FloHockey.tv is going to stream tonight’s Grand Rapids Griffins-Manitoba Moose game (7 PM EDT start), and Patrick Williams posted a game preview:
Grand Rapids Griffins – What To Watch For
Grand Rapids is off to a 1-1-0-0 start, winning the home opener last Friday behind 35 saves from top prospect Sebastian Cossa against Milwaukee before falling a night later at Rockford.
The Grand Rapids crease is crowded at the moment after NHL veteran Ville Husso cleared waivers and was sent to the Griffins by the Detroit Red Wings. Husso joins Cossa and AHL veteran Malcolm Subban, who signed a PTO with the team earlier. The Griffins also have goaltender Gage Alexander on recall from their ECHL affiliate, the Toledo Walleye. Always active in building out the Grand Rapids roster via free agency, the Red Wings have brought in forwards Sheldon Dries, Joe Snively, and Austin Watson to surround a young core of prospects.
This game will be the last one before the Griffins face a stretch of seven of their next eight games on the road.
Manitoba Moose – What To Watch For
The Moose have taken the Central Division lead after sweeping a two-game set at Iowa last weekend in which they picked up nine goals. This weekend will conclude a season-opening four-game road trip before they are back in Winnipeg next weekend for their home opener against Rockford.
Only 21 years old, Lucius is a 2021 first-rounder who has faced several significant injuries that have delayed his development. He was limited to 17 games with the Moose last season. Another first-rounder is Lambert, who ended up ranking second among AHL rookies last season with 21-34-55. Chibrikov, who had a strong first AHL season with 17-30-47, is off to a strong start with 1-3-4 through his first two games. Salomonsson, who just turned 20 on Aug. 31, is now with Manitoba after spending all of last season in the SHL with Skelleftea. Simon Lundmark and Dmitry Kuzmin.
