Detroit Red Wings prospect G Michal Postava shines in Griffins loss

Michal Postava continued his impressive AHL playoff showing with another attention-grabbing performance. Postava, a free-agent signing who may well push for a job with the Detroit Red Wings next season, starred at Van Andel Arena on Thursday, May 14, on a night his Grand Rapids Griffins teammates were less than stellar. Hosting the Chicago Wolves in Game 1 of the Calder Cup Central Division finals, the Griffins fell, 2-1.

Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Saturday at Van Andel Arena. Postava made 13 saves in the first period, while the Griffins only registered six shots on net. Shots were even, at 11 apiece, in the second period.

Postava finished with 30 saves, while his counterpart made 23 saves. GET READY FOR THE GRIFFINS: Grand Rapids starts next round of playoffs: What to know Edouard Tralmarks, another free-agent signing out of Europe, provided a 1-0 lead for the Griffins when he scored on Cayden Primeau – the son of former Wings star Keith Primeau – at 14:41 of the second period, with the first assist going to Axel Sandin-Pellikka, a 2023 first-round pick of the Wings. But the lead was short lived: Four minutes later, Justin Robidas (the son of longtime NHL'er Stéphane Robidas) tied the game.

Josiah Slavin put the Wolves ahead, 2-1, at 6:48 of the third period. The Wings signed Postava, 24, to a two-year, entry-level contract last June, to serve as a backup to Sebastian Cossa, the franchise's pick at No. 15 in 2021.