Griffins Game #69 * Home Game #36 * AHL Game #1,094

Season Series: 7-2-0-0 Home Series: 3-1-0-0 Road Series: 4-1-0-0
All-Time Series: 81-54-11-11 All-Time Home Series: 46-21-6-5 All-Time Road Series: 35-33-5-6

IceHogs at Griffins
Tenth of 10 meetings overall, fifth of five at Van Andel Arena…Grand Rapids has wins in 14 of the last 19 games against Rockford...The Griffins are 29-18-2-0 (.612) since the 2021-22 season against Rockford and have a plus-22 scoring margin (147-125). At home since 2021-22, Grand Rapids is 13-9-2-0 (.583) against the IceHogs with a plus-17 scoring margin (74-57)...Rockford is Grand Rapids’ third-most frequent opponent, as tonight’s game marks the 158th meeting between the two franchises...The IceHogs are 12-21-1-2 at home this season compared to 15-15-2-0 on the road...Grand Rapids is 24-8-3-0 at home compared to 25-6-1-1 on the road...Rockford is 6-4-0-0 in its last 10 games and Grand Rapids is 6-3-1-0 in its last 10 outings...Rockford’s power play ranks 31st at 13.3% and its penalty kill is 26th at 79.2%...Grand Rapids’ penalty kill ranks first at 85.6% and its power play is tied for 14th at 19.3%...The IceHogs are tied for 27th with 2.78 goals per game while the Griffins rank second with 3.47 goals per outing...Defensively, Rockford ranks 25th with 3.35 goals allowed per game and Grand Rapids is first with 2.15 goals allowed...Rockford is the most penalized team in the AHL with 1,208 penalty minutes, as the team has four players over 100 penalty minutes in Connor Mylymok (202), Dillon Boucher (112), Andrew Perrott (108) and Taige Harding (105). Mylymok ranks third in the AHL in penalty minutes (202), which also places first among rookies.
 

Last Time Out
The Chicago Wolves recorded three goals in the final period to take down the Griffins 4-1 on Friday at Van Andel Arena. South Lyon, Michigan, native and former Michigan State Spartan Trey Augustine made his professional debut and recorded 26 saves. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard potted the Griffins’ only goal to extend his point streak to four (4-3—7). The Griffins moved to 49-14-4-1 with 103 points through 68 games and 24-8-3-0 on home ice. John Leonard tallied an assist to extend his point streak to four games (2-4—6), and Erik Gustafsson’s helper moved his point streak to five and has 11 assists in his last seven games. 

This Date in Griffins History
2002: Griffins head coach Bruce Cassidy is named the winner of the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL's 2001-02 Coach of the Year, as the team finishes first in the West Division and fourth in the AHL with a 42-27-11-0 record. 

Putting Up Points
During the Griffins’ most recent scoring output, several players have posted impressive stat lines. 
- Sheldon Dries: Seven points in seven games from March 7-April 10 (2-5—7)
- John Leonard: Four-game point streak from April 1-10 (2-4—6)
- Michael Brandsegg-Nygard: Four-game point streak from April 1-10 (4-3—7)
- Eduards Tralmaks: Nine points in six games from March 26-April 10 (5-4—9)
- Wojciech Stachowiak: 11 points in six games from March 26-April 10 (3-8—11)
- Erik Gustafsson: AHL career-high five-game assist streak from March 28-April 10 (0-8—8) and 11 assists in last seven games

Not Done Yet 
Last Friday, the Griffins claimed the Western Conference regular-season title, which marked their third regular-season conference championship as members of the AHL (2005-06, 2002-03) and the fifth in franchise history, including IHL Eastern Conference crowns in 2000-01 and 1999-00. Grand Rapids also clinched the Central Division title on March 26, which marked their sixth division crown as a member of the AHL. It also marked the Griffins’ first division title since 2014-15, when they won the Midwest, and the first Central Division title since 2002-03. The Griffins clinched a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs on Feb. 27, marking the earliest clinching date in franchise history (previously March 6) and the earliest for an AHL team since 1993, when the Binghamton Rangers clinched on Feb. 24 with 24 games remaining. Grand Rapids now has a magic number of 12 to clinch the AHL’s regular-season title. The Griffins trail the Providence Bruins by three points in the race for the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy, awarded to the AHL's regular-season champions. Grand Rapids is 38-10-4-1 against its division rivals and has outscored them 190-117, suffering its first regulation defeat against the division on Jan. 9 against Texas. The Griffins’ 38 wins are the most divisional victories since 2016-17 (40-20-1-3). 

We’re Back 
The Griffins have won five of their last six games after dropping six of eight games from March 6-24. In the last six games, Grand Rapids has averaged 4.50 goals per game while allowing 2.17 goals, outscoring opponents 27-13. The Griffins have continued their historic campaign with a 49-14-4-1 ledger and 103 points through 68 games. Grand Rapids reached at least 100 points for the first time since 2016-17 and the 103 points are the fifth-most in franchise history. The Griffins also reached the 100-point mark (66 games) faster than any team in franchise history (previously 69 games in 2005-06). The team saw its franchise-record tying 15-game win streak from Nov. 22-Dec. 27 come to an end in overtime on Dec. 31, which also tied for the sixth-longest run in AHL history. In addition, the Griffins’ 19-game point streak from Nov. 22-Jan. 7 (18-0-1-0) ended on Jan. 9, which tied for the longest run in franchise history. The Griffins are 25-6-1-1 on the road and 24-8-3-0 at home. The 17-game points streak on the road from Oct. 10-Jan. 23 (15-0-1-1) set a new AHL record, eclipsing the 2010-11 Milwaukee Admirals’ 16-game run (10-0-4-2). 

Rewrite the Record Book 
With the historic season the Griffins have had, several players have joined the franchise’s all-time single-season record book. John Leonard ranks among the single-season leaders in shorthanded goals (5, T1st), game-winners (8, 5th), unassisted goals (4, T5th), shootout percentage (.750, T6th) and shooting percentage (.203, 4th). Michael Brandsegg-Nygard is tied for fifth in game-winners (8), Amadeus Lombardi is tied for first in overtime goals (3), Dominik Shine is second in shooting percentage (.210), and Eduards Tralmaks is third in shooting percentage (.208). In net, Sebastian Cossa is eighth in wins (26) and tied for seventh in shutouts (5). Fellow goaltender Michal Postava ranks first in GAA (1.78) and second in save percentage (.935). In addition, Leonard (32) is the Griffins’ first 30-goal scorer since Eric Tangradi (31) in 2017-18, and his 32 goals are the most by a Griffin since 2014-15 (Teemu Pulkkinen 34). Leonard, Tralmaks (25), Sheldon Dries (22), Shine (21) and Brandsegg-Nygard (20) have all hit the 20-goal mark this season, which marks the first time since 2017-18 that Grand Rapids has at least five 20-goal scorers. 

Record Watch
The Griffins have already set the best road record in franchise history with a .788 points percentage (25-6-1-1), beating out the previous record of .713 (26-9-3-2) set in 2002-03. Grand Rapids needs just one win in its final three road games to tie the team record of 26 victories from 2002-03, when it played 40 road contests instead of the current 36. The Griffins also need just one point over their final four games to finish with the best overall record in franchise history. The team is currently at .757 (49-14-4-1), and with one more point can finish no worse than .722, beating the previous record of .719 (55-20-1-4), set in 2005-06. 

Important Starts
Playing with a lead has been crucial for the Griffins this season, as they are 36-2-1-0 when scoring the game’s first goal compared to 13-12-3-1 when conceding the opening tally. In addition, Grand Rapids is 22-0 when leading after the first period and 4-6-2-1 when trailing after the opening frame. When trailing after the second stanza, the Griffins are just 5-10-0-1 compared to 33-0 when leading after the second. 

Firing on all Cylinders
Grand Rapids has posted at least four goals in five of its last seven games. Last week, the Griffins outscored their opponents 18-5, scoring at least five goals in each outing. The Griffins now rank second in the AHL with 3.47 goals per game. The team has outscored its opponents 236-146 and is 36-2-1-0 when scoring the game’s first goal. The Griffins have outscored their opponents 108-73 at home, while possessing a 128-73 advantage on the road. Grand Rapids has its largest scoring margin against its opponents in the third period (96-45). John Leonard leads the team and ranks second in the AHL with 32 goals, while Eduards Tralmaks ranks second on the roster with 25 and Sheldon Dries places third with 22. Leonard, Tralmaks, Dries, Dominik Shine (21) and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (20) have all hit the 20-goal mark this season, which marks the first time since 2017-18 that Grand Rapids has at least five 20-goal scorers. 

What’s The Password? 
The Griffins’ defense remains the best in the AHL, as it ranks first with 2.15 goals allowed per contest. Grand Rapids posted its ninth shutout of the season last Wednesday at Rockford, which are the most since 2008-09 (9). The Griffins shut out their opponent in two straight games from Jan. 17-21 in addition to posting consecutive shutouts from Dec. 21-27. Prior to this season, the last time Grand Rapids logged two straight shutouts was Feb. 15-17, 2018. The Griffins have allowed more than two goals just 23 times all season (33.8%) and have averaged 2.20 goals allowed in their last five outings. In addition, the team’s penalty kill is first in the AHL at 85.6%. In net, Sebastian Cossa sports a 2.26 GAA with a .918 save percentage and five shutouts, while rookie netminder Michal Postava possesses a 1.78 GAA, a .935 save percentage and three shutouts. 

Putting the League on Notice 
Rookie netminder Michal Postava is 15-6-0 with three shutouts, a 1.78 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage in 23 games. In a 5-0 victory at Rockford last Wednesday, Postava logged his third shutout of the campaign behind 18 saves, which tied for the most shutouts by a Griffins rookie in a single season. If he had enough minutes played to qualify (38 short), Postava would rank first in the league in GAA and save percentage, and tie for eighth in shutouts. He tied a franchise record by becoming the 10th netminder in team history to post back-to-back shutouts from Jan. 17-21. Postava collected his first AHL shutout on Jan. 17 with 10 saves in a 2-0 victory over Milwaukee and followed that performance with a 19-save blanking of Milwaukee on Jan. 21. Postava logged a shutout streak of 156:20 from Jan. 9-25, which was 3:47 short of breaking the franchise record by Jared Coreau in 2014-15 (160:06). Last season, Postava became a Czech Extraliga champion with Kometa Brno, showing a league-best .940 save percentage with a 1.97 GAA and a 10-7 record in 17 playoff games. During the regular season with Kometa Brno, Postava ranked among the Czech Extraliga leaders in save percentage (.921, 5th), GAA (2.39, 11th), wins (23, 4th), games played (42, T2nd) and shutouts (3, T7th). As an undrafted free agent, Postava signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings last summer. Postava was recalled by Detroit under emergency conditions on Friday. 

Welcome Back 
On March 29, the Red Wings reassigned defenseman Anton Johansson to the Griffins from the SHL’s Leksands IF. Johansson scored his first AHL goal last Saturday at Manitoba and now has three points (1-2—3) in four games with Grand Rapids this season. The 21-year-old recently finished his SHL season and accumulated career-high totals in goals (5), assists (12) and points (17) in 42 regular-season games, adding 49 penalty minutes and an even plus-minus rating. He ranked among the 2025-26 SHL U22 defensemen leaders in points (2nd), goals (3rd), and assists (2nd). Johansson made his AHL debut with Grand Rapids last campaign and showed five assists, 12 penalty minutes and a plus-one rating in 11 regular-season games in 2024-25, adding one assist in three Calder Cup Playoff appearances. The 6-foot-4 blueliner was selected with the 105th overall pick by the Red Wings in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.  

The Well is not Dry
Sheldon Dries enjoyed a season-high six-game point streak (2-5—7) from March 7-April 4 and has nine points (4-5—9) in his last 10 AHL outings. Throughout 54 AHL games this season, Dries has 43 points (22-21—43) and a career-high plus-21 rating. The Macomb, Michigan, native ranks third on the roster in points, fourth in assists, and third in goals. He was selected as the Howies Hockey Tape/ AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Dec. 21 when he logged six points (2-4—6) and a plus-eight rating in three games. Throughout his nine-year AHL career, Dries has 287 points (160-127—287), 270 penalty minutes and a plus-48 rating in 393 games. He made his Red Wings debut on March 12 at Tampa Bay and has appeared in five games with Detroit this season. 

The Brick Wall
Sebastian Cossa, the 15th overall pick in 2021, collected his fifth shutout of the season on Feb. 15 against Texas with 26 saves and enjoyed a seven-game point streak from Feb. 3-28 (6-0-1). His career-high five shutouts are the most by a Griffin since 2015-16 (Jared Coreau). Cossa has a 26-7-4 record with a 2.26 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. He enjoyed a career-high 10-game win streak from Nov. 25-Dec. 27, showing a 1.51 GAA and a .939 save percentage, and a 14-game point streak from Nov. 25-Jan. 13 (12-0-2). In the AHL rankings, Cossa ranks fifth in GAA, tied for third in save percentage, second in shutouts, second in wins and 10th in minutes played (2202:31). Cossa won two straight AHL Goaltender of the Month awards (November and December), becoming the first netminder in franchise history to receive the honor twice in the same season. The 23-year-old also became just the third goaltender in team history to win the award twice in any fashion, joining Jared Coreau (Feb. 2018, Dec. 2015) and Jimmy Howard (Dec. 2007, March 2006). In parts of four seasons with Grand Rapids since 2022-23, Cossa has notched a 70-32-18 mark with eight shutouts to go along with a 2.44 GAA and a .912 save percentage in 121 outings, becoming just the sixth netminder to reach the century mark with the team. 

Untouchables
Below are statistical categories in which the Griffins are undefeated in regulation.
- 22-0 when leading after the first period
- 33-0 when leading after the second period 
- 11-0 in games decided by four or more goals
- 42-0-2-1 when scoring at least three goals
- 4-0 when allowing 10-19 shots

Record Setters 
Below is a list of team and league records that the Griffins have either set or tied this season. 
- Best record in AHL history through 25 games (23-1-0-1, 47 pts.), 30 games (27-1-1-1, 56 pts.), 40 games (32-5-2-1, 67 pts.) and 50 games (40-7-2-1, 83 pts.), while tying for the best start through 35 games (29-3-2-1, 61 pts.)
- Second-best record in AHL history through 55 games (42-9-3-1, 88 pts.)
- Tied second-best record in AHL history through 45 games (35-7-2-1, 73 pts.) 
- Reached the 60-point mark in just 32 games, three games faster than any team in AHL history
- AHL record 17-game road points streak from Oct. 10-Jan. 23 (15-0-1-1)
- Tied franchise-record 15-game winning streak from Nov. 22-Dec. 27, which also tied for sixth-longest in AHL history
- Tied franchise-record 19-game points streak from Nov. 22-Jan. 7 (18-0-1-0)
- Franchise-record start with an 8-0 record and was the league’s last undefeated team for first time since 2000-01 IHL season
- Started 6-0 at home for first time since 2009-10 (8-0)
- Franchise record for largest margin of victory (9) on Nov. 25 at Texas (10-1 W) 
- Franchise record for fewest shots in a game (10) on Jan. 17 versus Milwaukee 
- Earliest playoff clinching date in franchise history on Feb. 27 (previously March 6)
- Second-earliest division title in franchise history on March 26 (previously March 9) 
- Fastest to 100 points in franchise history in game 66 (previously game 69 in 2005-06) 

United Nations
The Griffins’ roster is comprised of nine different nationalities. Grand Rapids’ lineup on March 24 included players from nine different birth countries, which was a first in the franchise’s 30-year history. 
Sweden (6): Gabriel Seger, Eddie Genborg, William Wallinder, Anton Johansson, William Lagesson, Erik Gustafsson
USA (6): Sheldon Dries, John Leonard, Carson Bantle, Austin Watson, Shai Buium, Trey Augustine
Canada (6): Nate Danielson, Alex Doucet, Tyler Angle, Amadeus Lombardi, Sebastian Cossa, Michael Milne
Czechia (2): Ondrej Becher, Jakub Rychlovsky
Finland (2): Antti Tuomisto, Jesse Kiiskinen
Norway (1): Michael Brandsegg-Nygard 
Latvia (1): Eduards Tralmaks
Poland (1): Wojciech Stachowiak
Thailand (1): Alex Kannok Leipert 

Rockford/Grand Rapids Player Connections
- Drew Commesso and Jacob Truscott were teammates from 2018-20 on the USNTDP Jrs. in USHL
- Jake Furlong and Alex Doucet were teammates in 2022-23 with the Halifax Mooseheads. Furlong and Nate Danielson competed for Team Canada together at the 2024 World Junior Championship
- Dmitri Kuzmin, Gavin Hayes and Amadeus Lombardi were teammates from 2021-23 with the Flint Firebirds
- Jiri Felcman and Ondrej Becher were teammates for Team Czechia U20 in 2023-24 
- Gavin Hayes and Trey Augustine were teammates for Team USA U20 at the 2024 World Junior Championship
- Ryland Mosley and Carson Bantle were teammates in 2020-21 at Michigan Tech

AHL Leaderboard Tracker 
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard—Tied for first in game-winners (8), fifth among rookies in goals (20), tied for 10th among rookies in assists (24), tied for sixth among rookies in points (44), fifth among rookies in plus-minus (+22), tied for fourth among rookies in power-play goals (7), seventh among rookies in shots (139), first among rookies in game-winners (8)
Sebastian Cossa—Fifth in GAA (2.26), tied for third in save percentage (.918), second in shutouts (5), second in wins (26), tied for 12th in games played (37), 10th in minutes played (2202:31)
Erik Gustafsson—11th among defensemen in assists (31), 11th among defensemen in plus-minus (+23)
Alex Kannok Leipert—Tied for 13th in shorthanded assists (2), tied for fifth among defensemen in shorthanded assists (2)
William Lagesson—Tied for seventh in plus-minus (+29), fourth among defensemen in plus-minus (+29)
John Leonard—Second in goals (32), tied for first in shorthanded goals (5), tied for first in game-winners (8)
Amadeus Lombardi—Tied for 11th in game-winners (5)
Eduards Tralmaks—Tied for seventh in plus-minus (+29)
Antti Tuomisto—Tied for 10th in plus-minus (+27), tied for sixth among defensemen in plus-minus (+27)
Austin Watson—Seventh in penalty minutes (146) 

Milestones
Last Saturday at Manitoba, Shai Buium skated in his 100th game as a Griffin, and Eddie Genborg and Anton Johansson both collected their first AHL goals.  
Tyler Angle—Two assists from 100 as a pro
Sebastian Cossa—Three wins from 100 as a pro
Eduards Tralmaks—Five goals from 100 as a pro
Antti Tuomisto—Two points from 100 as a pro
Austin Watson—Three points from 200 in the AHL  

Photo by Kristin Ostrowski/Rockford IceHogs