Berggren Scores Second OT Winner in Three Games as Grand Rapids Takes 2-1 Series Lead

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For the second time in three games, Red Wings prospect Jonatan Berggren scored an overtime winner in the Grand Rapids Griffins first round Calder Cup playoff series with the Rockford IceHogs, this time on home ice to give the Griffins a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five.

Grand Rapids outshot its guests 19-7 in the first period but didn’t manage to score. On the first shot of the second, however, Marco Kasper scored his first career Calder Cup playoff goal.

After Kasper’s goal 24 seconds into the period, Rem Pitlick equalized for Rockford with just 31 seconds left in the second.  The Griffins took early control of the third via an Austin Czarnik goal 57 seconds into the period, followed up by an Elmer Soderblom goal just before the period’s midpoint.

However, two IceHogs goals just 59 seconds apart in the back half of the third forced overtime.  Grand Rapids controlled the OT period, and on its fifth shot, 8:12 into the extra second, Berggren scored his second OT goal of the series.  Meanwhile, in net, after a difficult game two, Sebastian Cossa bounced back with 27 saves on 30 shots to help secure the victory.

With a 2-1 series lead, Grand Rapids will have a chance to win the best-of-five on Sunday afternoon in Rockford.

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