The Grand Rapids Griffins beat the Manitoba Moose 2-1 in their home opener on Friday, Oct. 9, before 9,371 fans at Van Andel Arena. Red Wings goalie prospect Michal Postava made 36 saves and was named the game’s first star, and the Griffins improved to 2-0-1-0.

Scoring

Cameron Butler opened the scoring at 15:54 of the first period, with assists from Kienan Draper and Jacob Bryson. Defenseman William Lagesson made it 2-0 with an unassisted goal 2:11 into the second, which stood as the winner. Butler also fought Manitoba’s Empey seconds after Lagesson’s goal. Noah Gregor scored for the Moose at 4:17 of the third, but Postava shut the door the rest of the way.

Goalies and special teams

Manitoba outshot Grand Rapids 37-33, including 16-9 in the second period. Postava is 2-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage. Domenic DiVincentiis made 31 saves for the Moose (2-1-0-0). Neither team scored on the power play: Manitoba went 0-for-3 and Grand Rapids 0-for-2.

Bear’s first pro game

Carter Bear, a Manitoba native whom the Red Wings drafted 13th overall in 2025, made his professional debut a day after Detroit assigned him and Chase Stillman to Grand Rapids. Bear had two shots and finished minus-1. Stillman took a second-period minor.

The Griffins are 4-0 in home openers under coach Dan Watson and 9-2 in openers over the last 11 seasons. They visit Milwaukee on Saturday and return to Van Andel Arena on Sunday to face the Chicago Wolves at 4 p.m.

Sources

• Grand Rapids Griffins: Griffins 2, Moose 1
• Detroit Hockey Now: The Daily: Postava Back in Command; Bear Makes Pro Debut
• Octopus Thrower: 3 Red Wings prospects that shined in the Griffins home opener
• Grand Rapids Griffins: Game Notes, Griffins at Admirals