GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Grand Rapids Griffins posted their second shutout in three games to begin the campaign behind 22 saves by Ville Husso in a 1-0 victory over the Manitoba Moose on Friday at Van Andel Arena. This marked the first time in franchise history that the Griffins posted shutouts in their first two home games, with Sebastian Cossa and Husso combining for 57 saves in the two wins.

Husso became the first goalie to record a shutout in each of his first two Griffins appearances after he tallied a 25-save win last season on Jan. 26, 2024. It was also the 10th time in Griffins history that a Grand Rapids goalie recorded shutouts in consecutive appearances, the last coming in February 2018 behind Jared Coreau. 

Another quiet first period saw the Griffins knotted up at zero with Manitoba before Joe Snively scored his first goal as a Griffin and the only tally Grand Rapids would need to give them a 1-0 lead at 10:26 in the second. A sweeping pass across the middle from Carter Mazur allowed Snively to snipe the puck over the glove of Thomas Milic from the top of the right circle.  

Multiple close calls from the Moose kept the Griffins at bay early in the final period, including a Manitoba shot that ricocheted off the post after a chance by Simon Lundmark. Brogan Rafferty cleared the rebound from the crease and the Griffins came away unscathed. Grand Rapids continued the shutout when Husso stopped a 2-on-1 breakaway, sticking his right leg out in front of the oncoming puck. 

Manitoba pulled Milic from the net at 18:06 to put the extra attacker on but were turned away in its scoring efforts, as Grand Rapids skated away with a 1-0 victory. 

Notes 

• Defensive prospect Shai Buium made his season debut.

Box Score 

Manitoba 0 0 0 - 0
Grand Rapids 0 1 0 - 1

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Söderblom Gr (tripping), 9:17; Shaw Mb (slashing), 10:53; Dries Gr (slashing), 19:54.

2nd Period-1, Grand Rapids, Snively 1 (Mazur, Dries), 10:26. Penalties-Liwiski Mb (fighting), 13:05; Shine Gr (fighting), 13:05; Ford Mb (tripping), 14:12.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Liwiski Mb (roughing), 4:10; Tuomisto Gr (roughing), 4:10; Lambert Mb (high-sticking), 12:59.

Shots on Goal-Manitoba 7-9-6-22. Grand Rapids 6-9-4-19.
Power Play Opportunities-Manitoba 0 / 2; Grand Rapids 0 / 3.
Goalies-Manitoba, Milic 1-1-0 (19 shots-18 saves). Grand Rapids, Husso 1-0-0 (22 shots-22 saves).
A-4,862

Three Stars 

1. GR Husso (SO, W, 22 saves); 2. GR Snively (goal); 3. MB Milic (L, 18 saves)

Record/Next Game 

Grand Rapids: 2-1-0-0 (4 pts.) / Sat., Oct. 19 vs. Manitoba 7 p.m. 

Manitoba: 2-1-0-0 (4 pts.) / Sat., Oct. 19 at Grand Rapids 6 p.m. CDT

Photo by Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins