Jacob Markstrom has been a challenge for the Grand Rapids Griffins.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Grand Rapids Griffins didn't win Game 5 on Sunday, but they will take their performance in the game and put it up against Utica as they try to stay alive in the Western Conference finals.

Not that they have any choice.

The Griffins came away from Sunday's 3-2 loss frustrated by three early goals but otherwise pleased with what coach Jeff Blashill called "in a lot of ways our best game of the series."

His reasoning? The Griffins swarmed the Utica net, they continued to be effective on the power play (6 of 11 overall) and they limited shots (21).

"If we play with the same approach on Tuesday as we did tonight, we'll put ourselves in good position to have success," Blashill said after the game.

The downfall for Grand Rapids was three goals in the first period that led to a return trip to Utica where they need to win twice to advance to the finals against Manchester.

Game 6 is 7 p.m. Tuesday at Utica Memorial Auditorium. The Griffins split the first two games of the series there.

The biggest challenge for them is Utica goalie Jacob Markstrom, who may also have had his best game of the series.

With the Comets' early 3-1 lead, Markstrom endured two periods of the best pressure the Griffins have shown. During a melee in front of the net in the second period, he turned in a fabulous arm save on an otherwise open net against Ryan Sproul. He was also at the bottom of an eight-skater pile up in the crease in the third period. He faced 34 shots in all.

CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Utica Comets vs. Grand Rapids Griffins

Game 1 - Utica 2, Grand Rapids 1

Game 2 - Grand Rapids 4, Utica 2

Game 3 - Utica 4, Grand Rapids 1

Game 4 - Grand Rapids 3, Utica 2 (OT)

Game 5 -Utica 3, Grand Rapids 2

Game 6 -June 2 - Grand Rapids at Utica, 7 p.m.

*Game 7 -June 3 - Grand Rapids at Utica, 7 p.m.

*if necessary.

He got great defense at the right moment, too. The Griffins had 1:37 of a five on three in the second period and came away without a shot.

The 6-foot-6 Markstrom, second in the league in save percentage at .934, improved to 7-0 in games following a Utica loss. In 17 postseason games, he has a 1.97 goals against average.

"He's good. He's a top goalie in the league, for sure," said Griffins captain Jeff Hoggan. "Those saves gave those guys energy and we pounded away. Credit the guys for not giving up, though. We're going to keep going here."

Markstrom also got a little bit lucky. Teemu Pulkkinen intercepted a pass deep in the Utica zone in the second. Markstrom anticipated a shot, went to the ice and Pulkkinen shoveled a pass to the right to Tyler Bertuzzi who was unable to get any lift as his attempt was swallowed up on the ice.

Frustrating for the Griffins?

"Just a little," Blashill said. "But I thought our guys did a good job of understanding that you keep going for 60.

"What we talked about on the bench - and our leadership on the bench led the way with this - was keep playing the same way. Don't change the way we play. We're doing it the right way. We're getting chances. Keep doing it."

AHL stats show the winner of Game 5 in a 2-2 series ends up the winner 81.7 percent of the time. On the other side, the Griffins have proven capable of comebacks. They became the 11th AHL team to rally from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five series when they ousted Toronto in the first round.

NOTES

Zach Nastasiuk, who missed 12 games with a concussion, returned for Game 5 and will remain in the lineup, Blashill said. He likes his play on the penalty kill and his fit as a fourth-line forward ... Defenseman Alexey Marchenko, out the past two games with an injury, is "expected back" Tuesday, Blashill said ... Tomas Nosek, meanwhile, out since a Game 2 hit by Utica's Brandon DeFazio, is day to day but is unlikely to play the rest of the series, Blashill said ... The Griffins drove overnight to Utica on two sleeper buses and have an optional skate at 1 p.m. today.

Pete Wallner covers sports for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at pwallner@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.