The Manitoba Moose have defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins in the fifth and deciding game of their AHL playoff series by a score of 4-1 on Monday night to win the series three games to two.

Brandon Lemieux had a goal and a pair of assists while Eric Comrie posted 28 saves to earn the win over the previously favored Griffins. Chase De Leo was the star of the series for the Moose as he picked up two goals and five assists in the five game series. Comrie in the series posted a .920 save percentage with a 2.85 save percentage.

The Moose now move on to the second round – better known as the Central division finals – and will face the Rockford Ice Hogs, the AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. Rockford pulled off a big time upset with a three game sweep of the Chicago Wolves in the first round, so the Moose will now have home ice advantage in the second round.

Not that being on the road seemed to bother the Moose in the first round, as two of the three wins of the series came at the always tough to play Van Andel Arena. The series also saw a strange travel format – thanks in part to the parent Jets playoff run – where the Moose opened the series with two games in Winnipeg before playing the last three in Michigan.

Game one of the second round between the Moose and Ice Hogs takes place Friday night at Bell MTS Place.