Griffins Take Game One Against the IceHogs, 5-3

Teemu Pulkkinen scored the seventh playoff hat trick in Griffins' history on Wednesday night and became the team's all-time leading postseason goal scorer, as Grand Rapids took Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals with a 5-3 win over the Rockford IceHogs at Van Andel Arena.

Pulkkinen's third goal of the evening, broke a 3-3 tie before Louis-Marc Aubry added the nightcap into an empty net with 18 seconds left.

The Griffins, who tied a franchise playoff record with their fourth consecutive home victory, have won all seven previous best-of-seven series in which they led 1-0, including three during the team's run to the 2013 Calder Cup. Game 2 against the IceHogs will be play at Van Andel Arena on Friday at 7 p.m.