The Detroit Red Wings AHL affiliate is on fire having not lost a game in regulation since January 12th with another win last night 1-0 over the Texas Stars the Dallas Stars AHL affiliate and goalie Sebastian Cossa picked up his first shutout of the season. Since their last loss on the 12th, they are 9-0-4 having beaten the Chicago Blackhawks AHL affiliate the Rockford Ice Hogs three times, the Winnipeg Jets AHL affiliate the Manitoba Moose three times, the Ottawa Senators AHL affiliate the Belleville Senators twice, and the Texas Stars once. The four overtime losses have come against the Columbus Blue Jackets AHL affiliate the Cleveland Monsters twice, Manitoba Moose once, and Rockford Ice Hogs once. With their current stretch, they are currently sitting in second place in the Central Division trailing first place by 15 points and they currently have a one-point lead over the Texas Stars for second place.
Goaltending
Since that last regulation loss, Sebastian Cossa has played in seven games and is 5-0-2 with 14 goals against 172 shots, in that stretch he posts a .919 save percentage; along with the shutout he picked up in last night’s win. Michael Hutchinson has played in six games, and he is 3-0-2 with 17 goals against 140 shots and a .879 save percentage. The other goalie to start a game was Ville Husso who made a rehab start with the Griffins and in that game, he stopped all 25 shots for a shutout.
Scoring
The Griffins on this 13-game stretch have outscored their opponents 42-33 good for 3.2 goals per game and 2.5 goals against. Grand Rapids has been led by Jonatan Berggren who has 14 points on eight goals and six assists, Austin Czarnik who has 12 points on six goals and six assists, Marco Kasper with eight points on four goals and four assists, Dominik Shine with eight points on two goals and six assists, Carter Mazur with seven points on one goal and six assists, and Elmer Soderblom and Zach Aston-Reese with six points, Soderblom on three goals and three assists, and Aston-Reese on two goals and four assists.
Next Up
The Griffins have three games the rest of the month as they play the Texas Stars on Saturday following it up with a matchup against the Nashville Predators AHL affiliate the Milwaukee Admirals on Sunday before their final game of the month against the Minnesota Wild’s AHL affiliate the Iowa Wild. The Griffins may not catch the Admirals for first place in the division but if they continue this hot stretch, they will certainly return to the playoffs something they have done since 2019.
