Griffins bag the Moose again, 2-1, at Van Andel Arena

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Grand Rapids Griffins held the Manitoba Moose to one goal over two games, taking Saturday's night contest at Van Andel Arena, 2-1.

But it was close at the end. Griffins goaltender Sebastian Cossa had to stand on his head in the final minute to preserve Grand Rapids' second straight victory over Manitoba. The Moose finished with 30 shots on goal to Grand Rapids' 24. And they led in shots on goal in the 3rd period, 13-7. But the Griffins notched two more points in the standings, improving their season slate to 3-1-0-0. Cossa was named the game's second star. First-star honors were accorded to Amadeus Lombardi, who scored both of Grand Rapids' goals. Tyson Empey, the Moose's left wing, got the third star, scoring his first goal of the season.

Stellar defense and goaltending were the Griffins' hallmark once again. The Griffins' home shutout streak ended at 163:52.

A crowd of 4,578 enjoyed the contest, which lasted 2 hours, 34 minutes.

Third period ... The 3rd period gets underway with 56.5 seconds essentially remaining from the last period, due to the 2nd period being cut short because of a hole in the ice. Or, technically, it's the end of the second period. Manitoba got one shot off in the final seconds of the 2nd period, so Grand Rapids led in shots on goal in the 2nd period, 11-9, and the shots on goal through 2 periods was 17-17, technically speaking.

[9:14] A Manitoba backhanded goal over Sebastian Cossa's shoulder 3:52 in the 3rd period is the first goal of the season against the Griffins at Van Andel Arena, and the first in more than 160 minutes against Grand Rapids on its home ice. Game is tied, 1-1. Tyson Empey scored the goal, with assists by Simon Lundmark and Henrik Nikkanen.

[9:27] Amadeus Lombardi lights the lamp again with 8:06 left in the game on a breakaway after a Moose falls down and the puck comes loose. Grand Rapids retakes the lead, 2-1. A nifty sharp-angle goal inside the post by Lombardi, who's registered both Griffins' goals at this point. This one was unassisted. Grand Rapids trails in shots on goal 25-22.

[9:38] It was a peaceful game, relatively speaking, but tempers are starting to flare. Some heavy-duty pushing and shoving in front of the Griffins' bench, but the referee's right arm does not come up - no penalties.

[9: 42pm] FINAL: The Griffin win, 2-1, after a last-minute flurry by Manitoba. The Moose pull their goalie for an extra attacker with 1:39 to go in the game. The Moose pepper Cossa with 20 seconds to go, but only get one truly good shot on goal and Cossa was equal to the task, diving across the goal mouth to make a terrific glove save. The crowd comes to its feet.

Second Period ...

[8: 43pm] GR leads 1-0 after almost two periods (play was halted with 56.5 seconds left in the period due to a hole in the ice. It will be made up when the teams return to the ice ahead of the 3rd period. The action picked up considerably in the 2nd stanza, with both teams sailing shots off the opponent's respective crossbar. Grand Rapids maintains a 1-0 lead heading into intermission. There were :56.5 seconds remaining in the period, but the officials are ending the period early due to a hole in the ice. Those :56 seconds will be added to the 3rd period. Grand Rapids holds a 17-16 lead in shots-on-goal through the first two periods. The Griffins had nine shots on goal in the second period and the Moose had 10]. All photos by Steve Katerberg. Narrative by James Gemmell.

[8:33pm] Grand Rapids didn't score on their power-play chance. And now, Griffins' defenseman Brogan Rafferty is sent to the penalty box for tripping with 7:08 left in the 2nd period. And with :52 remaining on Rafferty's penalty, another penalty to the Griffins (Eemil Viro - slashing) with 7:09 left in the period, will give Manitoba a 5-on-3 advantage for :52 seconds. The first penalty expires and now it's a 4-on-3 Moose man advantage. The Griffins kill that penalty as well. 5:18 left in the 2nd period. GR still leads, 1-0.

[8:23] A two-minute holding penalty on the Moose's Dylan Anhorn with 10:46 left in the second period. Griffins lead in shots on goal, 14-12.

[8:10] The Griffins score the game's first goal 4:05 into the second period. Amadeus Lombardi on an in-tight tally after Dominic Shine's shot was blocked. His first goal of the season. Joe Snively and Shine with the assists on the goal.

[8:05] The 2nd period gets underway at 8:05. WOOD Radio's coverage of the Griffins' game now joined in progress following the Michigan football post-game show. The carry-over power play by Manitoba from the 1st period comes to naught. Both teams are 0-for-2 on the power play, so far. Carter Mazur was injured Friday night and Marco Kasper, another force on the Griffins' power play, was recalled Friday by the Red Wings. He had an assist in the Red Wings' victory Saturday afternoon against the NY Rangers.

First Period ...

[7:43] Elmer Soderblom hit with a two-minute delay-of-game penalty with :56 seconds remaining in the opening fram. The first period ends with a 0-0 score. The Griffins had eight shots on goal and the Moose had six. Manitoba with have a power play for 1:04 to open the second stanza.

[7:34] The Griffins commit their first penalty of the game, a two-minute tripping call against captain Josiah Didier with 7:04 left in the opening period. As the penalty ends, a breakaway for the Griffins' Elmer Soderblom. Moose goalie Divicentis blocked the shot and a rebound attempt at close-in range by Soderblom.

[7:24] Dmitry Kuzmin goes to the sin bin for Manitoba with 11:45 left in the 1st frame for a trip. This is the Griffins' second power play. But the Moose were able to clear their zone a couple times to kill it. The Moose have only 2 shots on goal with 8:13 to go in the opening period. The Griffins have four.

[7:19] With 14 minutes left in the opening stanza, a good shoulder save by Manitoba netminder Domenic Divicentiiis on a point-blank Griffins' slapshot.

[7:16] The Moose's Kevin Conley with a 2-minute interference penalty gives the Griffins an early power-play opportunity, at 17:31 mark, but the Griffins cannot convert. Puck bouncing over sticks a bit, so far.

[7:11pm] The Grand Rapids Griffins vs. Manitoba Moose hockey game is underway at Van Andel Arena in G.R.

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GAME NOTES:

Seven of the next eight Griffins' games will be on the road.

The Griffins' home shutout streaks ended at 163:52 (160+ minutes) for this season and, dating back to April 21 of last season, 195:05. Per Griffins' P.R., the Griffins' franchise-record home shutout streaks remain 204:39 (team) and 2:42:18 individual (Joey MacDonald, 1/16/04 - 2/20/04)

Sebastian Cossa came into the game with a 2.01 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage through his first two games. Cossa was the Detroit Red Wings' 15th overall pick by Detroit in 2021. The goal he allowed to Tyson Empey in the 2nd period ended Cossa's home shutout streak at more than 100 minutes (103:31) and, dating back to last season, 134:44.

The Griffins shut out the Moose on Friday night at Van Andel Arena, 1-0, with Ville Husso turning aside 22 shots on goal.