Griffins Recreation #11 * House Recreation #6 * AHL Recreation #198
Season Sequence: 1-0-0-0 House Sequence: 1-0-0-0 Highway Sequence: 0-0-0-0
All-Time Sequence: 36-37-6-2 All-Time House Sequence: 21-17-3-1 All-Time Highway Sequence: 15-20-3-1
Marlies at Griffins
Second of 4 conferences general, second of two at Van Andel Area…Wednesday’s recreation was the primary between the 2 franchises since Dec. 10, 2023 and snapped the Griffins’ five-game winless streak towards Toronto that dated again to Nov. 12, 2022 (0-3-2-0)…Toronto is considered one of 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 4-6-3-0 (.423) towards Toronto and have been outscored 51-38…Grand Rapids is 2-3-2-0 (.429) towards the Marlies at residence since 2021-22 and have been outscored 28-19…Grand Rapids is on a franchise-best begin by means of 10 video games (9-0-0-1) and are 5-0 at residence for the primary time since 2009-10 (8-0)…Toronto is 4-3-1-0 on the highway…Toronto’s energy play ranks twenty third at 15.4% and its penalty kill is tied for fifteenth at 81.3%…Toronto’s Jacob Quillan is tied for fourth within the AHL with 12 assists and tied for fifth in factors (2-12—14). Travis Boyd is tied for seventh with seven objectives. Rookie Borya Valis is tied for third 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 Group. Gruden additionally performed for Ferris State College from 1990-94.
Final Time Out
Amadeus Lombardi netted the game-winning purpose in addition to his eleventh help in 10 outings within the Griffins’ 3-2 time beyond regulation victory, defeating the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday at Van Andel Area throughout the twenty fourth annual College Day Recreation. The Griffins’ 9-0-0-1 begin stands as their finest in franchise historical past with 19 factors within the first 10 video games, whereas their 5-0 mark at house is their finest begin since 2009-10 (8-0). Grand Rapids has netted a power-play purpose in 4 straight contests (6-for-16, 37.5%). Austin Watson notched a purpose and an help, securing his three hundredth professional level, whereas Erik Gustafsson recorded an help in his 850th skilled recreation. Carter Gylander tallied 34 saves and his first AHL help on the game-winner for his first AHL victory of the season.
This Date in Griffins Historical past
2014: A wide ranging battle between the final two Calder Cup champions goes the best way of the 2013 victors. Following Mitch Callahan’s equalizer with 1:14 left in regulation, Teemu Pulkkinen’s rocket from the highest of the left circle with 0.8 seconds remaining in time beyond regulation offers the Griffins an unimaginable 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Texas.
Scorching Just like the Solar
The Griffins have continued their franchise-record begin with a 9-0-0-1 ledger. The proper 8-0 begin was one of the best 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 19 factors by means of 10 video games beat the earlier report of 17 factors in 2000-01 (8-1-1), a report that stood for 25 years. The Griffins’ 4-0-0-1 begin on the highway is one of the best since 2007-08 (5-0), and the 5-0 begin at house is one of the best since 2009-10 (8-0).
Firing on all Cylinders
The Griffins rank first within the AHL with 4.00 objectives per recreation and have outscored their opponents 40-22. The 40 objectives are the second-most in franchise historical past by means of the group’s first 10 video games (44 in 2005-06). The Griffins have outscored their opponents 22-8 at residence, whereas possessing an 18-14 benefit on the highway. Grand Rapids has its largest scoring margin towards its opponents within the second and third durations (15-8). Regardless of rating first in objectives, the Griffins place 14th in pictures per recreation (29.1) and have reached 30 or extra pictures simply 3 times (30.0%). 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 means of his first eight video games as a Griffin. His career-high six-game purpose 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 means of 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 recreation (1.50), and tied for nineteenth 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 11 assists in 10 video games, which ranks sixth on the circuit. His 11 assists are tied for essentially the most by a Griffin by means of the primary 10 video games of an AHL season (see chart under). He’s additionally at present on a career-high six-game help streak (1-7—8), which can be this 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 as a consequence of an upper-body damage. Lombardi was the 113th general choose by Detroit in 2022 and has 79 factors (25-54—79) in 126 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 purpose in 4 straight video games (6-for-16, 37.5%) and place sixth within the AHL at 25.7% (9-for-35). The Griffins have additionally allowed a shorthanded purpose in consecutive video games and the 4 shorthanded objectives allowed this season are tied for the league lead with Ontario. Nevertheless, their penalty kill ranks first within the AHL at 89.2% (33-for-37) and has allowed a power-play purpose in simply three of the ten video games. The 37 occasions shorthanded are tied for the fourth-fewest within the league.
Protection Wins Championships
The Griffins’ protection is among the finest within the AHL, as it’s tied for third with 2.20 objectives allowed per contest. The 22 objectives allowed are the second-fewest in franchise historical past by means of the group’s first 10 video games, trailing solely final season’s 21. As well as, the group’s penalty kill locations first at 89.2% (33-for-37). Regardless of tying for third in objectives allowed, the Griffins place twenty ninth with 31.7 pictures allowed per recreation. 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 at the very least 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 recreation however spent a lot of the marketing campaign within the high 5 for objectives allowed per contest.
The Properly will not be Dry
Sheldon Dries, a nine-year veteran, has objectives in three straight video games and is on a four-game level streak from Nov. 1-12 (3-2—5). His eight factors (4-4—8) in eight video games place fourth on the roster and ranks as one of the best begin in his AHL profession. With the Griffins since 2024-25, the Macomb, Michigan, native has 48 factors (29-19—48) in 73 regular-season video games. Dries isn’t 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 Downside 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 recreation as a result of AHL’s growth rule. Even with two of them scratched for every contest, the veterans on the group have mixed for 49 factors (24-25—49) in 60 video games, which accounts for 46% of the scoring for the group and 62% 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 8 GP) ranks second, and Dries (4-4—8 in 8 GP) locations third.
Future is Vibrant
Sebastian Cossa, the fifteenth general 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. 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 components 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, changing into simply the third participant in group historical past to achieve the milestone (Brian Lashoff 14, Travis Richards 10). Shine competed in his five hundredth professional recreation on Wednesday towards Toronto. Shine has 4 factors (3-1—4) in his final three video games and ranks third on the group with 9 factors (6-3—9) in eight video games. His six objectives are additionally tied for sixteenth within the AHL. On the all-time regular-season franchise leaderboard, Shine ranks third in video games performed (491), 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 (816).
Not Your Strange 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 eighth in GAA and second 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 residence 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 putting 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
Erik Gustafsson—Tied for sixth amongst defensemen in assists (7)
William Lagesson—Tied for twelfth in plus-minus (+8), tied for sixth amongst defensemen in plus-minus (+8)
John Leonard—Tied for first in objectives (9), tied for second in game-winners (3)
Amadeus Lombardi—Sixth in assists (11)
Michal Postava—Eighth in GAA (2.15), tied for twelfth in wins (4), second in save proportion (.936)
Milestones
On Wednesday, Erik Gustafsson competed in his 850th professional recreation, Dominik Shine skated in his five hundredth professional contest and Eduards Tralmaks appeared in his 2 hundredth professional outing. Additionally on Wednesday, Austin Watson bagged his three hundredth professional level throughout a two-point recreation (1-1—2).
Justin Holl—One level from 200 as a professional
John Leonard—Two objectives from 100 as a professional
Dominik Shine—One unassisted purpose from claiming sole possession of the franchise report of 11
William Wallinder—One level from 100 as a professional
Photograph by Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins
