the series shifts Wednesday to Grand Rapids.
Mitch Callahan, Ben Street and Matthew Ford (power play) scored Griffins goals, and Eric Tangradi had two assists.