
Griffins Fall 3-2 in Homestand Opener
January 10, 2025 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release

Grand Rapids Griffins' Sheldon Dries on game night
(Grand Rapids Griffins, Credit: Mark Newman/Griffins)
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A back-and-forth outing saw the Grand Rapids Griffins drop the opening contest of their five-game homestand at Van Andel Arena against the Manitoba Moose 3-2 on Friday.
Elmer Soderblom tallied two points in the campaign (1-1-2), while marking his 50th point in the AHL and as a Griffin. Gabriel Seger also posted his second multi-point game of the season (1-1-2), securing his sixth goal. Goaltender Sebastian Cossa manned the net for Grand Rapids and saved 26 shots. Eight of the last 11 meetings between Grand Rapids and Manitoba have been decided by one goal, including all three matchups this year.
Just 5:44 into the first period, Nikita Chibrikov gave the Moose an early lead. The Griffins attempted to even the score on their first power play of the outing at 11:55, but a shot from Joe Snively ringed off both goalposts and bounced away. However, Seger put Grand Rapids on the board with 2:26 left in the frame. Shai Buium sent a shot toward the goalmouth from the blue line and Seger tipped it home.
The second period faired the same for both sides. The Griffins failed to convert on their lone power-play chance at 10:37. Manitoba earned its own advantage shortly after and C.J. Suess scored on the power play at 14:31. With 3:13 remaining in the second, Soderblom found the back of the net to tie the game at two. A Moose turnover let Seger skate into the Manitoba zone before he dropped the puck off to Soderblom and he ripped it past the netminder from the right circle.
In the final period, Ben King scored Manitoba's second power-play goal at 8:10. A Griffins' double-minor penalty put the Moose back on the offensive at 13:39, but Grand Rapids killed it off and drew a penalty with 2:44 remaining. The Griffins pulled Cossa 12 seconds later to make it 6-on-4 for the final minutes. With 50 seconds left, a cluster in front of the Manitoba net saw Austin Watson shove the puck over the line, but the referee blew the play dead just seconds before. Grand Rapids remained on a 5-on-4 in the final minute but failed to tie the score, falling 3-2.
Notes
Antti Tuomisto skated in his 150th professional outing.
The Griffins have won just one of their last five home games (1-3-1-0).
Box Score
Manitoba 1 1 1 - 3
Grand Rapids 1 1 0 - 2
1st Period-1, Manitoba, Chibrikov 7 (Lucius, King), 5:44. 2, Grand Rapids, Seger 6 (Buium, Söderblom), 17:34. Penalties-Söderblom Gr (roughing), 8:09; Lucius Mb (slashing), 11:55.
2nd Period-3, Manitoba, Suess 6 (Anhorn, Shaw), 14:31 (PP). 4, Grand Rapids, Söderblom 3 (Seger), 16:47. Penalties-Empey Mb (fighting), 3:07; Didier Gr (fighting), 3:07; Anderson-Dolan Mb (hooking), 10:37; Tuomisto Gr (tripping), 13:17; Dries Gr (tripping), 18:33.
3rd Period-5, Manitoba, King 5 (Barteaux, Chibrikov), 8:10 (PP). Penalties-Seger Gr (holding), 6:16; served by Empey Mb (too many men - bench minor), 13:39; Dries Gr (double minor - high-sticking), 13:39; Lundmark Mb (interference), 17:16
Shots on Goal-Manitoba 12-11-6-29. Grand Rapids 12-9-6-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Manitoba 2 / 5; Grand Rapids 0 / 3.
Goalies-Manitoba, Kähkönen 4-9-0 (27 shots-25 saves). Grand Rapids, Cossa 10-7-3 (29 shots-26 saves).
A-8,315
Three Stars
1. MB King (game-winner, assist); 2. GR Soderblom (goal, assist); 3. MB Chibrikov (goal, assist)
Record/Next Game
Grand Rapids: 20-11-3-0 (43 pts.) / Sat., Jan. 11 vs. Manitoba 7 p.m.
Manitoba: 10-19-1-1 (22 pts.) / Sat., Jan. 11 at Grand Rapids 6 p.m. CST
Photo by Mark Newman/Griffins
To manage which communications you would like to receive, or to unsubscribe, please click here.
Grand Rapids Griffins respects your privacy.
Please note that by unsubscribing you are opting out of ALL email communications from Grand Rapids Griffins.
Images from this story
![]() Grand Rapids Griffins' Sheldon Dries on game night (Mark Newman/Griffins) |
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2025
- Gulls Down Roadrunners, 3-2 - San Diego Gulls
- Silver Knights' Point Streak Ends with 4-1 Loss to Abbotsford - Henderson Silver Knights
- Villalta Makes 42 Saves in Roadrunners' 3-2 Loss to Gulls - Tucson Roadrunners
- Hlavaj Earns First AHL Shutout, Iowa Defeats Ontario 5-0 - Iowa Wild
- Condors Strike Early in Loss to SJ - Bakersfield Condors
- The Abbotsford Canucks Are Back In The Win Column After A 4-1 Win Over The Henderson Silver Knights - Abbotsford Canucks
- Eagles Kick Off Homestand With 5-2 Victory Over Calgary - Colorado Eagles
- Amerks Push Win Streak to Seven in Rout of Utica - Rochester Americans
- Stars Roll Over Admirals, Win Third Straight - Texas Stars
- Griffins Fall 3-2 in Homestand Opener - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Ethen Frank Makes NHL Debut with Capitals - Hershey Bears
- Limoges Completes Rally for Bears in 4-3 OT Win Over Checkers - Hershey Bears
- Manitoba Edges Grand Rapids - Manitoba Moose
- Washkaruk Scores as Senators Fall to Penguins at CAA Arena - Belleville Senators
- Penguins Rack Up 6-1 Win Over Senators - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Bruins Get Past Islanders - Bridgeport Islanders
- Victor Mancini the Overtime Hero as Wolf Pack Down Phantoms 3-2 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Crunch Downed by Marlies, 3-2 - Syracuse Crunch
- Game Day Preview - CGY in COL - Calgary Wranglers
- Flames Recall Rory Kerins - Calgary Wranglers
- Monsters Blanked by Rocket 5-0 - Cleveland Monsters
- Lettieri Posts Three Points in P-Bruins' Victory Over Islanders - Providence Bruins
- Checkers Lose Lead, Fall 4-3 to Hershey in Overtime - Charlotte Checkers
- Comets Defeated by Americans 5-1 - Utica Comets
- San Diego Gulls Sign Michal Stinil to Professional Tryout - San Diego Gulls
- Rangers Recall Bo Groulx from Wolf Pack, Assign Brett Berard - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Morning Skate Report: January 10, 2025 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Game #32 Preview: Tucson Roadrunners (18-12-1-0) at San Diego Gulls (10-18-3-2) - Tucson Roadrunners
- San Diego Gulls to Host Gulls Fight Cancer Night on Saturday, January 11 - San Diego Gulls
- Josh Doan Recalled by Utah Hockey Club - Tucson Roadrunners
- Star Wars Meets Hockey Saturday Night - Rockford IceHogs
- Andlauer and Senators Committed to Keeping American Hockey League Affiliate in Belleville - Belleville Senators
- Wolf Pack and Phantoms Open Home-And-Home Set in Allentown - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Bears at Checkers, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Game Preview: Condors at San Jose, 7:30 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- Monsters Announce Three Roster Moves - Cleveland Monsters
- Capitals Recall Ethen Frank, Ivan Miroshnichenko Loaned to Bears - Hershey Bears
- Winter Weather Update for Friday's Game - Charlotte Checkers
- Preview: Islanders at Bruins - Bridgeport Islanders
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
