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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins Look to Continue Five-Game Win Streak

November 19, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids Griffins left wing Cross Hanas vs. the Iowa Wild
Grand Rapids Griffins left wing Cross Hanas vs. the Iowa Wild
(Grand Rapids Griffins, Credit: Iowa Wild)

This Week's Games

GRIFFINS vs. Iowa Wild // Fri., Nov. 22 // 7 p.m. // Van Andel Arena

GRIFFINS vs. Iowa Wild // Sun., Nov. 24 // 4 p.m. // Van Andel Arena

Listen: WOOD 106.9 FM & 1300 AM at 6:45 p.m. on Friday and 3:45 p.m. on Sunday

Watch: AHLTV on FloHockey

Season Series: 1-0-0-0 Overall, 0-0-0-0 Home. Second and third of eight meetings overall, first and second of four at Van Andel Arena

All-Time Series: 51-24-5-3 Overall, 25-10-4-2 Home

NHL Affiliation: Minnesota Wild

Noteworthy: Dating back to the start of last season, the Griffins have won eight of the last nine meetings against the Wild with a plus-14 scoring margin.

Hot Start: With an 11-3-1-0 record, the Griffins have tied their second-best start in franchise history through 15 games, matching an 11-3-0-1 start in 2005-06 and nearly equaling an 11-2-2 start in 2000-01. In 29 seasons, this was the fourth Griffins team to win at least 10 of its first 14 games, and the first since 2009-10. The Griffins have won with defense, as they have allowed two goals or less in 10 of the 15 contests and have scored an average of 3.00 goals per game (T19th).

Let's Show Some Love to the Defense: The Griffins rank first in the AHL with just 2.00 goals allowed per game, as the 30 goals surrendered are the second-fewest in franchise history over the first 15 games of a season (29 in 2004-05). For comparison, Grand Rapids ceded 51 goals in the opening 15 games last year and 63 in 2022-23. Dating back to last season, Grand Rapids has allowed just 11 goals in its last nine regular-season games at Van Andel Arena (1.22 GA per game).

One, Two Punch: Sebastian Cossa, the 15th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in 2021, is off to a strong start through the opening 11 games of his season, showing a 7-3-1 mark with one shutout, a 1.89 goals-against average, and a .937 save percentage. The 21-year-old ranks among the league leaders in minutes played (633:54, 3rd), shutouts (T5th), GAA (5th), wins (3rd), and save percentage (T4th). Ville Husso has also gotten off to a fast start with the Griffins, as he has a 3-0-0 ledger with one shutout to go along with a 1.46 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage in four appearances. Through five career games with Grand Rapids, Husso has a 4-0-0 record with two shutouts, a 1.13 goals-against average and a .961 save percentage.

No Ordinary Joe: Newcomer Joe Snively is on a team-high three-game goal streak and has five points (4-1-5) in his last five outings. Snively is tied for second on the roster in both points (5-6-11) and goals (5) through 15 appearances. The Herndon, Virginia, native joined the Griffins after a historic run with the Hershey Bears the last two seasons. Snively won the last two Calder Cups with the Bears and showed a combined 33 points (6-27-33) in 40 games during the postseason with a 28-12 record in the past two playoffs. Snively also aided Hershey to a regular-season title last year with a 53-14-0-5 mark (111 pts., .771), the second-best regular-season record in AHL history and the most wins by an AHL team in a 72-game season. The 28-year-old is in search of his third straight Calder Cup, as only 11 players in league history have won three consecutive cups in the AHL and no one has achieved this feat since the 1978 season.

Damn Daniel, Back At It Again: Rookie Nate Danielson, selected ninth overall by Detroit in 2023, had just two points (1-1-2) in his first eight games as a pro. However, he has found his footing and now has four points (1-3-4) in his last three contests and six points (1-5-6) in his last seven outings. The 20-year-old made his pro debut with Grand Rapids on May 20 at Milwaukee during the Calder Cup Playoffs and finished the postseason with two appearances. Prior to turning pro, Danielson spent four campaigns in the WHL and amassed 217 points (83-134-217) in 199 regular-season games.

Alexander The Great: Alex Doucet is on a career-high three-game point streak (2-2-4) and has five points (3-2-5) in his last five contests. The rookie had just one point in the first eight games of the campaign, securing his first AHL assist on Oct. 25 at Springfield. He later bagged his first AHL goal on Nov. 7 at Iowa and his two short-handed goals on the year are tied for first among rookies and tied for second among all skaters. Last season, the 22-year-old showed 41 points (19-22-41) in 52 regular-season games with the ECHL's Toledo Walleye in addition to suiting up for six games with Grand Rapids.

Criss-Cross Applesauce: Third-year pro Cross Hanas has scored three goals and four points (3-1-4) in his last five games. Hanas enjoyed a three-game point streak (2-1-3) from Oct. 25-27 and scored goals in back-to-back outings from Oct. 26-27 for the first time since Nov. 11-12, 2022. An injury-riddled first year limited the forward to just 17 points (9-8-17) in 30 games in 2022-23, and then the 22-year-old struggled in his second year last season with 16 points (8-8-16) in 58 appearances. Through 15 outings this campaign, Hanas has seven points (5-2-7), 10 penalty minutes and a plus-three rating. Hanas was selected with the 55th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

AHL Leaderboard Tracker:

Shai Buium-Tied for ninth among rookie defensemen in assists (4)

Sebastian Cossa-Third in minutes played (633:54), tied for fifth in shutouts (1), fifth in GAA (1.98), third in wins (7), and tied for fourth in save percentage (.937)

Nate Danielson-Tied for first in short-handed assists (2), tied for 10th among rookies in assists (6)

Josiah Didier-Tied for ninth among defensemen in plus-minus rating (+8)

Alex Doucet-Tied for second in short-handed goals (2), tied for first among rookies in short-handed goals (2)

Sheldon Dries-Tied for ninth in game-winners (2)

William Lagesson-Tied for fourth in plus-minus rating (+10), tied for third among defensemen in plus-minus rating (+10)

Amadeus Lombardi-Tied for second in game-winners (3)

Brogan Rafferty-Tied for ninth among defensemen in plus-minus rating (+8)

Austin Watson-Tied for first in major penalties (5)

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Images from this story

Grand Rapids Griffins left wing Cross Hanas vs. the Iowa Wild
Grand Rapids Griffins left wing Cross Hanas vs. the Iowa Wild
(Iowa Wild)		   



American Hockey League Stories from November 19, 2024


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