Max Bultman

Special to the Detroit Free Press

GRAND RAPIDS – There were familiar faces in Van Andel Arena on Tuesday night, some on the ice and some watching the action from above.

While Andreas Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha played key roles for the Grand Rapids Griffins in their 5-4 win over Lake Erie, Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland was there to observe.

And with the boss in town, Mantha and Athanasiou both delivered timely goals for the Red Wings’ AHL affiliate, helping the Griffins avoid elimination from the Calder Cup playoffs. The Grffins are down, 3-1, in the series with Game 5 on Saturday in Cleveland.

For fans in Grand Rapids, it means there’s still hope to see their team make a run. But for Athanasiou and Mantha, it means they’ll have at least one more precious opportunity to play competitive hockey before the off-season. Asked what he and Athanasiou could get out of the run, Mantha put it simply.

“A lot,” he said. “ A lot of experience for sure. We saw how it went last year a little bit, and we know what it takes to be good.”

With Holland and the front office watching, the AHL run also gives the pair a chance to make a lasting impression.

“It’s something that’s fun to play in front (of the Red Wings brass), that’s for sure,” Mantha said. “You’re trying to impress them, that’s the main goal, but obviously you need to play your game, and you need to be focused, even if they’re here.”

Athanasiou’s first shot a playoff run ended abruptly when the Lightning eliminated the Red Wings from the Stanley Cup playoffs last month, making his run with the Griffins somewhat of a mulligan. This time, though, he’s had to adjust to taking on more playing time.

“I don’t think he had the jump all through the game, I thought there were spurts of it,” said Griffins coach Todd Nelson. “On the winning goal he definitely kicked it into high gear. And that’s what he’s able to do.”

Athanasiou’s goal came with 1:55 remaining, when he raced down the left side of the ice and fired a shot past Monsters’ goalie Joonas Korpisalo. It happened in typical Athanasiou fashion — fast — and completed a huge third-period comeback for the Griffins. It was the type of goal one would expect from an NHL player in an AHL game.

But Athanasiou knows there’s still plenty to gain from his time in Grand Rapids.

“I think (a Calder Cup) is the best thing,” he said. “But I think just playing big minutes, being good for the team, working on every aspect of my game and just giving it everything I’ve got every night.”

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