Goalie Detroit Didn’t Want Beats Red Wings Goalie of the Future

It was a Detroit Red Wings goalie prospect of the past facing the Red Wings goalie prospect of the future on Friday as the Toronto Marlies played the Grand Rapids Griffins. And the past got the better of the future.

Keith Petruzzelli stopped 21 of 24 shots as the Marlins whipped the Griffins 7-3 in their AHL game at Van Andel Arena. Taking the loss for the Griffins was 2021 Detroit first-round draft pick Sebastian Cossa. Cossa was beaten six times on 28 shots.

Keith Petruzzelli with a huge save on the #Marlies PK. pic.twitter.com/WUNFlZTsDv

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) November 11, 2023

Detroit’s 88th overall selection in the 2017 NHL entry draft, Petruzzelli and the Red Wings were never able to come to an agreement on an entry-level contract. After finishing his college career at Quinnipiac, he would end up signing an AHL deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Like Cossa, Petruzzelli split his rookie pro season of 2022-23 between the ECHL and AHL.

With his win Friday, Petruzzelli was improving to 3-1-1 on the season. However, it is noteworthy that both his goals-against average (3.42) and save percentage (.877) are far from spectacular.

Cossa dropped to 1-2-2 for the 2023-24 AHL campaign. He’s showing an .899 save percentage and 3.22 GAA.

Red Wings Prospect Lombardi Gets On Board

There were some bright spots on what was an overall disappointing night for the Griffins. Red Wings prospect Amadeus Lombardi was tallying his first goal as a professional during the third period of the game. Lombardi cleaned up a rebound and slid the puck past Petruzzelli to put Grand Rapids within striking distance, narrowing Toronto’s lead to 5-3.

Amadeus Lombardi scores off a Keith Petruzzelli rebound. #Marlies up 5-3 over Grand Rapids with 7:45 left in the third period. pic.twitter.com/Mbq52yOcgE

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) November 11, 2023

Both Elmer Soderblom (1-2–3) and Lombardi (1-2–3) extended their point streaks to three games. Veteran pro Zach Aston-Reese scored his first of the season for Grand Rapids. Dominic Shine drew an assist on that goal. He was moving into sole possession of third place on the Griffins’ all-time games played list with 366.

Griffins rookie forward Carter Mazur might be finding himself in some hot water with AHL disciplinarians for his part on a late-game line brawl. Just back in action from a lower-body injury he was suffering in the Red Wings rookie camp, Mazur was issued a misconduct for abuse of officials at 19:10 of the third period.