Griffins Record Point in Overtime, Fall to Admirals 3-2
AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins Record Point in Overtime, Fall to Admirals 3-2

Published on December 31, 2025 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids Griffins left wing John Leonard
Grand Rapids Griffins left wing John Leonard
(Grand Rapids Griffins, Credit: Nicolas Carrillo)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - In their last game of 2025, the Grand Rapids Griffins extended their point streak to 16 games, but fell in overtime to the Milwaukee Admirals 3-2 on Wednesday at Van Andel Arena.

Despite the loss, the Griffins' 26-1-1-1 start and 54 points through 29 games remained the best in the AHL's 90-year history. Grand Rapids' 15-game win streak remained tied for the longest in franchise history, while it also stood as a tie for the sixth-longest in league history. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard bagged an assist to extend his point streak to five games, while John Leaonrd notched a short-handed goal, good for his 20th of the season.

The Admirals opened the scoring at 7:30 in the first period while on their league-best power play, when Daniel Carr let a wrister fly from the left circle past the right post, breaking Grand Rapids' 172:48 minutes of shutout over opponents. The Griffins knotted the contest with 8:55 on the clock, when William Wallinder picked up a loose puck in the high slot, skated into the left circle, and rocketed one past Matthew Murray.

The best opportunity in the second frame for the Griffins came while down a man, when William Lagesson threw one up center ice for a wide-open Leonard. He skated down on a breakaway and snapped one at Murray, but the netminder made a pad save with 5:53 to go.

Milwaukee reclaimed a one-goal lead at 6:42 of the final slate, when Cole O'Hara sniped one from the right circle and Carr tipped it in for his second of the night. Grand Rapids notched the game-tying goal while short-handed, when Leonard carried one up through the zone while on an odd-man rush, and the Massachusetts native slapped it in from the right circle at 13:16.

In overtime Zach L'Heureux scooped up the puck, skated it down the ice on a breakaway, and potted it between the legs of Sebastian Cossa just 58 seconds in, handing the Griffins just their third loss of the season 3-2.

Notes *Grand Rapids sold out its third-straight New Year's Eve game in front of a 10,834 person crowd, as well as its 10th sellout in the last 12 NYE games. *The Griffins recorded their sixth short-handed goal of the season, which is tied for the best in the league, and went 4-for-5 on the penalty kill. *Wallinder tallied his first goal of the season.

Milwaukee 1 0 1 1 - 3

Grand Rapids 1 0 1 0 - 2

1st Period-1, Milwaukee, Carr 12 (Ufko, Wiesblatt), 7:30 (PP). 2, Grand Rapids, Wallinder 1 (Becher, Brandsegg-Nygård), 11:05. Penalties-Englund Mil (fighting), 4:12; Kannok Leipert Gr (fighting), 4:12; Lagesson Gr (roughing), 7:22; Dries Gr (hooking), 12:18.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Becher Gr (cross-checking), 12:57; Lind Mil (cross-checking), 14:59.

3rd Period-3, Milwaukee, Carr 13 (O'Hara, Ufko), 6:42. 4, Grand Rapids, Leonard 20 (Holl), 13:16 (SH). Penalties-Marino Mil (hooking), 10:59; Shine Gr (slashing), 12:14; Kemell Mil (high-sticking), 17:23.

OT Period-5, Milwaukee, L'Heureux 7 (Ufko), 0:58. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Milwaukee 9-8-6-1-24. Grand Rapids 8-7-15-0-30.

Power Play Opportunities-Milwaukee 1 / 4; Grand Rapids 0 / 3.

Goalies-Milwaukee, Murray 10-8-2 (30 shots-28 saves). Grand Rapids, Cossa 15-1-1 (24 shots-21 saves).

A-10,834

Three Stars

1. MIL L'Heureux (game-winner) 2. MIL Carr (two goals) 3. GR Leonard (SH goal)

Record/Next Game

Grand Rapids: 26-1-1-1 (54 pts.) / Fri., Jan. 2 vs. Chicago 7 p.m.

Milwaukee: 14-13-2-0 (30 pts.) / Sat., Jan. 3 at Texas 7 p.m. CST

Check out the Grand Rapids Griffins Statistics

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Images from this story

Grand Rapids Griffins left wing John Leonard
Grand Rapids Griffins left wing John Leonard
(Nicolas Carrillo)		   



American Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2025


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