AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Cossa Earns 3-0 Shutout Against Milwaukee to Open Season

Published on October 12, 2024 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids Griffins' Sebastian Cossa in action
Grand Rapids Griffins' Sebastian Cossa in action
(Grand Rapids Griffins, Credit: Nicolas Carrillo)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Sebastian Cossa on Friday became the first Grand Rapids Griffins goalie to post an opening-night shutout in 26 years, as his 35 saves propelled the home team to a 3-0 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals at Van Andel Arena.

After having fallen to the Admirals in last spring's Central Division Finals, the Griffins gained a measure of revenge against their rival in front of a capacity crowd of 10,834.

Cossa's perfect performance was the first by a Griffin in either a season or home opener since Oct. 9, 1998, when Ian Gordon made 33 saves in a 2-0 home win over Kansas City to begin the team's third campaign in the International Hockey League.

Following a scoreless opening period, the Griffins struck 8:08 into the second frame. On the rush from the top of the right circle, Dominik Shine found Marco Kasper slicing down the slot, and the second-year center put a top-shelf backhand past Magnus Chrona for the only goal Grand Rapids would need.

Carter Mazur added to the Grand Rapids lead at 15:16, blasting home a William Wallinder feed from the bottom of the left circle during a 4-on-3 power play.

After compiling 20 saves over the first 40 minutes, Cossa turned back 15 Milwaukee shots during the final frame to preserve the shutout, and Shine slipped a shot into an empty net from the right boards with 15 seconds left to seal the Griffins' seventh win in their last nine home openers.

Notes *The sold-out home-opener was the 28th in the Griffins' 29 seasons. *This is the third shutout for Grand Rapids in 29 season openers and the first in an opener of any kind during its 24 AHL seasons.

Box Score

Milwaukee 0 0 0 - 0

Grand Rapids 0 2 1 - 3

1st Period-No Scoring. Penalties-Viro Gr (interference), 6:36; Gravel Mil (roughing), 13:31; Kemell Mil (holding), 13:31; Hanas Gr (cross-checking), 13:31; Angello Mil (tripping), 19:18.

2nd Period-1, Grand Rapids, Kasper 1 (Shine, Watson), 8:08. 2, Grand Rapids, Mazur 1 (Wallinder, Kasper), 15:16 (PP). Penalties-Schaefer Mil (double minor - high-sticking), 1:51; Kasper Gr (slashing), 5:54; Mazur Gr (slashing), 11:48; Schaefer Mil (roughing), 13:49; Didier Gr (roughing), 13:49; L'Heureux Mil (tripping), 14:10; Mutter Mil (fighting), 16:28; Watson Gr (fighting), 16:28; Shine Gr (slashing), 19:17.

3rd Period-3, Grand Rapids, Shine 1 (Watson), 19:45 (EN). Penalties-Rafferty Gr (tripping), 2:11; M. Del Gaizo Mil (holding), 7:37; Mutter Mil (fighting, game misconduct - third major/second fight), 9:55; Johannes Gr (fighting), 9:55.

Shots on Goal-Milwaukee 14-6-15-35. Grand Rapids 11-8-8-27.

Power Play Opportunities-Milwaukee 0 / 5; Grand Rapids 1 / 6.

Goalies-Milwaukee, Chrona 0-1-0 (26 shots-24 saves). Grand Rapids, Cossa 1-0-0 (35 shots-35 saves).

Three Stars

1.GR Cossa (SO, W, 35 saves); 2. GR Kasper (game-winning goal, assist); 3. GR Mazur (power-play goal)

Record/Next Game

Grand Rapids: 1-0-0-0 (2 pts.) / Sat., Oct. 12 at Rockford 8 p.m. EDT

Milwaukee: 0-1-0-0 (0 pts.) / Sat., Oct. 12 at Chicago 7 p.m. CDT

Check out the Grand Rapids Griffins Statistics

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Images from this story

Grand Rapids Griffins' Sebastian Cossa in action
Grand Rapids Griffins' Sebastian Cossa in action
(Nicolas Carrillo)		   



American Hockey League Stories from October 12, 2024


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