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Griffins' Young Guns Power 4-2 Win Over Admirals
Dylan James scores shorthanded goal and adds assist...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
November 6th, 2026
With the Griffins' top two veteran scorers, Sheldon Dries and John Leonard in Detroit, the team got depended on the contributions of several high-profile rookies in the lineup. Sutter Muzzatti opened the scoring at even strength, followed by Dylan James with a shorthanded goal, and Noah Dower-Nilsson closed out the scoring with an empty netter. Throw in Captain Dom Shine's powerplay goal, and the Griffins scored in every situation. Trey Augustine was solid between the pipes, stopping 25 of 27 shots for his 4th win of the season.
First Period
Sutter Muzzatti celebrated his return to the lineup early in the first when he took a Dylan James pass in front and lifted it under the bar for a 1-0 lead. Milwaukee with a break and a chance to tie, as they beat Trey Augustine, but hit the post behind him. Ronnie Attard to the box with a slashing penalty and the Griffins now on the penalty kill. Wilmer Skoog took another penalty late in the kill, leaving the Griffins down 5-on-3. James on the penalty kill won a footrace into the Milwaukee zone chasing the clear. He snared the puck, shot around behind the net and fired it through Murray's feet for a shorthanded goal and a 2-0 lead. Skoog with a great chance in front, lifting a backhand from his skates in close that hit Murray high and drew the ire of an Admirals' defender. Augustine with a huge stop on a point-blank change by Ozzy Wiesblatt.
Shots on goal: GR 7 - Mil 9.
Second Period
Milwaukee came out with more intensity in the second and really had the Griffins back on their heels. Grand Rapids could not make a clean pass as there seemed to be an Admirals player in the way every time. Midway through the period the Griffins got a powerplay with Willis heading off for tripping. Carter Bear with a shot on Murray, and Dominik Shine cashed in the rebound for a 3-0 lead. Wiesblatt in front, got in Augustine's face at the whistle which touched off a scrum. Two big stops by Augustine in rapid succession, I don't think he even saw the first one. Kannok Leipert off for slashing and the Griffins will be back on the penalty kill. Jost with a drive from the circle and Augustine flashed the glove for a save. Late in the kill the Griffins again take another penalty setting up a short 5-on-3 as Butler heads to the box to serve a too-many-men penalty. GR managed to kill the first penalty, but not the second as O'Hara converted a pass from Kemell for a back door goal into the wide-open side of the cage behind Augustine. GR with a giveaway in the circle but Augustine came up big with the stop.
Shots on goal: GR 5 - Mil 11.
Third Period
Long drive on Murray and Dower-Nilsson got a stick on it for a nice chance that Murray had to be sharp to stop. Butler with a couple of pops at the net from right in front. Scramble in front and Kiiskinen with a chance. Lagesson long point shot, Murray kicked the rebound right over the stick of Butler waiting back door. Nolan Moyle to the box for tripping leaving the Griffins a man short. Great penalty kill as the Admirals didn't even get a shot on goal. Bear with a burst of speed on the forecheck beat the defender to the puck. Shine off for boarding right after Moyle left the box. Give-and-go and Ondrej Becher got it back , cut in on net and had a great chance the Murray stopped. Murray to the bench for an extra attacker with two minutes and change left on the clock. Dower-Nilsson with a long shot into the empty net to extend the lead to 4-1. Chase Bradley answered right back for Milwaukee, sliding into the circle and rifling a shot into the top corner. Becher taken down leading to a late Griffins powerplay for the last 38 seconds.
Shots on Goal: GR 14 - Mil 7. For the Game: GR 26 - Mil 27.
Starting Lines:
11 Bear - 25 Becher - 65 Shine
70 Dower-Nilsson - 32 Skoog - 92 Kiiskinen
26 James - 82 Muzzatti - 61 Stillman
42 Butler - 33 Draper - 27 Moyle
Pairings:
78 Bryson - 44 Sandin-Pellikka
37 Lagesson - 41 Kannok Leipert
8 Buium - 3 Attard
Starter: #30 Augustine
Backup: #31 Gylander
Scratches:
83 Christensen
84 Bertuzzi
PP:
11 Bear - 32 Skoog - 65 Shine
25 Becher - 44 Sandin-Pellikka
26 James - #82 Muzzatti - 70 Dower-Nilsson
78 Bryson - 8 Buium
PK:
26 James - 33 Draper
37 Lagesson - 41 Kannok Leipert
65 Shine - 32 Skoog
78 Bryson - 3 Attard
Observations:
Trey Augustine was solid in net and looked really focused. It is amazing what playing in a couple of consecutive games can do for a goalie's confidence. There were a couple of times where his positioning allowed him to make saves before he even saw the shots.
Great to see Sutter Muzzatti return to the lineup, he was effective in all three zones and solidified the center ice position for Gr for the game. Also good to see him score in his return. His size really makes him hard to move from in front of the net and his wingspan really helps him clog up the ice in a defensive posture.
Dylan James continues to shine whether he scores or not. His speed and defensive awareness make him dangerous on the penalty kill and he has a nose for the net. Great to see him rewarded with the offense tonight, it feels like he is on the edge of breaking out and putting up some bigger numbers.
Also need to give a shout out to Axel Sandin-Pellikka. It is amazing to watch how much his game has grown since he first started here - and even since last season. He has really made an effort to cut down on turnovers and iffy plays, taking more pride in the defensive side of the game. However, it is his next level vision that makes him the most noticeable. Watching him wheel around and make plays through opposing players and dangle at the line on the powerplay is a thing of beauty. My guess is he won't be in GR all season, but I will enjoy watching his artistry while he is here.
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