Griffins Playoff Game #3 * Road Playoff Game #1 * AHL Game #M3

Regular-Season Series: 3-3-2-0 Regular-Season Home Series: 1-2-1-0 Regular-Season Road Series: 2-1-1-0

All-Time Regular-Season Series: 45-32-7-5 All-Time Regular-Season Home Series: 24-14-2-4 All-Time Regular-Season Road Series: 21-18-5-1

Playoff Series: 0-2 Playoff Home Series: 0-2 Playoff Road Series: 0-0
All-Time Playoff Series: 2-6 All-Time Playoff Home Series: 2-3 All-Time Playoff Road Series: 0-3

Game 2 Recap
Two-point nights by Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (1-1—2) and Dominik Shine (0-2—2) sparked a comeback effort for the Griffins on Monday at Van Andel Arena, but the Texas Stars held a 4-2 victory that gave them a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five Central Division Semifinals. Brandsegg-Nygard earned both his first AHL goal and assist in the outing, skating in just his fourth game for Grand Rapids. With the Griffins trailing by four goals late in the second period, Sheldon Dries secured the Griffins’ first tally of the game to break Grand Rapids’ playoff scoring drought of 164:19 that dated to the 2024 Central Division Finals against Milwaukee. Texas’ Remi Poirier saved 17 of 19 shots and Justin Hryckowian (1-1—2) and Kyle Capobianco (0-2—2) both secured two points. 

Game 1 Recap
The Texas Stars rode Remi Poirier’s 29 saves to a 4-0 victory over the Griffins on Tuesday in Game 1 of the Central Division Semifinals at Van Andel Arena. The Stars scored two goals in the first and second periods before coasting to victory in the third. Sebastian Cossa got the start in net but after 15 saves on 19 shots in 28:57 minutes, Jack Campbell replaced him and finished with 11 saves on 11 shots in 30:36 of ice time. The Griffins had won Game 1 in each of their last three playoff series and in seven of eight series dating to 2017, but the Stars handed the home team its second straight postseason shutout, dating back to Game 5 of the 2024 Central Division Finals at Milwaukee. The Griffins have been shut out in two straight playoff games for the first time ever - including Game 5 of the 2024 Central Division Finals at Milwaukee - after suffering their first home playoff shutout since Game 1 of the 2006 Western Conference Finals versus Milwaukee. Grand Rapids’ scoreless postseason drought now stands at 128:27, going back to the third period of its 4-2 win over Milwaukee in Game 4 of the division finals on May 24, 2024. All time, the Griffins have rallied to win two of four best-of-five series when trailing after Game 1. The six-day gap between Games 1 and 2 is the largest ever between the first two games of a Griffins playoff series. The previous high of five days was set during Grand Rapids’ last playoff series, the 2024 Central Division Finals against Milwaukee (Game 1 on May 15 in MIL, Game 2 on May 20 in MIL). 

This Date in Griffins Playoff History
2006: Griffins build a 3-0 lead in the game’s first 4:48, scoring on their first three shots, but need an Eric Manlow goal at 6:38 of overtime to take a 5-4 win over the Moose and a 2-1 lead in the series.

Down But Not Out
The Griffins face elimination heading into their Game 3 matchup against the Stars at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. Grand Rapids is 15-16 all time when facing elimination, including 4-9 on the road. The Griffins have played 14 best-of-five series all time, and this is just the third time they’ve trailed 0-2. The last time was in the 2015 Western Conference Quarterfinals versus Toronto when Grand Rapids rallied to win the final three games, becoming just the 11th team in AHL history to come back from a 0-2 deficit to win a best-of-five series.

Keep the Faith
The Griffins were a better road team this season, sporting a 20-14-2-0 mark compared to 17-15-2-2 on home ice. The H-E-B Center at Cedar Park is the only arena in which the Griffins have played a postseason game without earning at least one victory. They went 0-3 at the formerly named Cedar Park Center during the 2014 Western Conference Semifinals, falling by a cumulative score of 16-3. The only previous time the Griffins faced elimination against Texas on the road was on May 18, 2014, when they lost Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals by a 7-1 count to the eventual Calder Cup champions. Grand Rapids went 2-1-1-0 against the Stars in Texas this season and averaged 3.50 goals per game. In comparison, the Griffins went 1-2-1-0 at home with 2.00 goals per outing during the regular season. 

Historic Night
Of the 26 players who’ve made their Griffins debut the season after being selected in the NHL Entry Draft, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard is the fifth to score a playoff goal and just the fourth to record a two-point playoff game (1-1—2), doing so on Monday in Game 2. Brandsegg-Nygard joined Filip Zadina (2019), Dylan Larkin (2015), Jason Spezza (2002), and Konstantin Gorovikov (2000) on the goal-scoring list, and Zadina, Larkin, and Jan Mursak (2007) on the two-point list.  

Calder Cup Playoffs Debuts
During Game 1 on April 29, seven Griffins made their Calder Cup Playoffs debut, including defensemen Shai Buium, Anton Johansson, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka, and forwards Ondrej Becher, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Emmitt Finnie, and Gabriel Seger. Becher (80th in 2024), Buium (36th in 2021), Brandsegg-Nygard (15th in 2024), Finnie (201st in 2023), Johansson (105th in 2022), and Sandin-Pellikka (17th in 2023) are all recent draft picks of the Detroit Red Wings. During Game 2 on Monday, Eemil Viro (70th in 2020) made his Calder Cup Playoffs debut. 

Setting the Stage
The Griffins clinched their 19th playoff berth in 29 seasons with a 37-29-4-2 record and 80 points, claiming the third spot in the Central Division, ninth in the Western Conference and 18th overall in the AHL. Grand Rapids matches up against second-seeded Texas Stars (43-26-3-0, 89 pts.), who have reached the Central Division Semifinals for the third consecutive season. The Griffins finished the regular-season series against the Stars with a 3-3-2-0 record, including 1-2-1-0 at Van Andel Arena and 2-1-1-0 at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. After beginning the season series with a four-game point streak (2-0-2-0), the Griffins went on to drop three of the final four meetings (1-3-0-0). The Griffins and Stars have met just once before in the Calder Cup Playoffs, as the eventual Calder Cup champion Texas defeated defending champion Grand Rapids 4-2 in the 2014 Western Conference Semifinals. The Griffins are 2-3 at home and 0-3 on the road against Texas in the postseason. Grand Rapids possesses a 103-88 ledger in the postseason and 21-16 series record, which includes games in the IHL’s Turner Cup Playoffs from 1996-01. In the AHL, the Griffins are 86-70 in the postseason, which includes two Calder Cups (2017, 2013). The Griffins have a 7-6 mark in a best-of-five series. This will be Texas’ 11th Calder Cup Playoff appearance in 16 seasons, as it has missed the postseason just three times in 2012, 2017, and 2019 (no playoffs in 2020 or 2021). The Stars are 61-47 in postseason games and have a 13-9 series record, having reached the Calder Cup Finals three times (2010, 2014 (won), 2018). Last season, Texas defeated Manitoba 2-0 in the first round before being bested 3-2 by Milwaukee in the Central Division Semifinals. 

Stumbled to the Finish Line
From Nov. 8-Feb. 7, the Griffins held at least a share of first place in the Central Division with a 25-15-3-1 mark (.628) in the first 44 games. The Griffins tied their best start in franchise history with 13 points (6-1-1-0) through the first eight games, previously done in 2000-01 (6-1-1). Grand Rapids also began 3-0-0-0 at home for the first time since 2009-10. However, the team finished the final 28 outings with a 12-14-1-1 record (.464) and ended in third place in the division. The Griffins faltered in the month of March, as they showed a 3-7-1-0 ledger and allowed 4.00 goals per game after allowing 2.43 goals per contest from Oct.-Jan. Grand Rapids ended April with a winning record and concluded the regular season with a 5-4-0-0 record (.556) in the final month. 

The Promised Land 
On March 29, the Griffins clinched their 19th playoff berth in 29 seasons with a 4-2 Springfield Thunderbirds victory over the Iowa Wild. Grand Rapids returns to the Calder Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive season under head coach Dan Watson, after missing the previous two postseasons in 2022 and 2023. The Griffins held at least a share of first place in the Central Division from Nov. 8-Feb. 7 with a 25-15-3-1 mark (.628) through the opening 44 games before finishing the season with a 12-14-1-1 record over the final 28 outings to end up in third place in the division.

A Cut Above
There have been 10 different Calder Cup champions since 2011, with Grand Rapids (2017, 2013) and Hershey (2024, 2023) being the only teams to earn multiple championships during that time. The other winners were Chicago (2022), Charlotte (2019), Toronto (2018), Lake Erie (2016), Manchester (2015), Texas (2014), Norfolk (2012) and Binghamton (2011).

Prior History
The Griffins and Stars will renew a rivalry that dates back to the 2009-10 season when Texas joined the AHL. Since the 2009-10 campaign, the teams have met a combined 89 times in the regular season, with the Griffins possessing a 45-31-7-5 record (.573). Grand Rapids and Texas have met just once before in the Calder Cup Playoffs when the defending champion Griffins were defeated 4-2 in the 2014 Western Conference Semifinals to the eventual champion Texas Stars. Current Griffins goalie Jack Campbell appeared in four games for the Stars during their cup run and totaled a 2-1 record with a 2.54 GAA and a .917 save percentage. Current Red Wings netminder Petr Mrazek served as Grand Rapids’ goaltender in that series. Current assistant coach Brian Lashoff played exclusively with Detroit that season and did not face the Stars in 2014. Stars captain Curtis McKenzie is the lone player from 2014 still with the team, while current assistant coach Maxime Fortunus was a player at the time and general manager Scott White was in his fifth season leading the franchise. 

Hard to Kill 
During the Griffins’ franchise-record run of seven straight playoff appearances from 2013-2019, they won two Calder Cups (2013 and 2017), twice lost to the eventual champion (Texas 2014, Lake Erie 2016), and twice lost to the cup runner-up (Utica 2015, Chicago 2019). During their 14 previous AHL playoff runs, they won those pair of cups, lost to the eventual champion on four occasions, and also lost to the other finalist four times. Including their first five seasons as members of the International Hockey League, the Griffins have qualified for the postseason on 19 prior occasions, winning it all twice, losing six times to the eventual champ, and losing four times to the runner-up.

Bench Boss
Second-year head coach Dan Watson has made his second straight Calder Cup Playoffs. He is the sixth head coach in franchise history to reach the postseason in both of his first two full years as head coach, joining Bruce Cassidy (2000-02), Danton Cole (2002-04), Greg Ireland (2005-07) Jeff Blashill (2012-14), and Todd Nelson (2015-17). Last postseason, Watson led Grand Rapids to the Central Division Finals, where it lost a winner-take-all Game 5 on the road to the division champion Milwaukee Admirals. Watson was named the Central Division head coach at the 2025 All-Star Classic, becoming the first Griffins coach to achieve an all-star honor since Todd Nelson in 2017 and the fourth head coach in franchise history to coach in an all-star game, joining Nelson, Jeff Blashill (2014), and Bruce Cassidy (2002 AHL, 2001 IHL). Watson has never missed the playoffs during his eight seasons as a head coach. With the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye, Watson went 51-34 (.600) over five postseasons, reaching the Kelly Cup Finals twice (2019 and 2022) and leading Toledo to four Western Conference Finals berths (2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023).  

From Friend to Foe
The Griffins and Stars share a couple connections on championship winning teams. In 2023, defenseman Brogan Rafferty reached the Calder Cup Finals with Coachella Valley alongside Texas’ Kole Lind. Jack Campbell won the Calder Cup with Texas in 2014 with current Stars Curtis McKenzie, assistant coach Maxime Fortunus and general manager Scott White. In addition, Stars goaltender Magnus Hellberg competed for the Griffins in 2022-23, showing a 2-2-0 mark with a 2.50 GAA and a .932 save percentage in four games. Texas equipment manager Charlie Kaser is the son of Griffins’ broadcaster Bob Kaser and served as Grand Rapids’ assistant equipment manager from 2018-23. Current Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill served as the Griffins’ GM for two seasons from 2011-13, winning the Calder Cup in 2013. Nill spent parts of 19 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings from 1994-2013, serving as the director of player development (1994-98) and assistant general manager (1998-13) before leaving for Dallas. 

Been There, Done That
Jack Campbell (2014 Texas), Josiah Didier (2019 Charlotte), assistant coach Brian Lashoff (2013 and 2017 Grand Rapids), and Joe Snively (2024 & 2023 Hershey) are the Griffins’ previous Calder Cup champions. Brogan Rafferty (2023 Coachella Valley) made a Calder Cup Finals appearance in 2023. Captain Curtis McKenzie, assistant coach Maxime Fortunus and general manager Scott White all won the Calder Cup with Texas in 2014.  

Scouting Texas
The Stars are led by Matej Blumel who showed 72 points (39-33--72) in 67 games, leading the team in points, goals, and power-play goals (11). Blumel, who garnered a spot on the AHL First All-Star Team, ranked among the AHL leaders in goals (1st), points (T2nd), power-play goals (T6th), and shots (274, 1st). On the defensive side of the ice, Kyle Capobianco led all of Texas’ blueliners with 50 points (7-43--50), 72 penalty minutes and a plus-25 rating in 64 games. He ranked among the AHL’s defensemen leaders in points (T5th), assists (3rd), plus-minus rating (6th), and power-play assists (16, T6th). Remi Poirier and former Griffin Magnus Hellberg split time in net for the Stars. Poirier compiled a 17-11-2 mark with three shutouts (T12th), a 2.50 GAA (13th) and a .908 save percentage (T18th) in 31 games. Hellberg logged a 24-14-1 ledger (wins T4th) with two shutouts, a 2.69 GAA and a .904 save percentage in 41 games (T8th). Justin Hryckowian was named the Dudley (Red) Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding rookie, as he led all first-year players with 60 points (22-38—60) in 67 games. Hryckowian’s 60 points were the sixth most in the AHL by an undrafted rookie since 2009-10. Texas had the second-best power play at 21.5%, tied for fifth in the AHL with 3.33 goals per game and ranked ninth with 30.36 shots per outing. 

Lord Stanley
The Stanley Cup Playoffs have begun with 13 of the 16 teams having a Griffins alum among their player or hockey operations ranks.  

The Champs are Here
The Griffins’ roster is composed of numerous coaches and players who have either reached a playoff final or won a title for their respective pro, college, junior or national team(s). Most recently, Joe Snively won the last two Calder Cups with Hershey (2024, 2023), Axel Sandin-Pellikka won the 2024 SHL title with Skelleftea, Shai Buium won the 2024 NCAA title with Denver, and Gabriel Seger took home the 2024 ECAC title with Cornell University.

Regular Season Series Notes
Grand Rapids finished the regular season series against Texas with a 3-3-2-0 record, including 1-2-1-0 at Van Andel Arena and 2-1-1-0 at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park...After beginning the season series with a four-game point streak (2-0-2-0), the Griffins went on to drop three of the final four meetings (1-3-0-0)...The Griffins were held to one goal or less in two of the eight games, being shut out on March 26…Six of the eight meetings were decided by two goals or more...Grand Rapids averaged 3.50 goals per game at Texas and just 2.00 goals against the Stars at home...The Stars’ power play, which ranked second in the AHL during the regular season (21.5%), went just 2-for-17 (11.8%) against the Griffins...Joe Snively led Grand Rapids against Texas with seven points (2-5—7) and five assists in eight games, while Matej Blumel paced the Stars against the Griffins with 11 points (6-5—11) and six goals in eight appearances...Blumel and Arttu Hyry tied for the team lead against Grand Rapids with five assists...Sheldon Dries led the Griffins with three goals in six games against Rockford...Leading each team in net were Jack Campbell, who went 2-1-0 with a 2.68 GAA and a .905 SV% in three games, and Texas’ Magnus Hellberg, who showed a 4-2-0 mark with one shutout, a 2.15 GAA and a .916 SV% in six contests...Campbell secured his first win as a Griffin against Texas on Dec. 17 (20 saves) and made a season-high 35 saves on April 11 versus the Stars...Antti Tuomisto registered his 50th pro assist on Feb. 25 at Texas...Emmitt Finnie made his season debut on March 26 against Texas...Dries skated in his 300th pro game on Dec. 22 versus the Stars...Snively appeared in his 300th pro game on Feb. 26 at Texas and registered two-point nights against the Stars on Dec. 17 (0-2—2) and Feb. 25 (1-1—2)...William Wallinder recorded two assists on April 11 against Texas...Tim Gettinger suited up for his 300th AHL game on Dec. 17 at Texas and his 100th game as a Griffin on March 26 versus the Stars...Ondrej Becher secured his first two-assist night in the AHL on Feb. 25 at Texas...Captain Josiah Didier skated in his 500th pro game on Feb. 25 at Texas...Amadeus Lombardi bagged two points (1-1—2) on Feb. 25 at the Stars...Austin Watson logged two points (1-1—2) on Dec. 17 at Texas.

Tale of the Tape
Here’s how the two rivals stacked up in key categories during the regular season:

Grand Rapids, Texas

Overall Record: 37-29-4-2, 80 pts. (3rd Central, 18th AHL), 43-26-3-0, 89 pts. (2nd Central, 10th AHL)
Home Record: 27-15-2-2, 38 pts. (18th), 19-14-3-0, 41 pts. (10th)      
Road Record: 20-14-2-0, 42 pts. (18th), 24-12-0-0, 48 pts. (10th)
Power Play: 44-for-254, 17.3% (T24th), 50-for-233, 21.5% (2nd)
Penalty Killing: 197-for-238, 82.8% (14th), 203-for-246, 82.5% (15th)
Penalty Minutes: 10.71 avg. (31st), 11.78 avg. (22nd)
Goals For: 2.81 avg. (T26th), 3.33 avg. (T5th)
Goals Against: 2.82 avg. (9th), 2.92 avg. (13th)
Shots For: 27.43 avg. (26th), 30.36 avg. (9th)
Shots Against: 28.56 avg. (T15th), 27.99 avg. (11th)

Team Leaders

Games Played: Joe Snively (72), Kole Lind, Michael Karow (71)
Goals: Sheldon Dries (25), Matej Blumel (39) (led AHL)
Assists: Dominik Shine (32), Kyle Capobianco (43)
Points: Snively (47), Blumel (72)
Plus/Minus: William Lagesson (+13), Capobianco (+25)
Penalty Minutes: Austin Watson (112), Lind (93)
Power Play Goals: Snively & Watson (7), Blumel (11)
Shorthanded Goals: Watson (3), Blumel, Arttu Hyry & Emilio Pettersen (2)
Game-Winning Goals: Dries (7), Hyry (7)
Wins: Sebastian Cossa (21), Magnus Hellberg (24)
Shutouts: Cossa (1), Remi Poirier (3)
Goals Against Avg.: Cossa (2.45), Poirier (2.50)
Save Percentage: Cossa (.911), Poirier (.908)

2024-25 Griffins vs. Stars Head-to-Head

Grand Rapids, Texas

Overall Record: 3-3-2-0, 5-3-0-0
Home Record: 1-2-1-0, 2-2-0-0
Road Record: 2-1-1-0, 3-1-0-0
Power Play: 3-for-22 (13.6%), 2-for-17 (11.8%)
Penalty Kill: 15-for-17 (88.2%), 19-for-22 (86.4%)
Goals For: 22 (2.75 avg.), 27 (3.38 avg.)
Shots For: 195 (24.4 avg.), 238 (29.8 avg.)

Photo by Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins