Postava's Shutout Keeps Griffins Alive in Central Division Semifinals

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Grand Rapids Griffins responded to a Game 1 shutout loss with a 2-0 victory on Sunday, blanking the Manitoba Moose to even the best-of-five Calder Cup Playoff series at one win apiece.

Goalie Michal Postava delivered the decisive performance, stopping all 30 shots he faced and earning his first career playoff shutout. The victory also snapped a postseason scoring drought for Grand Rapids that had stretched over two hours and kept a shutout streak alive for Manitoba goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis at 77 minutes and 4 seconds.

A day after ending Game 1 of the Central Division Semifinals on the wrong end of a shutout, the Grand Rapids Griffins and goaltender Michal Postava responded in kind on Sunday by blanking the Manitoba Moose 2-0 to even the best-of-five series at one win apiece.

The series will now shift back to Michigan, with the Griffins hosting Games 3 and 4 at Van Andel Arena this Wednesday and Friday. Game 5, if necessary, would take place on Saturday.

Brandsegg-Nygard and Wallinder Find the Net

Defenseman Michael Brandsegg-Nygard provided the spark for the Griffins offense, scoring the game-opening goal in the first period before assisting on William Wallinders insurance tally late in the third.

Brandsegg-Nygard netted the teams first tally on a power play with 2:56 remaining in the opening frame. John Leonard delivered a pass from the right half-wall to Sheldon Dries at the right post. Dries quickly sent a no-look feed into the left circle for Brandsegg-Nygard, who slammed the puck past a helpless DiVincentiis.

The goal came on Grand Rapids 11th shot of the game and 50th of the series. It snapped DiVincentiis shutout streak against the Griffins at 77:04 and ended a postseason scoring drought of 131:26 that stretched back to the second period of Grand Rapids double-overtime Game 3 elimination at Texas last spring.

Wallinder staked the Griffins to their first two-goal lead of the series with 5:12 remaining in the third period. Off a breakout pass from Brandsegg-Nygard, Wallinder led the charge up the left side and across the Manitoba line before snapping a shot past DiVincentiis glove from the top of the circle.

Goaltending Duel Decides Series

Postava kept the game at 1-0 seven minutes into the second period by sliding to his right to deny David Gustafsson attempt to finish off an odd-man rush. In the waning seconds of the frame, a great backcheck by Wojciech Stachowiak ensured the Griffins would take that advantage into the second intermission.

Stachowiak began sprinting in pursuit from his own goal line and eventually caught up to Brad Lambert at the left hash marks 160 feet away, getting his stick on a centering pass to impede a prime scoring opportunity.

DiVincentiis benefited six minutes earlier when a Carter Mazur backhand from close range found the iron. He also darted across his crease to rob Stachowiak with a left toe save during a Grand Rapids power play with just over four minutes left in the first period.

That power play unit remained scoreless in its first four tries in the series. The Griffins finally broke through during that same advantage to put the visitors on the board with 2:56 remaining in the opening frame.

Postava improved to 1-1 in the postseason with a 0.50 goals-against average and a .981 save percentage. He stopped 52 of 53 shots during the series. His shutout was the first by a Griffin in the playoffs since Jared Coreau made 25 saves in a 3-0 win over the Moose in Game 4 of the division semifinals in 2018.

Only one other Grand Rapids rookie has ever earned a playoff shutout: Petr Mrazek, who blanked four opponents during the Griffins run to the 2013 Calder Cup.

Series History and Stakes

The Griffins finished the regular season series against Manitoba with a 6-1-1-0 record. They outscored the Moose 32-17 during those eight meetings. The Griffins scored four or more goals in five of the eight contests and outscored the Moose 32-17 overall.

The two teams have met four times in the Calder Cup Playoffs, with the Moose claiming three of the four series victories. The Moose have defeated Grand Rapids in the three most recent playoff meetings in 2018 division semifinals 3-2, 2009 division finals 4-0, and 2007 division semifinals 4-3.

The Griffins lone playoff series win against Manitoba came in the 2006 division finals, winning 4-3.

The Griffins are 5-7 at home and 4-8 on the road against Manitoba in the postseason.

For the first time in franchise history, the Griffins playoff run started in the month of May. Last years Game 1 of the Central Division Semifinals versus Texas on April 29 at Van Andel Arena was the previous latest date for their playoff opener.

Game 3 on May 6 will also be the Griffins latest home playoff debut ever. Previously May 1 in 2024 and 2013.

Notes: Postavas shutout was the first by a Griffin in the playoffs since Jared Coreau made 25 saves in a 3-0 win over the Moose in Game 4 of the division semifinals in 2018. Only one other Grand Rapids rookie has ever earned a playoff shutout: Petr Mrazek, who blanked four opponents during the Griffins run to the 2013 Calder Cup.