Cameron Butler redirected a point shot with about five minutes left in regulation, and the Grand Rapids Griffins held on for a 4-3 win over the Manitoba Moose on Wednesday night at Van Andel Arena. The victory, in a rematch of last spring’s Central Division semifinal, was Grand Rapids’ fourth straight and lifted the Griffins to 6-1-1-0. Manitoba fell to 5-2-0-0.
Scoring summary
- 1st, 4:55 — GR: William Lagesson (Ondrej Becher). 1-0 Grand Rapids.
- 1st — MB: A Manitoba shot deflected in off the stick of Griffin Justice Christensen. 1-1.
- 1st, 14:56 — MB: Chase Yoder. 2-1 Manitoba.
- 1st, 17:09 — GR: Ondrej Becher, power play (Dominik Shine, Carter Bear). 2-2.
- 3rd, 8:42 — GR: Shai Buium (Dylan James). 3-2 Grand Rapids.
- 3rd — GR: Cameron Butler (Alex Kannok Leipert). 4-2 Grand Rapids.
- 3rd — MB: Henry Thrun, shorthanded. 4-3 Grand Rapids.
How it happened
William Lagesson opened the scoring less than five minutes in after Ondrej Becher won a faceoff in the left circle. Manitoba answered twice, first when a shot deflected off Christensen’s stick and past Trey Augustine, then on Chase Yoder’s doorstep rebound. Becher pulled the Griffins even late in the first period, tapping in the rebound of a Dominik Shine shot on the power play.
After a scoreless second, Shai Buium put Grand Rapids ahead midway through the third on a feed from Dylan James in the slot. Butler then tipped Alex Kannok Leipert’s shot from the blue line for what proved to be the winner. Henry Thrun scored shorthanded late to pull Manitoba within one, and the Moose pulled goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis with 1:14 left, but the Griffins closed it out.
Standouts and goalies
Butler, Becher, and Buium were named the game’s three stars. Becher finished with a goal and an assist and has points in three straight games. Carter Bear, Detroit’s 2025 first-round pick, extended his point streak to five games, and John Leonard played his 300th AHL game.
Augustine, a Red Wings prospect and former Michigan State standout, made 26 saves for his second pro win. He got the start on the night the Griffins signed veteran goaltender Jamie Phillips to a professional tryout as his backup; coach Dan Watson said afterward that Michal Postava, the AHL leader in wins, is being called up to join the Red Wings on their Western road trip. (Correction: An earlier version of this recap said Augustine made 30 saves, the figure in the Griffins’ team recap. The official AHL box score lists 26.)
Grand Rapids’ 13 points through eight games tie for the second-best start in the franchise’s 31 seasons, behind only last year’s 8-0 opening.
What’s next
The Griffins stay home for a weekend set against the Cleveland Monsters, with 7 p.m. puck drops Friday and Saturday at Van Andel Arena.
Watch
Highlights:
Postgame interviews:
Leave a Reply