After a shaky start to the postseason, the Grand Rapids Griffins have shown exactly why they were the AHL's regular-season powerhouse. Now, they're ready for the next challenge.

The Detroit Red Wings' top affiliate opened the playoffs with a stunning 1-0 shutout loss in Manitoba—hardly the script they had written after winning 51 of 72 regular-season games. But true champions don't flinch. The Griffins responded like a team on a mission, rattling off three straight victories to capture the best-of-five series, 3-1.

"Very hard series," said forward Eduards Tralmaks, whose power-play goal in Game 4 ignited the comeback. "We've seen the other upsets in the other divisions. It's just great to get that first series out of the way."

That Game 4 victory was a thing of beauty. The Griffins erupted for three power-play goals in a 5-2 win, with Tralmaks, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, and Carter Mazur (who added two goals and an assist) each finding the back of the net. Between the pipes, goaltender Michal Postava was a wall, stopping 86 of 91 shots across the series to seize control of the crease.

"This group is very resilient," Tralmaks added. "We play for each other. Special teams were huge in the first round. Special teams will be a big part of the game if we want to win it all."

Now, the Griffins turn their attention to a familiar foe: the Chicago Wolves, the Carolina Hurricanes' affiliate who play with the same fast, aggressive, in-your-face style that has made Carolina an NHL force. The AHL Central Division Finals begin Thursday in Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids won the season series against the Wolves, 6-3-1, but don't let that record fool you—five of those games went past regulation. This is a rivalry built on tension and talent.

"They're a dangerous team," Griffins coach Dan Watson said. "They can score goals and they're right on top of you. They skate extremely well. Great goaltending. They're a deep team. We expect another hard-fought battle with that team. Our record is what it is against that team, but every game was hard and tight."

For a team that wears its resilience like a badge of honor, the next step is clear: prove that the regular season was no fluke, and that this Griffins squad has what it takes to go all the way.