The Grand Rapids Griffins (6-1-1-0) host the Cleveland Monsters (4-2-0-0) on Friday at 7 p.m. at Van Andel Arena, the first of back-to-back meetings that continue Saturday at 7 p.m. in the middle of a four-game homestand. It is a rematch of opening weekend in Cleveland, when Grand Rapids won 5-2 on Oct. 2 and the Monsters took the second game 4-3 on Oct. 4.

Grand Rapids

The Griffins have won four straight, most recently a 4-3 victory over Manitoba on Wednesday in which Cameron Butler’s third-period redirect stood as the winner. Their 13 points through eight games tie for the second-best start in franchise history. Ondrej Becher has points in three straight games, and Red Wings first-round pick Carter Bear brings a five-game point streak into the weekend.

The crease looks different this weekend. Michal Postava, who was 4-0 with a 1.25 goals-against average and a .954 save percentage, was recalled by Detroit on an emergency basis and made his NHL debut Thursday in Vancouver. The Red Wings sent Carter Gylander up from Toledo to replace him, and the Griffins released Jamie Phillips from his professional tryout. Gylander went 7-0-1 with a 1.62 GAA and a .942 save percentage for Grand Rapids last season. Trey Augustine, who made 26 saves against Manitoba for his second pro win, is the other goalie on hand. The Griffins have not announced Friday’s starter.

Cleveland

The Columbus Blue Jackets’ affiliate followed its opening-weekend split with a four-game winning streak, including two wins over Lehigh Valley, before splitting two games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last weekend, winning 4-2 and losing 6-3. Columbus has recently loaned forwards Riley Bezeau and Mikael Pyyhtiä to Cleveland.

Sources

• Grand Rapids Griffins via OurSports Central: Detroit Reassigns Carter Gylander to Griffins (Oct. 22, 2026)
• Grand Rapids Griffins via OurSports Central: Detroit Recalls Postava, Reassigns Dries (Oct. 22, 2026)
• Cleveland Monsters: News and schedule
• Mitten Hockey: Griffins Game Recap: vs. Moose (Oct. 21)