Griffins Get Back On Track With OT Win [Video]

The Grand Rapids Griffins evened up their best-of-7 AHL Western Conference final with the Utica Comets with a 3-2 thriller at the Van Friday night.

But many people, including Griffs coach Jeff Blashill, didn't see the game winning goal. 

Andreas Anthanasiou took a pass from Nick Jensen and shoved it past Comet goalie Jacob Markstrom at 5:05 of sudden death overtime to seal the deal for the Griffs. The strange thing was, most of the crowd's attention was back in the Griffs end where Griffs goaltender Tom McCollum was tangled up with Comets forward Nicklas Jensen in the front of the Griffs net following a Comet scoring chance.

Even coach Jeff Blashill missed the game winner. "To be honest with you, I was looking on the other end like everybody else," he told Mlive following the victory..

Game 5 will be back at Van Andel Arena Sunday afternoon at 5pm. Tickets are still available.

The Friday night crowd of close to 9000 fans watched as the two teams battled to a scoreless tie after one period. The Griffs opened the scoring with a power play goal by Xavier Oullett at 5:48 of the second period.

The Comets scored the next two goals, before Anthony Mantha tied it up with both teams shorthanded at 5:48 of the final period, setting up Anthanasiou's heroics in overtime.