Game 2 of Red Wings prospects Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard happened on April 19th, 2025 with the Grand Rapids Griffins. It was the second game of a road back-to-back vs. the Iowa Wild and the team’s final regular season game. The team will compete in the AHL playoffs with Game 1 of the Central Division semi-final taking place at Van Andel Arena on April 29th vs. the Texas Stars.
Two Griffins regular defensemen Anton Johannsson and Shai Buium were serving their one-game suspensions for leaving the bench to engage in a fight in the previous game. Both prospects did quite well in their debuts. Sandin-Pellikka found the scoresheet on the power play on a pass across the blue line to an open Amadeus Lombardi for the team’s only goal.
Brandsegg-Nygard seemed to have developed some chemistry with Nate Danielson, though they were playing on different lines. Brandsegg-Nygard did get a couple of shots vs. the IceHogs, but I’ll be looking for him to have more of an impact in this game. Sandin-Pellikka wore number 39, Brandsegg-Nygard wore number 64.
1st Period
4:05 – Sandin-Pellikka is getting lots of ice time early in this game. It was already his third shift. He plays with an active stick. He broke up a few Iowa attempts early with sticks in the lane and even had a couple of chances for a steal.
5:39 – Brandsegg-Nygard forced a turnover on the forecheck, then drew a penalty in the ensuing cycle. The puck made its way to the point then was flung towards the net for a redirect chance. It didn’t go in but made it’s way to the corner. Brandsegg-Nygard has a powerful/explosive stride and he used it to get in front of the defender and body position on the puck. The Iowa defender took him down before touching the puck, drawing the first penalty of the game.
10:29 – Wild Goal 0-1 – Ondrej Becher picked up the dish from his defenseman in the left corner behind the Griffins net and saw traffic heading up the near-side boards so he decided to try a cross-ice pass through the center of the zone. That’s a big no-no unless you’re absolutely sure it’s not going to get picked off. This one finds Iowa’s Luke Mistelbacher, who made a nice skate-to-stick move right near the hash marks, and scores blocker side on Jack Campbell. It was Mistelbacher’s first pro point in his second pro game.
20:00 - The first period ends at 0-1 in favor of the Wild. The Griffins did not generate much offense in the first period of this game. They were getting outshot 12-2 at one point, then clawed back to a more respectable 13-8. No high-danger chances through the first 20 minutes.
2nd Period
10:00 – The Griffins started the period on the penalty kill and took two more penalties in the first 10 minutes of the second period. Neither Sandin-Pellikka or Brandsegg-Nygard play on the penalty kill so neither of them got much ice time. There was a shortened power play of about a minute, but the Griffins didn’t get much zone time. Sandin-Pellikka got one shot away on the rush and there was a rebound, but Iowa cleared the puck back to Griffins’ territory.
20:00 – The second period ended with no goals. The Griffins did fine killing off the three penalties and did start to push back in the second half of the second period. Brandsegg-Nygard has not had an opportunity in this game, but it’s not because he is not playing well. Hockey is a team game. Forwards need their teammates to generate scoring chances. Especially from the wing.
Nate Danielson had a shift with Joe Snivley and Austin Watson where Watson was set up beautifully twice. The first time on the right side, Watson drove the puck into the right pad of the goaltender. The second, a one-time chance with no block and quite a lot of net to work with, but Watson fanned on the shot. I can’t say there would have been better results with Brandsegg-Nygard instead of Watson, but they couldn’t have been any worse. I can say, however, that I would have rather seen Brandsegg-Nygard get the opportunity instead of Watson, who is a step behind the play, even at the AHL level.
3rd Period
7:45 – Griffins Goal 1-1 – The play started behind the Griffins net. William Wallinder made the breakout pass to Amadeus Lombardi through center. Lombardi passes to Dominic Shine on the right side, then Shine passes through the seam to Sheldon Dries on the left flank. Dries beats the goaltender, Samuel Hlavaj, short side. That’s Dries from Shine and Lombardi.
13:28 – Bad call on Sandin-Pellikka. He was tracking a man with the puck back into his own zone, stepped in front of him to prevent the net-front drive. The Iowa player held onto Sandin-Pellikka’s left arm and went down. Sandin-Pellikka’s right arm was waving about to show the ref he wasn’t holding, but still got the penalty called against him.
20:00 – The Griffins secure third place in the division by earning one point in regulation. Assuring a Central Division semi-final matchup with the Texas Stars in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Overtime
2:34 – Jack Campbell makes two spectacular saves! Iowa’s 22 carried the puck in the Griffins zone on the left side. Meanwhile, 92, Clark, was streaming through center in front of his check, barely onside. 22 found 92 for the breakaway.
Campbell stuck his stick out, paddle down in case Clark tried to go to the backhand and resorted to the double pad stack on the forehand shot, made the save, the rebound kicked directly to 22 gliding through the slot, 22 elevated the puck to the top of the net, but Campbell kicked his left leg and pad hard up into the air and stopped the puck with his back and head flat on the ice. A+ save and extra credit for the follow-up save in the traditional butterfly afterwards to keep his team in the game.
4:00 – Brandsegg-Nygard was sent in behind the defense on a pass by Amadeus Lombardi, but it was at the end of a shift that was spent mostly defending. The Iowa player caught up and made a nice stick lift to break up the opportunity.
Shootout
Griffins SO Goal 1-0 – Nate Danielson faked to the backhand. The goaltender bit and Danielson slid the puck along this ice passed the outstretched pad of the goaltender for the first goal of the shootout.
Sandin-Pellikka had an opportunity to end the game with a SO goal, but got in too tight to the goaltender, who poked the puck away with his stick.
Iowa failed to score with their third shooter. Griffins win 1-2.
Final Takeaways
This game had a bit of a slow start to it, but the Griffins got it into gear about half-way through. It was the second game of a road back-to-back with a four-hour bus ride in between. The Griffins still found a way to get the win against a team that had nothing to play for except putting out a good showing for their fans. The overtime was exciting. Especially the saves from Campbell and the breakaway chance by Brandsegg-Nygard.
If you want to see Sandin-Pellikka and Brandsegg-Nygard play this season, Game 1 of the AHL Central Division Semi-Final is Tuesday April 29th vs. the Texas Stars at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. It can also be found online at www.flohockey.tv, or the FloSports App.