GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A crowd of 5,126 was treated to a dramatic 2-1 Grand Rapids Griffins' victory at Van Andel Arena on Wednesday night, over the Hartford Wolf Pack.
On a 5-on-3 power play, Austin Watson one-timed a slapshot past Wolf Pack goaltender Dyland Garand with 2:03 left in regulation. Moments before that, a pair of penalties to Hartford gave Grand Rapids the power play - and a 5-players-to-3 advantage with the game entering the final two minutes. First, Anton Blidh was sent to the sin bin for hooking at 17:49 and then Matthew Robertson was called for delay of game just :44 seconds later. Grand Rapids took advantage and Watson - as he so often does - made no mistake, blasting the puck home. And sent a partisan Griffins' crowd home with smiles.
Watson was named the game's number-one star. Griffins goalie Sebastian Cossa was the second star, turning aside 34 Wolf Pack shots, including a blizzard of 11 shots in the first five minutes of the game. Earning number-three star accolades was Wolf Pack goalie Dylan Garand who played spectacularly through most of the game, stopping 31 pucks - and certainly deserving a better fate.
Hartford led in shots on goal in the 1st period, 16-to-9. Hartford had more shots in the 2nd period, 13-11. But the Griffins tilted the ice in the final frame, firing 11 shots at Garand and scoring once. The Wolf Pack mustered only five shots on Cossa in that 3rd period.
The Griffins will host AHL Central Division-leading Milwaukee Admirals at 7 p.m. on Friday night at Van Andel Arena in the 13th annual Purple Game. The Purple Community is a group dedicated to connecting individuals who are passionate about fighting cancer and other neurodegenerative diseases. See Game Notes below.
3rd Period: FINAL: Grand Rapids 3, Hartford 2. A dramatic victory for the Griffins.
[9:26pm] Griffins 3, Hartford 2. On the power play, Austin Watson with a one-timer from the left circle gives Grand Rapids a 2-1 lead 17:57 into the 3rd period. Shai Buium and Amadeus Lombardi with the assists. Less than 2 minutes left in regulation.
[9:23pm] The Wolf Pack's Anton Blidh called for a two-minute hooking penalty 17:05 into the 3rd period. Matthew Robertson then called with a delay of game, gives GR a two-man advantage real late in the game.
2nd Period: Grand Rapids 1, Hartford 1. Joe Snively is called for a hooking penalty 15:34 into the 2nd period. The Wolf Pack are back on the power play and convert with 3:18 left in the period. A one-timer by Hartford forward Jake Leschyshyn beats Cossa on the far side of the crease and the game is tied late in the 2nd period. Brendan Brisson threw the puck towards the net and Matthew Robertson got a stick on it before Leschyshyn deflected it home for a power play tally.
The Griffins go on the power play a moment later on a hooking penalty to Alex Belzile. Grand Rapids will be on the power play for the opening 1:32 of the 3rd period. The shots on goal a 29-20 in favor of Hartford after two periods.
[8:18pm] Grand Rapids 1, Wolf Pack 0. The Griffins draw first blood 10:44 in the 2nd stanza. Center Ondrej Becher converts a pretty pass from Cross Hanas. Multiple players crash into goalie Dylan Garand. The net comes off the posts. Hanas with the assist.
[8:10] The Griffins are starting the second period a little stronger than they started the game. 14:42 to go, and goose egg on the scoreboard for both teams. A moment later, at the 14:29 mark, the Jake Leschystyn gets called for a kneeing penalty. He got a cheap shot in on Austin Watson and was sent to the sin bin. GR on its first power play of the game.
[8:04pm] Wolf Pack Connor Mackey tries to hit a Griffin with his stuff and whacks teammate Casey Fitzgerald in the chops early in the 2nd period.
1st Period: Griffins goaltender Sebastian Cossa rejected 16 pucks shot at him in the opening period, including 11 int he first five minutes before Grand Rapids even put one on Hartford's net, but the score is 0-0 after one period. Grand Rapids had no shots on net. Both goalies playing solidly, so far.
[7:37pm] Jaroslav Chmelar skated all alone in on goal with 5:10 to go in the opening period, but Cossa stopped him cold. Grand Rapids had a golden opportunity with 3:35 left, and Nate Danielson pounced on the rebound but couldn't get it by Wolf Pack goalie Dyland Garand. Tim Gettinger fired a quick open shot from the right circle a moment later, but Garand gloved it. Cross Hanas got a good feed from left wing Gabriel Seger in front of the Wolf Pack net with a minute left, but did not score. The shots on goal for GR stand at 8, while Cossa's been peppered in the opening period with 15 shots on goal. The good news: the score is 0-0.
[7:26pm] A timeout with Grand Rapids trailing in shots on goal, 13-2, with 9:56 left in the 1st period.
[7:20pm] Hartford has outshot Grand Rapids 8-to-0 in the first few minutes of the game, putting pressure on goaltender Sebastian Cossa. He stops Blade Jenkins on the doorstep with a quick leg save. Emil Viro draws a two-minute tripping penalty 5:02 into the game. The Wolf Pack register two more shots on the Griffins' goal, one right out in front, but Cossa is equal to the task to kill Hartford's first power play of the game.
[7:08pm] The Grand Rapids Griffins/Hartford Wolf Pack game is underway at Van Andel Arena.
--The Griffins will play first-place Milwaukee on Friday night
The Griffins definitely needed a win. Since February 7, they had fallen out of first place in the American Hockey League's Central Division to third place with 64 standings points, trailing first-place Milwaukee by five points and second-place Texas by three points. After going 3-7-1-0 in the month of February, the Griffins had started March off with a 1-2-0-1 mark. Grand Rapids led the Central Division for three months, until Feb. 7.
Griffins' public relations noted that the team also had slipped to eighth place in the Western Conference with a 29-22-4-2 record.
--Cross Hanas had scored three goals in his last six games coming into Wednesday's tilt against Hartford. Nate Danielson also has done well recently, with eight points in his last 11 games before Wednesday's game. The ninth overall pick by the Red Wings in 2023 was tied for the league lead in short-handed assists with four, per Griffins' PR.
--The Griffins had power play goals in three of the last six games. Grand Rapids had the third-fewest penalties at 600, and ranked 12th in the league.
GAME NOTES (from Griffins Public Relations):
Friday, March 14, 2025 vs. Milwaukee Admirals
13th Annual Purple Community Game presented by Van Andel Institute
Time: 7 p.m. at Van Andel Arena (doors open at 6 p.m. for the general public, 5:45 p.m. for season-ticket holders).
13th Annual Purple Community Game:Purple, the color associated with cancer awareness, will be the theme of the night as the Griffins host their 13th annual Purple Community Game to benefit the Van Andel Institute. Fans can enjoy many purple elements, ranging from a variety of purple concession stand items to graphics during the game. They can also become a member of Purple Community, a group dedicated to connecting individuals who are passionate about fighting cancer and other neurodegenerative diseases. Purple Griffins merchandise will be available for purchase on the concourse, with all proceeds benefiting the Van Andel Institute.
Post-Game Jersey Auction: The Griffins will wear special purple jerseys for this game, a select number of which will be autographed and available for auction following the game in Sections 121 and 122. A select number of autographed game-worn jerseys will also be available via the DASH Auction app, a digital auction platform. Fans can download the DASH Auction app via iOS or Android devices in the app store and select Grand Rapids Griffins as their favorite team. Fans can also text DASH to 66866 to download the app. All proceeds raised via the auction will benefit the Van Andel Institute.
$2 Beers and $2 Hot Dogs: Every Friday, enjoy $2 domestic drafts and $2 hot dogs from 6-8 p.m., at select stands while supplies last. The $2 promotions for both beer and hot dogs will be served at stand one in the lobby, the stand next to section A on the concourse, the Captain Morgan Bar outside section 103, and at the Hops & Vines stand located next to section 120. In addition, fans can find $2 beers at BC Pizza and Cattle Vally and $2 hot dogs at the Ionia Grill outside section 105, RTD Land outside section 126, Ottawa Grill outside section 124, the stand outside section 128, and the stand outside section 103.
Free Ride Friday on The Rapid: Ride the Rapid to and from any Friday game and enjoy a complimentary fare by showing your ticket to that night’s game. Visit ridetherapid.org for schedule information, routes and maps.
This Date in Griffins History
2006: By scoring his 49th and 50th goals in a 7-3 win at Chicago, Donald MacLean becomes the 46th player in AHL history to reach the half-century mark and sets a team record with a seven-game goal streak.
-- Coming into Wednesday night's contest, Joe Snively had five points in his previous six games and had racked up a career-best 20 goals this season.
He's out of view in the right face-off circle, but the Griffins' Austin Watson has just blasted the game-winning goal by Wolf Pack goalie Dylan Garand with 2:03 left in regulation, as a teammate runs interference outside the goal crease.Photo: Photo by Steve Katerberg.
The Griffins draw first blood 10:44 in the 2nd stanza. Center Ondrej Becher converts a pretty pass from Cross Hanas. Multiple players crash into goalie Dylan Garand. Photo: All photos by: Steve Katerberg
Hartford forward Jake Leschyshyn beats Cossa on the far side of the crease and the game is tied late in the 2nd period. Photo: Photo by Steve Katerberg.
Some goal-front intensity early in the 1st period at Van Andel Arena.Photo: By: Steve Katerberg
