Griffins Earn First Round Bye; Danielson Has SO Goal

The Grand Rapids Griffins have added several new players recently to help them in the upcoming American Hockey League playoffs.

But it was full season regulars who rose up on the road to help the Griffins earn a first-round playoff bye by downing the Iowa Wild 2-1 in a shootout Saturday. Sheldon Dries, the Griffins’ leading goal scorer, netted a third period goal to force overtime.  Nate Danielson, a Red Wings’ 2023 first-round pick, scored the only goal in the shootout after overtime failed to yield a winner.

Griffins goalie Jack Campbell earned No. 1 star honors by making 31 saves for Grand Rapids, playing without Detroit prospects Shai Buium and Anton Johansson on their defense. They were suspended one game for leaving the bench first to join a brawl.

Grand Rapids vs. Texas

Axel Sandin Pellikka and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, who joined the team recently from the Swedish Hockey League, both played for Grand Rapids. Neither player was on the scoresheet. ASP had one shot on goal and was even. Brandsegg-Nygard was minus-1 with two shots.

The Griffins needed just one point in the game to finish third in the Central Division, which comes with a bye. Had Grand Rapids lost the game, the Chicago Wolves would have finished third.

Chicago defeated Rockford 5-0 Saturday, and now must play Rockford in a best-of-three preliminary round game. The Griffins, meanwhile, move on to a meeting with the Texas Stars in the Division Semifinals. The Griffins’ best-of-five series against the Texas Stars starts with games Tuesday, April 29 and Monday, May 5 in Grand Rapids. Games 3, 4 and 5 will be played in Texas on May 9, 10 and 12.

This is the first time the Griffins and Stars have met in a playoff series since 2014. Grand Rapids’ record this season against Texas is 3-3-2-0.

The Stars goalie is Magnus Hellberg who played previously with the Red Wings and Griffins.