Mitten State hockey, from the NHL to the NTDP.

Mitten Hockey story card: Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL

Griffins Game Preview: vs. Moose (Oct. 21) — Playoff rematch as two 5-1 starts meet at Van Andel Arena

The Griffins host the Manitoba Moose on Wednesday night in a rematch of last spring’s Central Division semifinal, with both teams off to strong starts.

Shaun
1–2 minutes

The Grand Rapids Griffins host the Manitoba Moose at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Van Andel Arena in a meeting of two of the AHL’s best early-season teams. Grand Rapids (5-1-1-0) has 11 points through seven games and no team ahead of it in the league standings, and Manitoba arrives at 5-1-0-0. The game streams on AHLTV on FloHockey.

It is also a rematch of last spring’s Central Division semifinal. Manitoba won Game 1 of that series 1-0, and the Griffins answered with three straight wins, closing it out 5-2 on May 8 before moving on to face the Chicago Wolves.

Griffins form

Grand Rapids swept a home-and-home with Rockford last weekend, finishing with a 5-1 win Sunday in which John Leonard recorded his second hat trick as a Griffin and four points. Leonard has five goals and six points in three games since joining the lineup. Jesse Kiiskinen (five goals, seven points) and defenseman Jacob Bryson (seven points) share the team scoring lead, and Red Wings first-round pick Carter Bear has two goals and two assists in five games.

The Griffins have scored 26 goals, tied for third-most in the league, and allowed 16. Their power play went 3-for-8 on Sunday while the penalty kill held Rockford scoreless on six chances.

In goal

Michal Postava made 27 saves Sunday and is 4-0 this season with a 1.25 goals-against average and a .954 save percentage. Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine earned his first pro win in Saturday’s game at Rockford. Neither team had announced a starter for Wednesday as of Wednesday morning.

Roster notes

Defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker joined the Griffins after the Red Wings assigned him to Grand Rapids on Sunday, one day after he cleared waivers. The Griffins have not announced any injuries.

What’s next

The Griffins’ weekend set with the Cleveland Monsters (4-2-0-0) begins Friday at 7 p.m.

Sources

Leave a Reply

Trending