Hot Griffins open Stars series at Van Andel Arena
Grand Rapids carries a seven-game point streak into the first of eight meetings with a Texas team that has yet to win on the road.
The Grand Rapids Griffins host the Texas Stars at Van Andel Arena on Wednesday with points from seven consecutive games. Grand Rapids has six wins and a shootout loss over that stretch; Texas is still seeking its first road victory of the season.
The matchup opens an eight-game season series, including four meetings in Grand Rapids. The Griffins have an 8-1-1-1 record and have gone 5-0-0-1 at home. Texas is 0-5-1-0 away from home and has lost its past two games.
Grand Rapids enters after beating the Chicago Wolves 5-1 on Sunday. Carter Bear finished with three points, including a goal, while Michal Postava made 25 saves in his first Griffins appearance following a two-game stay with Detroit.
Postava has won all five of his AHL appearances this season, with a 1.20 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage. The league named him its Goaltender of the Month for October.
Special teams favour Grand Rapids on paper. Its penalty kill leads the AHL at 93.5 per cent, and its power play ranks sixth at 25.0 per cent. Texas ranks 28th in both categories, converting 12.5 per cent of its power plays and killing 74.3 per cent of its penalties.
Mike Sgarbossa and rookie Dylan Hryckowian share the Texas scoring lead with 10 points each.
