Moose Edge Griffins 1-0 in Central Division Semifinals Opener

Key facts

• Manitoba Moose beat Grand Rapids Griffins 1-0 in Game One of the Central Division Semifinals.
• Moose goalie Domenic DiVincentiis recorded a 39-save shutout.
• Griffins goalie Michal Postava made 22 saves on 23 shots (.957 save percentage).
• Mason Shaw scored the game-winning power-play goal with 4:09 remaining in the third period.
• Grand Rapids outshot Manitoba 38-21 overall, including 14-5 in the first period.
• The Moose are the second team since 2022 to open the Calder Cup Playoffs with five consecutive home games.
• Manitoba won four of its last five home games, all by one goal.
• The Griffins had a 20-point margin over second-place Chicago in the regular season.

A Goaltending Duel Decides Game One

The Manitoba Moose drew first blood in their best-of-five Central Division Semifinals series against the Grand Rapids Griffins, winning 1-0 in a tightly contested Game One at Canada Life Centre on Thursday. The victory extends Manitoba's home-ice advantage as they aim to advance deeper into the Calder Cup Playoffs. The game was a showcase of goaltending prowess, with Moose netminder Domenic DiVincentiis turning aside all 39 shots he faced for a shutout. On the other end, Griffins goalie Michal Postava was nearly as impressive, stopping 22 of 23 shots for a.957 save percentage. The only blemish came late in the third period.

Shaw's Power-Play Strike Breaks the Deadlock

With just over four minutes remaining in regulation and the Griffins on the penalty kill, Moose captain Mason Shaw found the back of the net on a power play to break a scoreless tie. The goal was Shaw's first of the playoffs and came at a critical moment, as Grand Rapids had been controlling the play for much of the game. Shaw's tally was set up by a sustained offensive zone shift from Manitoba, which had struggled to generate consistent pressure against the Griffins' top-ranked regular-season defense. The goal was the Moose's only conversion on three power-play opportunities, while Grand Rapids went 0-for-1 with the man advantage.

Griffins Dominate Shots but Cannot Solve DiVincentiis

Grand Rapids outshot Manitoba 38-21 overall, including a 14-5 edge in the first period. Even when accounting for the Griffins' lone power play in the opening frame, they still more than doubled the Moose's shot total. Despite the territorial advantage, the Griffins could not beat DiVincentiis, who was sharp throughout. In the second period, Manitoba briefly seized momentum, outshooting Grand Rapids 6-1 in the first 5:54, including two shots on their first power play. However, the Griffins responded by outshooting the Moose 12-4 for the remainder of the frame, yet neither team could find the net heading into the second intermission.

Moose Rely on One-Goal Wins and Home-Ice Edge

Manitoba's victory continues a pattern of narrow margins: 18 of their 35 regular-season wins were decided by one goal, tied for fourth in the AHL. In games decided by two or fewer goals, the Moose went 22-5-5-3, while the Griffins were 25-8-4-1. The teams split their four regular-season meetings decided by two or fewer goals, with Manitoba claiming the only overtime win. The Moose are also thriving at home, having won four of their last five games at Canada Life Centre, all by one goal. They are just the second team since the AHL adopted its current playoff format in 2022 to open the playoffs with five consecutive home games, following the Charlotte Checkers in 2023.

Griffins Face Long Layoff and History

The Griffins entered the series after a 13-day break since the end of the regular season, where they finished with a league-best 51-16-4-1 record and a 20-point margin over second-place Chicago — the largest for any AHL division winner since 2012-13. They boasted the top-ranked defense and second-best offense in the league. Despite their regular-season dominance, the Griffins know the playoffs are a different challenge. "It doesn't matter what happens in the regular season," said forward Sheldon Dries, who has 37 career Calder Cup Playoff games. "Playoffs are a whole different animal." Grand Rapids last faced Manitoba in the 2018 Central Division Semifinals, a series the Moose won in five games.

What's Next in the Series

Game Two of the series is scheduled for Saturday at Canada Life Centre, with puck drop at 2 p.m. CT. The Moose will look to build on their momentum, while the Griffins aim to even the series before it shifts to Grand Rapids. Manitoba head coach Mark Morrison emphasized the importance of an aggressive start: "Being in our rink, and them laid off a little bit, we'll want to go after them." The Moose have shown resilience, coming back from a 1-0 series deficit in the first round against Milwaukee, winning Games 2 and 3 by identical 2-1 scores. DiVincentiis stopped 50 of 52 shots in those two victories, and David Gustafsson scored the winner in Game 2 before assisting on both goals in Game 3. The Griffins, meanwhile, will rely on their depth and experience to adjust after a long layoff.

The bottom line

• Domenic DiVincentiis posted a 39-save shutout for the Moose in Game One.
• Mason Shaw's third-period power-play goal was the only score of the game.
• Grand Rapids outshot Manitoba 38-21 but could not convert.
• The Moose have won four of their last five home games, all by one goal.
• The Griffins had a 13-day layoff before the series, while the Moose had five days off.
• Game Two is Saturday at Canada Life Centre; the series is best-of-five.