DES MOINES, Iowa --  Backed by Trey Augustine’s first professional shutout, the league-leading Grand Rapids Griffins tamed the Iowa Wild with a 3-0 victory on Friday at the Casey’s Center.

The rookie goaltender out of Michigan State made 31 saves to earn his fifth win of the season and extend his point streak to six games (5-0-1). On offense, John Leonard recorded two goals, giving him six points in his last two outings (5-1–6), and Wilmer Skoog scored his second goal of the campaign to extend his point streak to four games (1-5–6). Dominik Shine, Jacob Bryson, Alex Kannok Leipert and Jesse Kiiskinen each added an assist, with Kiiskinen increasing his point streak to three games (0-4–4). The Griffins have now picked up points in 11 of their last 12 games (10-1-0-1).

Grand Rapids was the aggressor throughout the first 20 minutes of play, outshooting Iowa 15-6. The Griffins jumped on the board with the game’s first goal on a power play at the 4:50 mark when Skoog took a pass from Bryson and fired a shot past William Rousseau’s blocker from the high slot. The Griffins’ power-play unit, which entered the game ranked second in the AHL (27.2%), has now scored a goal in each of its last 12 games, showing a 28.4% conversion rate (19-for-67).

Nate Danielson nearly extended Grand Rapids’ lead with one second remaining in the period, but Rousseau made a diving save to keep the deficit at one heading into the middle frame.

The Wild were on the attack for much of the second stanza, rattling off 15 shots, compared to six by the Griffins, and coming close to scoring on numerous occasions. However, it was Grand Rapids that registered the only goal of the period at 15:21. After Shine forced a turnover at the Iowa blue line, Leonard collected the puck and skated into the slot before ripping a shot past Rousseau to double the lead.

With 2:04 remaining, Iowa went on its second man-advantage of the frame, but Augustine made five saves in the waning minutes to maintain the 2-0 edge for the Griffins.

At about the halfway mark of the final period, Kannok Leipert caused another big turnover, this time at the Griffins’ blue line, before sending a pass to Leonard. Charging up the ice with Danielson on a two-on-one break, Leonard put the puck through the five-hole of Rousseau from the left circle with 10:18 remaining for the final goal of the 3-0 win.

Notes

• Among the league’s rookie netminders, Augustine is currently ranked sixth in GAA (2.26) and save percentage (.921). In the AHL overall, the goalie is currently tied for sixth in games played (9) and tied for seventh in wins (5).
• In just eight games with the Griffins this season, Leonard has accumulated 13 points (10-3–13), including two hat tricks.
• Grand Rapids finished 1-for-5 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. On the season, the Griffins power-play unit is ranked third in the league (26.7%), and the penalty kill is ranked second (91.4%).
• Tonight marked defenseman William Lagesson’s 100th game as a Griffin.

Box Score
Grand Rapids 1 1 1 - 3
Iowa 0 0 0 - 0

1st Period-1, Grand Rapids, Skoog 2 (Bryson, Kiiskinen), 4:50 (PP). Penalties-Joshua Ia (tripping), 3:00; Bryson Gr (interference), 9:01; Shine Gr (diving/embellishment), 10:45; Koster Ia (interference), 10:45; Leskovar Ia (interference), 13:23.

2nd Period-2, Grand Rapids, Leonard 9 (Shine), 15:21. Penalties-Pitlick Ia (cross-checking), 3:55; Butler Gr (slashing), 12:21; Attard Gr (hooking), 17:56.

3rd Period-3, Grand Rapids, Leonard 10 (Kannok Leipert), 9:42. Penalties-Attard Gr (roughing), 11:09; Leskovar Ia (unsportsmanlike conduct, roughing), 11:09; Kaliyev Ia (high-sticking), 16:07.

Shots on Goal-Grand Rapids 15-6-12-33. Iowa 6-15-10-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Grand Rapids 1 / 5; Iowa 0 / 3.
Goalies-Grand Rapids, Augustine 5-1-2 (31 shots-31 saves). Iowa, Rousseau 3-5-1 (33 shots-30 saves).
A-5,061

Three Stars
1. GR Leonard (two goals); 2. GR Augustine (W, 31-save shutout); 3. GR Skoog (power-play game-winner)

Record / Next Game
Grand Rapids: 12-2-1-1 (26 pts.) / Sat., Nov. 14 at Iowa 7 p.m. EST
Iowa: 6-8-2-1 (15 pts.) / Sat., Nov. 14 vs. Grand Rapids 6 p.m. CST

Photo by Iowa Wild