DETROIT >> The Red Wings aren’t in the playoffs, but their minor-league affiliate is.

The Grand Rapids Griffins already have started, in fact, losing Tuesday’s Game 1 of the AHL Central Division semifinals against Texas, 4-0. The best-of-five series resumes Monday in Grand Rapids.

General manager Steve Yzerman, and everyone around the Wings (and Griffins) front office, is hopeful of a long, sustained playoff run. Be it the NHL or the AHL, few things can be as helpful and beneficial for a young hockey player as playoff hockey.

“These games are hard,” Yzerman said Tuesday during his season-ending press conference. “The American League, as we all know, is a good league, and in particular, you get into these playoffs games and it’s a grind.”

The Wings saw the benefit of playoff hockey for their own young players, just last season.

Marco Kasper (seven points in nine games), Simon Edvinsson, Jonatan Berggren (10 points in nine games, plus-six rating), Elmer Soderblom and Albert Johansson last season helped the Griffins get to the AHL Central Division finals.

The pressure of competing in playoff hockey contributed to their confidence heading into this season. All eventually were staples in the Wings’ lineup by the end of the NHL season.

“It’s certainly important, any playoff run for these kids,” Yzerman said. “For (the five Wings young players), they were counted on in key roles. They all responded well last year. We’re hopeful with the new group of guys in the same situation, they get value and get on a good run and learn how hard it is and how hard you have to play and how committed you have to be.

“It’s just another level, and the same thing in the NHL, when they get there.”

The Wings have plenty of intriguing prospects in the current Griffins’ lineup, that a sustained, encouraging playoff run could be a springboard to a possible roster spot with the Wings’ opening night in October.

Recent draft picks such as goaltender Sebastian Cossa, defensemen Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Shai Buium, Anton Johansson and William Wallinder, and forwards Soderblom (assigned to Grand Rapids when the Wings’ season ended), Nate Danielson, Amadeus Lombardi and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard all were in the Griffins’ Game 1 lineup. Forward Carter Mazur, who was hurt on his second shift in his Wings’ debut in March, could return to the Griffins’ lineup during the playoffs.

“They’re progressing,” Yzerman said of the large group of Wings’ prospects. “I can’t sit here today and say they’re going to be on the team next year. Again, hopefully they have a good playoff run and come in (to training camp) and really perform well. We think we have a good group down there who’ll play.”

The Griffins are hoping and expecting a much better effort in Game 2. Cossa was pulled after allowing the four goals in just under 30 minutes in Tuesday’s Game 1, and the Griffins looked listless most of the evening.

Texas Stars vs. Grand Rapids Griffins

Playoffs: Game 2 of Central Division semifinals.

Faceoff: 7 p.m. Monday, Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids

TV/radio: AHL-TV/96.1 The Game

Outlook: Game 3 of the best-of-five series is May 9 in Texas. If necessary, Games 4 and 5 are in Texas on May 10 and 12.