The Grand Rapids Griffins had just about everything go right over the course of their season-opening 3-0 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday night.
Sebastian Cossa pitched a 35-save shutout, Marco Kasper had a goal and an assist, Carter Mazur scored, Austin Watson had 2 assists and a fight, and Hunter Johannes got into a mid-3rd-period scrap as well.
The Griffins’ website posted a recap:
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.
The Griffins’ website also posted a highlight clip, an interview clip and a photo gallery:
