Griffins Sport #18 * Residence Sport #10 * AHL Sport #305
Season Sequence: 2-0-0-0 Residence Sequence: 1-0-0-0 Street Sequence: 1-0-0-0
All-Time Sequence: 56-26-6-4 All-Time Residence Sequence: 27-11-5-3 All-Time Street Sequence: 29-15-1-1
Wild at Griffins
Third of eight conferences general, second of 4 at Van Andel Area…The Griffins have received 13 of the previous 18 conferences in opposition to Iowa with a plus-15 scoring margin…The earlier seven conferences have been deciding by only one purpose…The Griffins are 21-11-2-2 (.639) general because the 2021-22 season in opposition to the Wild and have a minus-two scoring margin (105-103)…Grand Rapids is 10-5-2-1 (.639) at dwelling in opposition to Iowa because the 2021-22 season with an excellent scoring margin (48-48)…The Griffins have factors in 9 of the final 10 dwelling conferences in opposition to Iowa (6-1-2-1)…The Wild are 2-7-0-0 on the highway in comparison with 3-6-0-1 at dwelling…Iowa is on a four-game dropping skid with a minus-12 margin (19-7)… The Wild are 2-8-0-0 of their final 10 video games and Grand Rapids is 8-1-0-1…Iowa’s energy play ranks thirty first at 10.8% (9-for-83) and its penalty kill locations twenty third at 78.9%…The Wild have been outscored 66-37 this season…Iowa ranks thirtieth with 1.95 objectives scored per recreation and twenty seventh with 3.53 objectives allowed per contest…Former Griffins head coach Ben Simon (2018-23) is an assistant coach for the Wild…Former Griffin Wyatt Newpower is featured on Iowa’s roster…Former Ferris State Bulldog and Wyandotte, Michigan, native Gerry Mayhew returned to Iowa this offseason. Within the AHL, Mayhew has 319 factors (170-149—319) in 459 video games since 2016-17. All time in opposition to the Griffins since 2017-18, Mayhew has 33 factors (20-13—33) in 35 video games. With Iowa in opposition to Grand Rapids, Mayhew has 27 factors (18-9—27) in 25 video games…Iowa’s Mark Liwiski ranks first within the AHL with 111 penalty minutes…The Wild are second within the AHL with 340 whole penalty minutes for a median of 17 per recreation.
This Date in Griffins Historical past
2003: Marc Lamothe makes 35 saves to steer the Griffins to a 2-0 win at Cincinnati and turn into the primary goalie in franchise historical past to report consecutive highway shutouts.
Final Time Out
With a league-leading 14th purpose of the season, John Leonard scored the game-winner within the second interval, because the Griffins took down the Iowa Wild 3-2 at Van Andel Area on Friday. The Griffins improved to 15-1-0-1 on the season, which continued as their finest begin in franchise historical past with 31 factors by 17 video games, whereas their 8-1 begin at dwelling tied their finest in workforce historical past (2009-10). Eduards Tralmaks prolonged his level streak to 4 video games together with his fourth purpose in three contests, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard tallied two assists for his third-straight multi-point contest. Carter Gylander’s 28-save efficiency marked his fourth-consecutive victory with the Griffins. Grand Rapids’ .912 factors proportion remained the very best within the league.
Hungry for Extra
The Griffins have continued their franchise-record begin with a 15-1-0-1 ledger and 31 factors by 17 video games. Two of the three finest begins in franchise historical past have come below head coach Dan Watson, as final season’s 27 factors by 17 video games tied for the third finest (13-3-1-0). The right 8-0 begin was the very best by an AHL workforce in 4 years, and Grand Rapids was the league’s final undefeated workforce for the primary time because the 2000-01 IHL season. The Griffins’ 10-1 victory at Texas on Tuesday marked the most important margin of victory in franchise historical past. The Griffins’ 7-0-0-1 begin on the highway is the very best in franchise historical past (beforehand 7-1 in 2004-05), and the 8-1 begin at house is tied for the very best in workforce historical past (2009-10).
Stuffing the Internet
The Griffins exploded for 10 objectives on Tuesday in opposition to Texas, which have been probably the most objectives scored since Jan. 19, 2013. Within the two video games at Texas this week, Grand Rapids totaled 16 objectives over consecutive outings for the primary time since Jan. 19-23, 2013 (11-6 W at RFD, 5-4 SOW vs. OKC). The workforce now has 19 objectives in its final three video games (6.33 per recreation). The Griffins rank first within the AHL with 4.24 objectives per recreation and have outscored their opponents 72-34. The 72 objectives are probably the most in franchise historical past by the workforce’s first 17 video games (71 in 2005-06). The Griffins have outscored their opponents 33-15 at dwelling, whereas possessing a 39-19 benefit on the highway. Grand Rapids has its largest scoring margin in opposition to its opponents within the third interval (28-12). Along with rating first in objectives, the Griffins place eighth in photographs per recreation (30.2). John Leonard leads the workforce with 14 objectives, and Dominik Shine and Eduards Tralmaks are tied for second with 10.
Historic Run
John Leonard has 23 factors and 14 objectives by his first 14 video games as a Griffin. Leonard’s career-best 10-game level streak set a franchise report to start each a season and a Griffins profession. 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 is first within the AHL in objectives and second 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 photographs (252, 2nd). All through his six-year AHL profession since 2020-21, Leonard has 194 factors (97-97—194) in 263 video games.
Future is Brilliant
Sebastian Cossa, the fifteenth general choose in 2021, is off to a 7-1-0 begin this season with a 1.76 goals-against common and a .935 save proportion. Within the AHL rankings, Cossa ranks third in GAA, third in save proportion and tied for eighth in wins. On Tuesday in Texas, Cossa recorded his fiftieth as a Griffin, changing into simply the eighth goaltender in workforce historical past to succeed in that mark. He 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. 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). In components of 4 seasons with Grand Rapids since 2022-23, Cossa has notched a 51-26-14 mark with 4 shutouts to go together with a 2.45 GAA and a .911 save proportion in 92 outings.
Protection Wins Championships
The Griffins’ protection is among the finest within the AHL, because it ranks second with 2.00 objectives allowed per contest. Grand Rapids has allowed greater than two objectives simply twice in November and has averaged simply 1.67 objectives allowed in its final six video games. The 35 objectives allowed are the fewest in franchise historical past by the squad’s first 17 video games (37 in 2024-25). As well as, the workforce’s penalty kill locations second at 86.8% (46-for-53). Regardless of rating second in objectives allowed, the Griffins place twenty third with 29.4 photographs allowed per recreation. In internet, Sebastian Cossa sports activities a 1.76 GAA with a .935 save proportion, whereas rookie Michal Postava possesses a 2.15 GAA and a .936 save proportion. The Griffins have three defensemen who’ve performed no less than 100 video games within the NHL in 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.
Simply Getting Began
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard was one in all three rookies to make the Detroit Purple Wings’ opening-night roster out of coaching camp. The fifteenth general choose in 2024 confirmed one help in 9 video games with Detroit earlier than being assigned to the Griffins on Oct. 27. The Oslo, Norway, native has 9 factors (3-6—9) in his final seven appearances with Grand Rapids, which incorporates multi-point outings in three straight from Nov. 25-28. He has 11 factors (4-7—11) in 12 AHL video games this season, which is tied for nineteenth amongst first-year AHL gamers. Final 12 months, Brandsegg-Nygard tied for the workforce lead with three factors (2-1—3) in three Calder Cup Playoff video games, following his SHL season with Skelleftea. The 20-year-old has additionally competed with Staff Norway within the final two World Championships, totaling a mixed 9 factors (3-6—9) in 12 outings.
On the Proper Path
Riga, Latvia, native Eduards Tralmaks tallied his first AHL hat trick on Tuesday at Texas. He now has eight factors (6-2—8) in his final seven video games and is tied for second on the workforce with 10 objectives. His 10 objectives are additionally tied for third within the AHL. Final season, Tralmaks ranked first within the Czech Extraliga with a career-best 51 factors (23-28—51) in 48 video games, including career-high totals in objectives (23), assists (28) and penalty minutes (66). He additionally competed for Staff Latvia on the final two World Championships and posted seven factors (3-4—7) in seven video games in the course of the 2025 match. After spending the earlier two campaigns in Czechia, Tralmaks returned to the AHL for the primary time since 2022-23. As a free agent out of the College of Maine, Tralmaks signed with the Windfall Bruins in 2021 and skated in three seasons with the franchise, compiling 41 factors (22-19—41) in 87 contests.
Angle of Assault
With three rookies making the Purple Wings’ roster out of coaching camp, the Griffins have been in want of a ahead. Grand Rapids signed Tyler Angle to a one-year contract on Oct. 8, which has confirmed to be a high quality last-second signing. The 25-year-old has 5 factors (2-3—5) in his final seven video games and is tied for second on the roster with 9 assists. As well as, his 11 factors (2-9—11) in 17 outings are tied for sixth on the workforce. Angle spent 4 seasons with the Cleveland Monsters from 2020-24, exhibiting a mixed 100 factors (41-59—100) in 200 video games. Final marketing campaign, he totaled 27 factors (7-20—27) in 47 appearances with Dusseldorfer within the DEL, Germany’s high professional league.
Particular Powers
The Griffins scored on the facility play in 4 straight video games from Nov. 1-12 (6-for-16, 37.5%), and have since gone 5-for-17 (29.4%) of their final seven video games. Grand Rapids’ energy play ranks fifth within the AHL at 26.4% (14-for-52). Nonetheless, the Griffins have allowed 4 shorthanded objectives this season, which is tied for second within the AHL. The penalty kill has allowed simply three power-play objectives within the final 10 video games (24-for-27, 88.9%) and ranks second general within the AHL at 86.8% (46-for-53). The 53 instances shorthanded are tied for the second-fewest within the league.
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 enjoying restrict and are required to scratch two of them every recreation as a result of AHL’s growth rule. Even with two being scratched for every contest, the veterans on the workforce have mixed for 90 factors (39-51—90) in 102 video games, which accounts for 55% of the scoring for the workforce and 56% of the objectives. Leonard ranks first among the many veterans with 23 factors (14-9—23) in 14 video games, whereas Shine (10-7—17 in 14 GP) ranks second, and Dries (5-9—14 in 14 GP) locations third.
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 workforce historical past to succeed in the milestone (Brian Lashoff 14, Travis Richards 10). Shine collected his first-career hat trick on Tuesday in Texas, and on Wednesday turned simply the seventh Griffin to succeed in 200 factors with the workforce. He has 12 factors (7-5—12) in his final 9 outings, is tied for third within the AHL with 10 objectives, and ranks second on the workforce with 17 factors (10-7—17) in 14 video games. On the all-time regular-season franchise leaderboard, Shine ranks third in video games performed (497), tied for fifth in objectives (85), eighth in assists (116), tied for sixth in factors (201), sixth in penalty minutes (561), tied for fifth in shorthanded objectives (6), tied for fifth in game-winners (13), tied for first in unassisted objectives (10), and fourth in photographs (834).
AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard—Tied for fifth in game-winners (3), tied for first amongst rookies in game-winners (3)
Sebastian Cossa—Third in GAA (1.76), third in save proportion (.935), tied for eighth in wins (7)
Justin Holl—Tied for fourth in plus-minus (+12), tied for second amongst defensemen in plus-minus (+12)
William Lagesson—Second in plus-minus (+14), first amongst defensemen in plus-minus (+14)
John Leonard—First in objectives (14), second in factors (23), tied for eleventh in plus-minus (+10), tied for first in game-winners (4)
Dominik Shine—Tied for third in objectives (10)
Eduards Tralmaks—Tied for third in objectives (10)
Antti Tuomisto—Tied for fifth amongst defensemen in plus-minus (+9)
Austin Watson—Tied or ninth in penalty minutes (53)
Milestones
On Wednesday, Dominik Shine turned simply the seventh Griffin to succeed in 200 factors with the workforce. On Tuesday in Texas, Sebastian Cossa turned the eighth goaltender in franchise historical past to win 50 video games and William Wallinder collected his one centesimal professional level with an help.
John Leonard—Three objectives from 100 within the AHL, three assists from 100 within the AHL
Ian Mitchell—One level from 100 within the AHL
Dominik Shine—One unassisted purpose from claiming sole possession of the franchise report of 11
Austin Watson—4 objectives from 100 within the AHL
Photograph by Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins
