The Grand Rapids Griffins are one step closer to Calder Cup glory, and they have two familiar faces to thank. Despite the Detroit Red Wings missing the NHL playoffs this season, their AHL affiliate has kept the Motor City's hockey hopes alive, advancing to the Central Division Finals with a decisive 5-2 series-clinching win over the Manitoba Moose at Van Andel Arena.

The heroics came from a pair of players who got their first taste of NHL action with the Red Wings this season. Forward Carter Mazur, a third-round pick (70th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft, continued his hot streak with two more goals—marking his second straight multi-goal playoff performance. That brings his postseason tally to four goals, a promising sign for a player who appeared in eight games with Detroit but didn't register a point.

But the highlight of the night belonged to defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka. The Swedish blueliner, who cracked the Red Wings' roster out of training camp this season, delivered a filthy, highlight-reel goal in the second period that will be replayed for weeks. It was the kind of play that reminds everyone why he's considered one of Detroit's top defensive prospects.

The scoring started early when Eduards Tralmaks opened the game with a power-play goal in the first period. After Manitoba tied it up, Sandin-Pellikka restored the lead before Michael Brandsegg-Nygård—another training camp standout who logged 12 games with Detroit—added an early third-period tally to seal the win.

With the victory, Grand Rapids moves on to face the Chicago Wolves, the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, in the Central Division Finals. For a Red Wings organization that missed the NHL postseason, watching their top prospects step up in the AHL playoffs is the next best thing. If Mazur and Sandin-Pellikka keep playing like this, a third Calder Cup championship for the Griffins is well within reach.