The Grand Rapids Griffins play on the road (8 p.m. ET) against the Rockford IceHogs tonight needing just one point to clinch a first-round playoff bye and a berth in the Central Division semifinals.

One reason why the Griffins are enjoying an improved season is the play of Detroit Red Wings prospect goalie Sebastian Cossa. He continued his strong play Friday night by making 24 saves to beat the IceHogs 3-0 for his second shutout of the season. Cossa extended his streak to 19 consecutive games of earning at least one point for the Griffins. He hasn’t lost a game in regulation since Jan. 12. Cossa is 19-7-9 on the season with a 2.47 goals-against average.

“This was a great bounce back game,” said Grand Rapids coach Dan Watson. “He wasn’t overly great last game. But tonight, again I have said that several times in the past, having a good bounce-back game,  seeing the puck. challenging the shooter, being big around the crease. It’s good for him.”

The Griffins now own a home streak of earning at least one point in 19 consecutive games. The Griffins are now trying to tighten up defensively and working to be harder to play against in preparation for the playoffs.

Forward Jonatan Berggren, recently sent down by the Red Wings, scored his 24th goal of the season for the Griffins on Friday. Matt Luff and Carter Mazur assisted. Berggren has a nine-game points streak (15 points).

Prospect Amadeus Lombardi also picked up two assists in the game. The 20-year-old center, drafted in the fourth round, now has 24 points on the season.  Defenseman Albert Johansson, projected to play for the Red Wings next season, also had an assist.

The post Griffins Can Improve Their Playoff Picture Tonight appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

When you are raising children, you want them to be charitable or giving. When you are developing NHL goalies, you want them to be stingy, downright miserly when it comes to giving up goals.

Sebastian Cossa’s Ebernezer Scrooge-like in his goaltending approach for the past 79 days has served the Grand Rapids Griffins well.

Cossa extended his franchise-record points streak to 17 games (11-0-6) in the Griffins’ 2-1 overtime loss to the Milwaukee Admirals Saturday. He hasn’t lost a game in regulation time since Jan. 12 against Rockford. Defenseman Albert Johansson played a significant role in preserving Cossa’s streak. He tied the game 1-1 with a goal with 40 seconds left in the regulation.

With Cossa pulled for an extra attacker, Johansson ripped a shot from the blue line to beat Milwaukee goalie Troy Grosenick. It was Johansson’s sixth goal of the season.

In Cossa’s 17-game streak, he has given up one or no goals five times (29.4%), two or fewer goals 11 times (64.7%) and three or fewer in 14 games  (82.3%).

NHL Projection

There is no timetable for Cossa’s ascension to the NHL. Cossa is only 21. He’s rotating in the Griffins net with Michael Hutchinson this season. You don’t see many 22-year-old goalies in the NHL. The best guess is he will start next season as the Griffins No. 1 goalie.  If that happens, the Red Wings can monitor how he does with the expanded workload.

“He’s progressing nicely,” Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman said earlier this month. “Wins and losses for goalies, the team wins and loses. He’s really been solid in goal. Still a lot of work to do, but he’s trending in the right direction.”

Center Emmitt Finnie, a Western Hockey League prospect recently signed by the Red Wings, made his pro debut with the Griffins.

The post NHL Prospect Cossa Extends Goalie Points Streak to 17 Games appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Red Wings prospect goalie Sebastian Cossa added another highlight to  his first American Hockey League season when he led the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 4-3 win against the Rockford IceHogs Saturday night.

A 2021 first-round pick, Cossa made 26 saves in the win, which extended his personal points streak to 15 consecutive games (10-0-5). That ties the franchise record held by Marc Lamothe (9-0-4-2) during the 2002-03 season. Lamothe played two games for the Detroit Red Wings in 2003-04.

Cossa hasn’t lost in regulation since Jan. 12.  In his 15-game streak, Cossa has given up three or fewer goals 12 times (80%).  He has given up two or fewer goals nine times (60%).

The Griffins have rotated goalies throughout this season: Cossa has played 31 games and owns a 2.54 goals-against average and .912 save percentage. Michael Hutchinson has played 29 games and shows a 2.77 GAA and .896 save percentage.

That tandem has helped the Griffins (31-18-7-4) to the fifth-best record (.608 points percentage) in the Western Conference. They are second in the Central Division, six points behind Milwaukee.

Another Red Wings’ first rounder (2022), Marco Kasper, contributed significantly to the win against the IceHogs. Kasper netted his 12th goal of the season and his 18th assist.  Defenseman Antti Tuomisto (2019 Red Wings pick, 35th overall) scored his fifth goal of the season. The 6-foot-5 defenseman has pleased the Detroit management team with his development this season.

Cross Hanas (drafted 55th overall, Red Wings, 202) also scored for the Griffins, Defenseman Albert Johansson (drafted 60th overall, Red Wings, 2019), likely to be on the Detroit roster next season, had an assist.

The post Red Wings Draftee Ties 22-Year-old Team Record appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Detroit Hokcey Now regulars Kevin Allen and Bob Duff were joined on this week’s podcast by Andrew Fantucchio of NYIHockeyNow.com. Naturally, they’re discussing both the implications of Thursday’s huge game between the two clubs, as well as how each team has been performing late.

Will the Red Wings start on time? Can the Islanders snap their five-game losing skid?

The guys talk about these topics and a whole bunch more. Take a listen and find out.

The post Detroit Hockey Now Podcast With Andrew Fantucchio appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

What Detroit Red Wings fans want to know most about Sebastian Cossa is his ETA for the NHL.

There’s still no timetable for Cossa’s ascension to the show, but Cossa is doing all that he can to expedite his rise. Cossa made 32 saves Wednesday to fuel the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 4-1 road win against the Manitoba Moose. That extended Cossa’s streak of earning at least one point to 14 consecutive games (9-0-5).

On the season, Cossa, 21, shows a 2.53 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in 30 appearances.  Cossa’s record is 15-7-8. By comparison, fellow Griffins goal Michael Hutchinson, an NHL veteran, owns a 2.77 GAA and .896 save percentage. His record is 14-11-3.

Cossa also is measuring up well against the AHL’s other high profile young goalies:

Yaroslav Askarov, 21, Nashville Predators

Askarov’s numbers: 2.36 GAA, .912 save percentage, 22-12-1, boasts 1.47 GAA, .943 save percentage in 82 minutes of NHL play this season.

Cossa made 37 saves to end the Milwaukee Admirals’ 19-game winning streak on a 4-2 decision. Askarov was Milwaukee’s goalie in that game.

Jesper Wallstedt, 21, Minnesota Wild

Wallstedt’s numbers: 2.72 GAA, .907 save percentage, 18-17-2, one NHL start this season

Cossa has beaten the Iowa Wild twice this season when Wallstedt was in the net.

Spencer Knight, 22, Florida Panthers

Knight’s Numbers: 2.59 GAA, .899 save percentage, 21-13-4, no NHL games this season

Cossa has not faced Knights’ Charlotte Checkers this season.

Sebastian Cossa stops 32 of 33 to improve to 9-0-5 in his last 14 starts and 11-1-5 in past 17 decisions. During the 17, his GAA is 2.05 and save percentage at .925.

— Bob Kaser (@bkaser1) March 21, 2024

All four of these young goalies were first-round picks, and all are expected in the NHL. But none of them appear to have a clear timetable for being an NHL regular. As a general rule, the NHL doesn’t go with younger goalies. Buffalo’s Devon Levi, 22, is an exception.

Cossa was the first star in the Griffins’ win on Wednesday. He has given up two or fewer goals in 11 of his last 15 starts for Grand Rapids. The 6-foot-6 netminder has a save percentage of .900 or above in 11 of his last 13 appearances.

The post Cossa Measures Up Well Against Top Young AHL Goalies appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

GRAND RAPIDS — It didn’t take long for Sebastian Cossa to adjust to the American Hockey League.

After a slow start at the Detroit Red Wings’ prospects camp in Traverse City, Cossa has found his way in the AHL. He’s been a major factor in the Grand Rapids Griffins’ rise this season, including a seven-week stretch in which the Griffins went 18 games without a regulation loss.

He’s currently riding a 12-game points streak (7-0-5) and hasn’t had a regulation loss since Jan. 12. A GAA of 2.60 and a save percentage of .910 speak to a consistency that has impressed the Red Wings, including GM Steve Yzerman. “He’s getting much stronger as the season has gone on.”

The post Griffins Coach Sees Cossa in a ‘Groove’ Now (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Three hours after Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said he was pleased with how Sebastian Cossa is developing, the 6-foot-6 goalie gave his boss more reasons to be impressed.

Cossa stopped 25 of 26 shots, one of them particularly impressive in the Grand Rapids Griffins’ 2-1 shootout loss to the Chicago Wolves at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. The performance extended his points streak to 11 consecutive games (7-0-4).

“He’s getting much stronger as the year’s gone on,” Yzerman said during his post-draft press conference. “He’s playing much more games. He’s trending in the right direction. He’s playing a bigger role, maybe gotten more games than he did early in the season and he’s earned them.”

SPECTACULAR SEBASTIAN pic.twitter.com/KZsq4IRMUN

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) March 9, 2024

Cossa, 21, has given up two or fewer goals in seven of his 11 starts during the streak. He owns a 2.59 goals-against average and .910 save percentage.

“He’s progressing nicely,” Yzerman said. “Wins and losses for goalies, the team wins and loses. He’s really been solid in goal. Still a lot of work to do, but he’s trending in the right direction.”

The Griffins’ 18-game points streak ended earlier this week against the Cleveland Monsters, but the 2-1 shootout loss did extend the team’s home streak to 14 games (9-0-3-1 since Jan. 13). It is their longest home streak since a 15-game run from Nov. 11, 2015-Jan. 17, 2016 (14-0-1-0).

Former Red Wings player Taro Hirose netted the Griffins’ lone goal in the contest. Forward Matt Luff drew an assist on the goal to extend his points streak to three games (2-2–4). The Griffins, in second place in the AHL’s Central Division, play at Milwaukee tonight.

The post Watch Video: Cossa Keeps Personal Streak Intact in Griffins Loss appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

After a slow start, the Grand Rapids Griffins are red-hot.

They ended the Milwaukee Admirals’ 19-game winning streak on Monday while extending their own points streak to 15 games (11-0-2-2) going into tonight’s home game against Iowa. This is the team’s best streak in eight years. The Griffins haven’t lost a game in regulation since Jan 12.

The Griffins have risen to second place in the Central Division during a hot streak which began during the holidays, when they were struggling in sixth place.

The post Why The Griffins Haven’t Lost in Regulation in 47 Days (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Sebastian Cossa is having the kind of season the Red Wings hoped he would have when they made him the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Monday, he was named the American Hockey League’s Player of the Week.

Last week, Cossa stopped 65 of 67 shots and recorded his first shutout as a Griffin a 1-0 blanking of Texas that lifted Grand Rapids into second place in the AHL’s Central Division.

For the season, Cossa has a 2.61 GAA and a .911 save percentage. He is 12-7-5 in 24 games, but 6-0-2 during a recent stretch that has seen Grand Rapids record at least a point in its last 15 games.

He’s the second Griffin to receive the honor this season. Marco Kasper was honored f0r the week of Jan. 21.

Routine Plays Key Role in Cossa Success

Overall, a good effort in his first season in the AHL.

“I’m pretty happy with it overall,” Cossa said last week. “I’ve definitely seen some ups and downs throughout the year. I want to finish the season strong and continue to develop here.”

Griffins coach Dan Watson says Cossa’s practice routine has played a role in his success this season, too.

“He’s into a groove now. You know, he’s got a detailed schedule of what has to be done for him to have success every single day. Working with (goaltending development coach) Roope Koistinen pretty closely here on a daily basis has really helped them. And it’s sticking with that process, even when he’s having success. It’s still sticking with what he’s doing to give him that success and not just throwing things by the wayside.”

Cossa and veteran Michael Hutchinson have provided a potent 1-2 punch in net for the Griffins, who struggled in net last season and missed the playoffs.

Their success, Watson said, helps his team’s overall confidence.

“I think it allows teams to play a little more free especially with the puck,” he said. “You know, you don’t have to worry all the time. ‘Well, you know, we can’t give up shots. We can’t give up a shot from this area of the ice. I just think it allows teams to play free with the puck.

“Good goaltending back there and it takes that pressure off,” he continued. “It allows our D to play a little more aggressively. If they get beat, they know they have someone there to stop the puck on the back end of it. So we trust our goaltenders immensely.”

The post Cossa Named AHL Player of the Week appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

NHL prospect goalies don’t find express lanes in the American Hockey League. Alex Lyon played in the AHL for seven different seasons before landing as Detroit’s No. 1 this season. Premium young goalie prospects Yaroslav Askarov (Nashville Predators) and Jesper Wallstedt (Minnesota Wild) are in their second full season in the NHL.

Even Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy spent parts of two seasons in the AHL before becoming the Lightning’s starter.

That certainly suggests that Grand Rapids Griffins rookie Sebastian Cossa has more ground to cover before he is NHL ready. But Cossa’s play this season, particularly over the past two months, shows he’s making the progress the Detroit Red Wings need him to make.

Cossa made 28 saves Wednesday night to post his first AHL shutout — a 1-0 decision over the Central Division rival Texas Stars. The win extended the team’s points streak to 13 games and moved the Griffins past Texas for second place in the Central Division.

Cossa on Roll

This was the first time in 11 years that a Griffins rookie netminder has recorded a 1-0 shutout. Cossa is 7-1-2 in his last 10 decisions with a 1.90 goals-against average and save percentage above .930.

Can't stop watching this AMAZING save by the one and only Sebastian Cossa #GoGRG pic.twitter.com/4bP7U8Y3Gm

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) February 22, 2024

“It’s a long process, five games doesn’t make it for you,” Cossa told Griffins broadcaster Bob Kaser. “It’s over a whole  season. A lot of hard work left. Just trying to continue the streak.”

Coach Dan Watson lauded 2021 first-round pick Cossa for the preparation he put into his craft every day. He has found his rhythm for what he needs to do to be ready to play.

“He’s playing well,” Cossa said, “and tonight you saw him take another step against a good team in a big game for us.”

Defenseman Albert Johansson (drafted 60th overall in 2018) scored the game’s only goal 25 seconds into the game. Austin Czarnik had an assist for his 16th point in the past 17 games.

The post Cossa Posts 1-0 Shutout as Griffins Extend Points Streak appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.