Griffins Need Detroit Prospects to Push Back in Texas

Just before Monday’s Game 2 of the Grand Rapids Griffins playoff series against the Texas Stars, the Van Andel Arena public address announcer, using his best pro wrestling voice, asked fans: “Are you Readdddy.”

Maybe that question would have been better directed to the Grand Rapids players.

For the second consecutive game, they fell behind 2-0 in the first period and were down 4-0 by the second period. The Griffins did perform better in the second half of the game. But that wasn’t enough to prevent a 4-2 loss that puts the Griffins down 2-0 in the best-of-five series that is now heading to Texas for three games. The Griffins must win all three of those games or they are eliminated from the AHL. Game 3 is Friday.

“We got to get out of our zone,” Griffins coach Dan Watson said. “We killed a couple plays, we had it, and then we turn it over, and now they’re spending a minute in our zone, and all of a sudden you guys can see five guys standing around because they’re tired.”

Top Detroit Prospects

The Red Wings boast four first-round picks (Sebastian Cossa, Nate Danielson, Axel Sandin Pellikka and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard) on the team, and three second rounders (William Wallinder, Antti Tuomisto and Shai Buium) on this roster.  They were hoping this team could make a postseason run to give their many prospects positive playoff play success.

The hope was Cossa was going to show he’s close to being ready for the NHL, but he was pulled in the first game after giving up four goals. Watson went with veteran Jack Campbell in Game 2.

Watson said he went with Campbell in Game 2 because of his relief performance in Game 1.

“He played well when he came in,” Watson said. “I know he had 11 shots, but he still, I thought he was solid. Played well. Our last (regular-season) game in Iowa that we had to win, he kind of stole that game for us.”

Cossa Starting?

Presumably, Cossa will be back in the net for Game 3.

The Griffins, and really the Red Wings, need more from all of their prospects this weekend. Now, Red Wings management probably want to see how much pushback their prospects will show.  Do they surrender the series or scrap to get back in it?

Danielson doesn’t have a point in the series, and only has two shots on goal, none in the last game. He’s minus-3 in the two losses.

Brandsegg-Nygard was one of the few Grand Rapids bright spots in last game, scoring his first AHL to go with an assist.  Watson also saw improvement in Sandin Pellikka who joined the team after his Swedish team was eliminated in the SHL playoffs.

“I thought (Game 2) was one of his better games for sure,” Watson said. “Moving pucks, I think he walks the blue line. Was confident there. Still needs to make a couple extra of those plays that probably he can make, those simple plays. But overall I thought (it) was one of his better games, especially defensively too.”

Sandin Pellikka talked after Game 2 like someone is already heavily invested in this organization.

“We got into (Game 2) too late,” Sandin Pellikka said. “I think we played really good hockey in the third period, but that’s not enough. You gotta be ready from the start.