Cossa Delivers Another Big Win for Griffins

Goaltender makes 38 saves in 5-2 victory over Charlotte Checkers

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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A day after the Charlotte Checkers blanked the Grand Rapids Griffins 3-0, Sebastian Cossa flipped the narrative by making 38 saves in a 5-2 Griffins win over Charlotte. Alex Doucet, Ondrej Becher and Antti Tuomisto scored the Griffins' first three goals, and Sheldon Dries and Nate Danielson added the empty netters. Tuomisto was the game's No. 1 star.

Why it matters

Cossa's standout performance continues to make a compelling case for an NHL promotion, although his future with the Red Wings is complicated by the team's own success this season. The Griffins now have the AHL's best points percentage at 35-7-2-1 (73 pts.).

The details

Cossa owns a 20-4-2 record this season with a 1.99 goals-against average and .928 save percentage. Defenseman Shai Buium added two assists for the Griffins. This was essentially a 3-2 win, with Grand Rapids adding two empty-net goals to seal it.

  • On February 8, 2026, the Grand Rapids Griffins defeated the Charlotte Checkers 5-2.

The players

Sebastian Cossa

A goaltender for the Grand Rapids Griffins, Cossa has made a compelling case for an NHL promotion this season with a 20-4-2 record, 1.99 goals-against average, and .928 save percentage.

Antti Tuomisto

A defenseman for the Grand Rapids Griffins, Tuomisto was the game's No. 1 star after scoring one of the Griffins' three goals in the 5-2 win over the Charlotte Checkers.

Shai Buium

A defenseman for the Grand Rapids Griffins, Buium added two assists in the team's 5-2 victory over the Charlotte Checkers.

Grand Rapids Griffins

The American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, the Griffins have the best points percentage in the AHL this season at 35-7-2-1 (73 pts.).

Charlotte Checkers

The AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers, the Checkers were defeated 5-2 by the Grand Rapids Griffins on February 8, 2026.

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What they’re saying

“Oh my! Sebastian Cossa!!!”

— Elaine Shircliff (Twitter)

The takeaway

Cossa's standout performance in net for the Griffins continues to bolster his case for an NHL call-up, though the Red Wings' own success this season complicates the timing of such a move. The Griffins' dominant season, with the AHL's best points percentage, also highlights the depth of talent in the Red Wings' prospect pipeline.