Detroit Red Wings
Lombardi Scoring Helps Griffins Earn Best Start in 23 Years
Amadeus Lombardi is showing the Detroit Red Wings that he’s the next man up to provide the production the Grand Rapids Griffins lost when Marco Kasper was promoted to the big club.
Lombardi put up two more goals, plus an assist, to power the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 5-2 win against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in American Hockey League action. The former Flint Firebirds standout has four goals and five points in his past three games.
This line is LEGIT 🔥🫡 #GoGRG pic.twitter.com/0yunGYFBxQ
— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) October 27, 2024
The Griffins’ 5-1 record represents their best start since it recorded the same start in 2000-01. They have another game against Lehigh Valley today at 3:05 p.m.
Grand Rapids, under coach Dan Watson, is playing the defensive style of hockey that coach Derek Lalonde wants to play in Detroit. The Griffins have only given up eight goals in their first six games. That’s the fewest number goals the team has allowed after six games in franchise history. The previous mark was nine goals surrendered after six games. That occurred in 2004-05.
Detroit’s No. 1 goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa (31 saves Saturday) is 4-1 with a 1.54 GAA and a .954 save percentage.
Cross Hanas (55th, 2020) scored his first goal of the season in the win. Defenseman Shai Buium (36th, 2021) and Antti Tuomisto (35th, 2019) were credited with their first assists. Dominik Shine and William Lagesson also scored. Lagesson is on a Red Wings’ contract.
Despite the quality start, the Griffins are not running away from the pack in the AHL’s Central Division. The Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators) are 6-1, and the Texas Stars (Dallas Stars) are also 5-1. Cossa posted a 3-0 shutout for the Admirals’ only loss of the season.
The next coach at the NHL level.
The Griffins actually lost their entire first line with Mazur and I believe Dries out. Freaking impressive how they responded. Another note. Husso said is a post game interview that Cossa was close or not far away and the way he’s playing he looks like it. Good things happening in GR.