|
| |
Postava Mutes Moose 2-1
Griffins netminder stops 36 shots to deliver the win...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
October 9th, 2026
The Grand Rapids Griffins kicked off the home portion of season 31 in front of 9,371 cheering fans Friday night at Van Andel Arena. The young team provided plenty of highlights in the first half, with goals from early season fan favorite Cameron Butler (1) and William Lagesson (1), as well as a one side bout between Butler and Manitoba's Empey. Momentum Shifted in the second half of the game and the Griffins had to rely on ace netminder Michal Postava to keep them in the game. The gifted netminder only allowed one goal, on a brutal turnover in front of the net by Shai Buium that he had no chance on.
First Period
The pre-game player introductions showcased the club's young talent base with only 5 returning players from last years opening night. Ondrej Becher started, centering Noah Dower-Nilsson and Dominic Shine, with Jacon Bryson and Ronnie Attard on the blueline and Michael Postava between the pipes. Becher with a steal off the faceoff, beat a defender back into the zone and centered for Dower-Nilsson for a dangerous chance. Alex Kannok Leipert held the puck in at the line and made a great pass to Dower-Nilsson in front and he and Shine jammed away at it. Sutter Muzzatti great second effort to ring a shot off the crossbar from his knees near the circle. Manitoba's Yager was sent to the box for hooking, giving the Griffins their first powerplay. They had several nice chances, including a pair by Dower-Nilsson but were unable to score. The Griffins forecheck is very noticeable in the first, they are frustrating the Moose and creating turnovers, where their team speed really forces the issue. Great play by Kienan Draper to grab the puck along the boards and send a perfect centering pass to Cameron Butler in front. He made no mistake and one-timed in into past DiVincentiis for a 1-0 lead. Late in the period Attard was whistled off and the Griffins had to spend the last two-minutes shorthanded, but the penalty kill was up to the task and the Moose only got one shot on Postava.
Shots on goal: GR 13 - Man 9.
Second Period
Veteran defender William Lagesson made it 2-0 early in the second. He shot down the wing with speed, cut in towards the net and stuffed it short-side as he curled around the back of the net. A few seconds later, Butler dropped the gloves with Empey at center ice in a very one-sided tilt, and gave the Moose forward a beating. Grand Rapids had another opportunity with the man-advantage but despite some good puck movement couldn't extend the lead to three. Shortly after that penalty expired, Chase Stillman was called for tripping and Grand Rapids again had battle shorthanded. Justice Christiansen great work on the penalty-kill, using his offensive instincts to break up a point-blank scoring chance in front by the Moose. That powerplay however, led to a tangible momentum shift for Manitoba. Including the three so-so chances on the powerplay, they would record the next 14 shots on goal and the ice definitely felt like it was tilted in their favor. Postava had to be sharp as his team struggled to clear the zone and at times to even keep possession.
Shots on goal: GR 9 - Man 16.
Third Period
Theo Rochette had a good shift with three rapid fire chances right in front of DiVincentiis. Shai Buium, last man back in his own zone, turned the puck over right in front of Postava who no chance to stop Noah Gregor's shot which cut the lead to one. Dower-Nilsson up the middle with speed, blew through the forwards and bulled his way through the defense for a good scoring chance as he fell down. The Griffins again having trouble in their own end and being pressured into poor passes and turnovers. Grand Rapids barely weathering the Manitoba storm and then Skoog goes off for hooking. Dylan James used his speed to create a shorthanded scoring chance but didn't score. James again used his speed to strip the puck away and break up a scoring chance. Postava with a huge stop on Thrun and then another on Barlow, and the PK did their job again, killing the penalty. Manitoba trying to get DiVincentiis to the bench for the extra skater, but Grand Rapids keeps possession and keeps it deep. He finally gets to the bench with just over a minute left on the clock, but the Griffins manage to keep them from getting a shot until time ran out. With several seconds left, Attard tried to freeze the puck along the endboards and ended up losing it, but no harm done as time ran out on a 2-1 Griffins victory.
Shots on Goal: GR 11 - Man 12. For the Game: GR 33 - Man 37.
Starting Lines:
70 Noah Dower-Nilsson - 25 Ondrej Becher - 65 Dominik Shine
11 Carter Bear - 93 Theo Rochette - 32 Wilmer Skoog
26 Dylan James - 82 Sutter Muzzatti - 92 Jesse Kiiskinen
42 Cameron Butler - 33 Kienan Draper - 61 Chase Stillman
Pairings:
78 Jacob Bryson - 3 Ronnie Attard
8 Shai Buium - 41 Alex Kannok Leipert
37 William Lagesson - 83 Justice Christiansen
Starter: #35 Postava
Backup: #30 Augustine
Scratches:
#19 John Leonard< - Injured
#20 Jacob Truscott
#27 Nolan Moyle
#84 Tag Bertuzzi
PP:
70 Dower-Nilsson - 93 Rochette - 32 Skoog
78 Bryson - 65 Shine
11 Bear - 82 Muzzatti - 92 Kiiskinen
8 Buium - 25 Becher
PK:
26 James - 33 Draper
37 Lagesson - 83 Christiansen
65 Shine - 93 Rochette
8 Buium - 41 Kannok Leipert
Observations:
Where to start - probably too many for one day, so I will start with the ones that really stood out.
Dylan James didn't have any points to show for it, but he played a great game! He really showcased his speed and puckhandling, especially on the forecheck. I was surprised to only see him with one shot at the end of the game.
Noah Dower-Nilsson was involved all game, really using his size to battle to get to the net. When he adjusts to this level, he looks like he could be a big scorer, at the very least he was difficult to play against and created a couple of scoring plays from nothing.
Kienan Draper did a good job as the fourth line center and picked up his second assist in three games. He brings energy and physical play and knows where to be on the ice. He may never be a big scorer, but he has been impressive in his role in limited viewings.
Justice Christiansen really looks small on the ice, but he thinks the game very well. He was in the right place to break up plays in the Griffins end more times than I could count. The fact that he is trusted to play on the PK telegraphs the coaching staff's confidence in that part of his game.
Michal Postava picked up where he left off last season and nearly singlehandedly kept the team in the game tonight. He stopped shots I can't believe he even saw, and just looked so poised.
Cameron Butler is quickly becoming a fan favorite with his gritty physical play. He scored the first goal and was convincing in a second period fight. The Moose wanted nothing to do with him after that, giving him a wider berth. The team has lacked a legitimate physical deterrent since Dylan McIlrath departed to Washington.
|
|
