Two of the top seeds in the American Hockey League's Western Conference, our own Grand Rapids Griffins and the Utica (NY) Comets, have survived and will face off against each other in best of seven series that will commence this Sunday night.

The Griffins, who had to wait out the Comets series with the Oklahoma City Barons, have been waiting to get back on the ice after clinching their series with Rockford Sunday afternoon.

The Comets, who won their semi-final series with a tense 1-0 win Wednesday night over the Barons, will host the series opener Sunday night at Utica Memorial Auditorium at 7:00 pm.

The Griffins are guaranteed at least two home games on Thursday, May 28, and Friday, May 29, with a fifth game at Van Andel Arena on Sunday May 31, if necessary.

The Griffins got good news yesterday when their parent club, the Detroit Red Wings, announced that Griffins coach Jeff Blashill will stay with the club through the duration of the playoffs.

Blashill is one of the front runners for the Wings head coaching job, following Mike Babcock's departure from that position on Wednesday. The Wings say they will not begin talks with Blashill until the Griffins' playoff run is over.

Here is the entire series schedule for the AHL Western Conference Finals:

Game 1Sun., May 24GRIFFINS at Utica Comets7 p.m.
Game 2Mon., May 25GRIFFINS at Utica Comets7 p.m.
Game 3Thu., May 28Utica Comets at GRIFFINS7 p.m.
Game 4Fri., May 29Utica Comets at GRIFFINS7 p.m.
*Game 5Sun., May 31Utica Comets at GRIFFINS5 p.m.
*Game 6Tue., June 2GRIFFINS at Utica Comets7 p.m.
*Game 7Wed., June 3GRIFFINS at Utica Comets7 p.m.

Tickets for Games 3 and 4 at Van Andel Arena are now on sale at The Zone and all Star Tickets locations, online through griffinshockey.com/buytickets, by phone through Star Tickets at (800) 585-3737, or via the Griffins app for iPhone or Android. Continuing a postseason tradition, all home playoff games will feature $2 beers and $2 hot dogs for two hours after the doors open, while supplies last.

This will mark the first Calder Cup Playoff meeting between Grand Rapids and Utica, whose regular season history consists of just two meetings earlier this year. Each team held serve on its home ice, with the Comets winning 4-2 in their inaugural clash on Jan. 14 and the Griffins answering with a 5-1 victory on Jan. 23.

 

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