On a day when three 20-and-under rookies helped the Detroit Red Wings create a critical 6-3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, other Detroit important prospects were helping the Grand Rapids Griffins down the Texas Stars 3-2.

Amadeus Lombardi showed three assists in that contest, while goalie Michal Postava made 27 saves, to help the Griffins raise their AHL record to 2-0. Defenseman William Wallinder had an assist, as did Erik Gustafsson who was just sent down to Grand Rapids to make room for James van Riemsdyk on the NHL roster.

Postava is the 10th rookie Griffins goalie to win his AHL debut.  Postava, 23, and Sebastian, 22, are the Red Wings leading goalie prospects already signed. The Red Wings also have the rights to Trey Augustine, who is in his junior year at Michigan State.

Former Griffins player Cross Hanas scored for Texas.

In Detroit on Saturday, Emmitt Finnie picked up his first career assist, was plus-two and posted one hit. Fellow rookie Axel Sandin Pellikka played more than 18 minutes on Detroit’s defense with an even plus-minus and had three shots on goal. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard added another hit.

Red Wings in Case You Missed It

Coach Todd McLellan’s Red Wings badly needed a win, and they delivered one against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Paywall story: Exploring which Grand Rapids Griffins will be next to join the Red Wings. To subscribe to DHN+, click here:

Carter Mazur made his case about NHL readiness when he registered his first professional hat trick in a win against the Texas Stars.

Red Wins Extra

After suffering through a disappointing minus-three start in Game 1 against Montreal, defenseman Albert Johansson was plus-four against Toronto… Patrick Kane, leading Detroit with four points in two games, is two points short tying Mats Sundin (1,349 career points) for 31st place on the NHL’s all-time scoring Kane is also 28 points away from passing Mike Modano (1,374) for the most by a U.S.-born skater in NHL history. Kane (493 career goals) is seven goals from reaching the 500-goal milestone. He would become the fifth U.S.-born player to reach the 500-goal milestone, joining Mike Modano (561), Keith Tkachuk (538), Jeremy Roenick (513) and Joe Mullen (502).

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