The Grand Rapids Griffins return to Van Andel Arena on Wednesday night to host the Texas Stars at 7 p.m., the first of eight meetings between the teams this season and the first of four in Grand Rapids. It opens a three-games-in-four-nights stretch for the Griffins, who host Milwaukee on Friday and visit Rockford on Saturday.

Grand Rapids sits atop the AHL at 8-1-1-1, the third-best 11-game start in the franchise’s 31 seasons, and has earned points in seven straight games (6-0-0-1) under coach Dan Watson. The Griffins are 5-0-0-1 at home, rank fourth in the league at 3.82 goals per game, have scored a power-play goal in seven consecutive games, and own the AHL’s best penalty kill at 93.5%. They come off a 5-1 win in Chicago on Sunday, their first game in a week.

Texas, the Dallas Stars’ affiliate, arrives at 2-6-1-1. Rookie Dylan Hryckowian leads the Stars with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 10 games.

Jesse Kiiskinen and Dominik Shine share the Griffins’ scoring lead with 11 points each. Kiiskinen, on a four-game point streak, leads all AHL rookies with six goals, and Shine has 101 career goals with Grand Rapids, two shy of second place on the franchise list. Red Wings first-round pick Carter Bear has nine points in his last eight games, and defenseman Shai Buium carries a career-best five-game point streak.

In goal, Michal Postava is 5-0 with a 1.20 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage and was named the AHL’s Goaltender of the Month for October on Tuesday. His availability is worth watching: John Gibson left Detroit’s game in Tampa on Tuesday with a lower-body injury, and Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff wrote Wednesday that Postava could be recalled. The Red Wings had announced no move as of Wednesday morning. Trey Augustine is 2-1-2 with a 2.92 goals-against average.

Grand Rapids leads the all-time series with Texas 52-33-7-5, including 27-15-2-4 at home. The game streams on AHLTV on FloHockey and airs on WOOD 106.9 FM and 1300 AM, with the radio pregame at 6:45 p.m.

Earlier on Mitten Hockey: Griffins Game Recap: at Wolves (Nov. 1) and Griffins’ Michal Postava named AHL Goaltender of the Month for October.

Sources

• Grand Rapids Griffins: Three Times the Fun (weekly preview, Nov. 3)
• Grand Rapids Griffins: Michal Postava Wins AHL Goaltender of the Month Award
• Bob Duff, Detroit Hockey Now: AHL’s Top Goalie Likely Coming Back to Red Wings
• Detroit Red Wings: Recap, Red Wings late push on the road held off by Lightning