GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Emotions ran high in Van Andel arena last night. Elimination games bring everything out to the forefront and all of that anxiety, anger, and fear can be a slippery slope. The San Jose Barracuda had lost the previous two games, the first time they’d lost back to back this playoff run. Sitting on the brink of elimination, they were frustrated.
They had every right to be. For large parts of the game, and this series, the Barracuda have out-played and out-shot the Griffins and still found themselves playing from behind.
When Brian Lashoff scored for Grand Rapids on the first shot of the game, only 24 seconds in, he knocked the wind out of the San Jose and they never really recovered.