Griffins Recreation #10 * Residence Recreation #5 * AHL Recreation #191
Season Collection: 0-0-0-0 Residence Collection: 0-0-0-0 Street Collection: 0-0-0-0
All-Time Collection: 35-37-6-2 All-Time Residence Collection: 20-17-3-1 All-Time Street Collection: 15-20-3-1
Marlies at Griffins
First of 4 conferences total, first of two at Van Andel Area…This would be the first sport between the 2 franchises since Dec. 10, 2023…The sport additionally marks the primary non-divisional contest for Grand Rapids this season…The Griffins are on a five-game winless streak towards Toronto courting again to Nov. 12, 2022 (0-3-2-0)…Grand Rapids’ final win towards the Marlies got here on Nov. 11, 2022 in a 5-4 additional time victory…Toronto is one among simply 5 present AHL groups the Griffins have an all-time shedding report towards…Within the final 5 years since 2021-22, the Griffins are 3-6-3-0 (.375) towards Toronto and have been outscored 49-35…Grand Rapids is 1-3-2-0 (.333) towards the Marlies at dwelling since 2021-22 and have been outscored 26-16…Grand Rapids on a franchise-best begin by 9 video games and are 4-0 at dwelling for the primary time since 2009-10…Toronto is 4-3-0-0 on the street…Toronto’s energy play ranks nineteenth at 17.1% and its penalty kill locations fifteenth at 81.4%…Toronto’s Jacob Quillan is tied for third within the AHL with 11 assists and Travis Boyd is tied for seventh with seven objectives. Rookie Borya Valis is tied for second amongst first-year gamers with six objectives…Toronto Maple Leafs’ goalie Joseph Woll is on the Marlies’ roster for a conditioning stint…Justin Holl skated for the Marlies from 2015-18, profitable the 2018 Calder Cup. Holl additionally competed for the Maple Leafs from 2017-23, spending eight whole seasons with the franchise…William Lagesson suited up for each the Marlies and Maple Leafs in 2023-24 and Erik Gustafsson performed for the Maple Leafs in 2022-23…Amadeus Lombardi is from the Toronto space (Aurora) and performed for the Toronto Titans within the GTHL…Marlies’ head coach John Gruden skated for the Griffins from 1999-2002, representing the group at two all-star video games (2000 IHL & 2002 AHL) and garnering a spot on the 2001-02 AHL First All-Star Staff. Gruden additionally performed for Ferris State College from 1990-94.
Final Time Out
Although the Griffins prolonged their level streak to 9 video games (8-0-0-1), the squad in the end suffered its first defeat of the season 4-3 in a shootout to the Chicago Wolves on Sunday at Allstate Area. The Griffins’ 8-0-0-1 begin by 9 video games stays the perfect begin in franchise historical past and 4-0-0-1 is the perfect begin on the street since 2007-08. All three objectives for Grand Rapids got here on the ability play, going 3-for-5 on the man-advantage. John Leonard prolonged his career-high level streak to eight video games along with his 2 hundredth profession level, whereas Sheldon Dries (1-1—2) recorded his 250th AHL level. Amadeus Lombardi additionally continued his career-best five-game help streak. Michal Postava made the beginning in internet for the Griffins however suffered an harm 8:17 into the sport. Carter Gylander made his season debut in a aid position and recorded 22 saves.
This Date in Griffins Historical past
2002: With 7,344 followers, together with 3,400 college students, in attendance for the Griffins’ second-annual matinee sport, Marc Lamothe earns his first shutout as a Griffin, making 15 stops in a 4-0 win over Manitoba.
Scorching Just like the Solar
The Griffins have continued their franchise-record begin with an 8-0-0-1 ledger. The right 8-0 begin was the perfect by an AHL group in 4 years, and Grand Rapids was the league’s final undefeated group for the primary time because the 2000-01 IHL season. The 17 factors by 9 video games beat the earlier report of 15 factors in 2000-01 (7-1-1), a report that stood for 25 years. The Griffins’ 4-0-0-1 begin on the street is the perfect since 2007-08 (5-0), and the 4-0 begin at house is the perfect since 2009-10 (8-0).
Firing on all Cylinders
The Griffins rank first within the AHL with 4.11 objectives per sport and have outscored their opponents 37-20. The 37 objectives are the second-most in franchise historical past by the group’s first 9 video games (39 in 2005-06). The Griffins have outscored their opponents 19-6 at dwelling, whereas possessing an 18-14 benefit on the street. Grand Rapids has its largest scoring margin towards its opponents within the second interval (14-6) and has tallied essentially the most objectives within the third (15). Regardless of rating first in objectives, the Griffins place 14th in pictures per sport (29.2) and have reached 30 or extra pictures simply thrice (33.3%). John Leonard leads the group with 9 objectives and Dominik Shine ranks second with six.
Historic Run
John Leonard has 12 factors and 9 objectives by his first eight video games as a Griffin. His career-high six-game aim streak from Oct. 11-Nov. 2 tied with teammate Austin Watson, Jiri Hudler, Kip Miller and Pavol Demitra for the third-longest run in franchise historical past. Leonard’s lively career-best eight-game level streak is closing in on Riley Barber’s franchise-record run of 9 video games to start each a season and a Griffins profession. His 9 objectives are the second-most by a Griffin by his first eight video games of an AHL season, whereas his 12 factors tie for fourth (see chart under). Leonard is tied for first within the AHL in objectives, tied for second in factors per sport (1.50), and tied for fifteenth in factors. Final season, he ranked among the many league leaders in factors (61, T10th), objectives (36, T2nd), power-play objectives (10, T9th), short-handed objectives (5, T1st) and pictures (252, 2nd). All through his six-year AHL profession since 2020-21, Leonard has 183 factors (92-91—183) in 257 video games.
Loaded Ammo
Third-year professional Amadeus Lombardi is off to a quick begin with a team-high 10 assists in 9 video games, that are tied for fifth on the circuit. His 10 assists are tied for essentially the most by a Griffin by the primary 9 video games of an AHL season (see chart under). He’s additionally presently on a career-high five-game help streak (0-6—6), which can also be tied for his career-best level run. Final season, Lombardi posted career-high numbers in objectives (19), assists (21), and factors (40) in simply 44 video games, as he was restricted because of an upper-body harm. Lombardi was the 113th total choose by Detroit in 2022 and has 77 factors (24-53—77) in 125 video games with Grand Rapids because the spring of 2023. Previous to turning professional, Lombardi spent three seasons within the OHL with Flint from 2020-23 and produced a mixed 161 factors (63-98—161) in 134 regular-season video games, including 22 factors (12-10—22) in 26 playoff outings.
Particular Powers
On Sunday in Chicago, the Griffins scored a season-high three power-play objectives (3-for-5) but in addition surrendered two shorthanded tallies. Grand Rapids has scored a power-play aim in three straight video games (5-for-11, 45.5%) and place fourth within the AHL at 26.7% (8-for-30). The Griffins’ three shorthanded objectives allowed this season are tied for the league lead. Nevertheless, their penalty kill ranks first within the AHL at 87.9% (29-for-33) and has allowed a power-play aim in simply three of the 9 video games. The 33 occasions shorthanded are tied for the third-fewest in the league.
Protection Wins Championships
The Griffins’ protection is among the finest within the AHL, because it ranks fifth with 2.22 objectives allowed per contest. The 20 objectives allowed are the second-fewest in franchise historical past by the group’s first 9 video games, trailing solely final season’s 18. As well as, the group’s penalty kill locations first at 87.9% (29-for-33). Regardless of rating fifth in objectives allowed, the Griffins place twenty eighth with 31.2 pictures allowed per sport. In internet, Sebastian Cossa sports activities a 1.75 GAA with a .939 save proportion, whereas rookie Michal Postava possesses a 2.15 GAA and a .936 save proportion. The Griffins have 4 defensemen who’ve performed no less than 100 video games within the NHL in Erik Gustafsson (515), Justin Holl (396), Ian Mitchell (110), and William Lagesson (107). Final season, the Griffins completed ninth within the AHL with 2.82 objectives allowed per sport however spent a lot of the marketing campaign within the prime 5 for objectives allowed per contest.
The Nicely isn’t Dry
Sheldon Dries, a nine-year veteran, has objectives in consecutive video games and is on a three-game level streak from Nov. 1-9 (2-2—4). His seven factors (3-4—7) in seven video games rank fourth on the roster and are tied for the perfect begin in his AHL profession (2021-22 Abbotsford). With the Griffins since 2024-25, the Macomb, Michigan, native has 47 factors (28-19—47) in 72 regular-season video games. Dries is not any stranger to West Michigan, as he served as a three-time captain at Western Michigan College and totaled 84 factors (44-40—84) in 148 video games on the college from 2013-17.
Good Drawback to Have
The Griffins’ roster options eight veterans, together with forwards Sheldon Dries, John Leonard, Dominik Shine and Austin Watson, and defensemen Erik Gustafsson, Justin Holl, William Lagesson and Ian Mitchell. With eight veterans, the Griffins are two over the taking part in restrict and are required to scratch two of them every sport because of the AHL’s improvement rule. Even with two of them scratched for every contest, the veterans on the group have mixed for 45 factors (22-23—45) in 54 video games, which accounts for 45% of the scoring for the group and 61% of the objectives. Leonard ranks first among the many veterans with 12 factors (9-3—12) in eight video games, whereas Shine (6-3—9 in 7 GP) ranks second, and Dries (3-4—7 in 7 GP) locations third.
Future is Brilliant
Sebastian Cossa, the fifteenth total choose in 2021, registered his first shutout of the season on Oct. 24 behind 30 saves in a 4-0 win over Manitoba. It marked his fourth AHL shutout, eighth as a professional, and the primary since Oct. 11, 2024. Cossa is off to a 4-0 begin this season with a 1.75 goals-against common and a .939 save proportion. Within the AHL rankings, he locations third in GAA and third in save proportion. Final season, Cossa was named to his first AHL All-Star Basic and ranked among the many AHL regular-season leaders in video games performed (41, T8th), minutes performed (2,424:37, seventh), GAA (2.45, eleventh), save proportion (.911, T13th), and wins (21, T10th). The 6-foot-7 goaltender additionally made his NHL debut with Detroit on Dec. 9 at Buffalo and got here away with a 6-5 shootout victory behind 12 saves and three stops within the shootout in a aid effort. In elements of 4 seasons with Grand Rapids since 2022-23, Cossa has notched a 48-25-14 mark with 4 shutouts to go together with a 2.48 GAA and a .910 save proportion in 88 outings.
Shine On, Captain
On Oct. 9, Dominik Shine was named the nineteenth captain in franchise historical past. He’s in his tenth season with Grand Rapids, turning into simply the third participant in group historical past to achieve the milestone (Brian Lashoff 14, Travis Richards 10). Shine has 4 factors (3-1—4) in his final two video games and ranks third on the group with 9 factors (6-3—9) in seven video games. His six objectives are additionally tied for thirteenth in the AHL. On the all-time regular-season franchise leaderboard, Shine ranks third in video games performed (490), sixth in objectives (81), ninth in assists (112), eighth in factors (193), sixth in penalty minutes (557), tied for fifth in shorthanded objectives (6), tied for fifth in game-winners (13), tied for first in unassisted objectives (10), and sixth in pictures (815).
Not Your Unusual Rookie
Netminder Michal Postava, an undrafted free agent out of Czechia, is in his first season in North America after spending the final three campaigns within the Czech professional ranks. The 23-year-old is off to a 4-0 begin with Grand Rapids with a 2.15 goals-against common and a .936 save proportion. He ranks ninth in GAA and fourth in save proportion amongst all goaltenders. Postava grew to become the tenth rookie netminder in franchise historical past to win his debut after which grew to become the eighth rookie goalie to win his dwelling debut, becoming a member of teammate Sebastian Cossa, Filip Larsson, Jared Coreau, Petr Mrazek, Tom McCollum, Jimmy Howard and Mathieu Chouinard. He grew to become a Czech Extraliga champion final season with Kometa Brno and ranked among the many league’s regular-season leaders in save proportion (fifth), goals-against common (T11th), wins (4th) and shutouts (T7th) earlier than inserting first within the postseason with a .940 save proportion in 17 outings. All through Postava’s three-year professional profession, the 6-foot-1 netminder has proven a 78-65-9 report with 12 shutouts and a 2.11 GAA in 149 contests.
AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Sebastian Cossa—Third in GAA (1.75), tied for twelfth in wins (4), third in save proportion (.939)
Erik Gustafsson—Tied for eighth amongst defensemen in assists (6)
Justin Holl—Tied for seventeenth in plus-minus (+7), tied for ninth amongst defensemen in plus-minus (+7)
William Lagesson—Tied for seventh in plus-minus (+8), tied for fourth amongst defensemen in plus-minus (+8)
John Leonard—Tied for first in objectives (9), tied for fifteenth in factors (12), tied for second in game-winners (3)
Amadeus Lombardi—Tied for fifth in assists (10)
Michal Postava—Ninth in GAA (2.15), tied for twelfth in wins (4), fourth in save proportion (.936)
Dominik Shine—Tied for thirteenth in objectives (6)
Milestones
Final Sunday, Sheldon Dries collected his 250th AHL level and John Leonard secured his 2 hundredth professional level.
Erik Gustafsson—One sport from 850 as a professional
Justin Holl—One level from 200 as a professional
John Leonard—Two objectives from 100 as a professional
Dominik Shine—One sport from 500 as a professional, one unassisted aim from claiming sole possession of the franchise report of 11
Eduards Tralmaks—One sport from 200 as a professional
William Wallinder—One level from 100 as a professional
Austin Watson—Two factors from 300 as a professional
Photograph by Toronto Marlies
