GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Thanks to timely goals, a stingy defense and superb goaltending, the Manitoba Moose are riding a six-game postseason winning streak. The Grand Rapids Griffins are facing elimination. Alexandre Bolduc’s fourth goal of the playoffs in the final minute of the first period proved to be the game-winner as Manitoba defeated Grand Rapids, 3-1, Monday night to take a 3-0 lead in the North Division finals. The Moose got on the board first, at 8:06 of the opening frame, when Matt Pope chased down a Mark Fistric pass in the slot and patiently skated to the right side before firing a sharp-angle wrister past Griffins goaltender Jimmy Howard. Bolduc doubled the score at 19:28, extending his postseason point-scoring streak to three games by coming out from the end boards to the right of the net and converting a pass from linemate Jason Jaffray. Grand Rapids fought back at 12:29 of the second period, when Francis Pare cruised in on a 2-on-1 with Francis Lemieux and fired a high shot past Moose goaltender Cory Schneider. The Griffins continued to press in the third period, but were unable to make good on a critical power play early in the frame. Jaffray finished off the scoring, firing into an empty net with 24 seconds remaining. Manitoba killed off all six man advantages it faced in the game, while Schneider made 23 saves. The Moose have a chance to sweep the Griffins Wednesday night at Van Andel Arena.
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