When the Grand Rapids Griffins hit the ice for their postseason opener against the Manitoba Moose, all eyes were on the crease—but not for the reason many expected. Highly-touted Detroit Red Wings prospect Sebastian Cossa watched from the bench as the Griffins fell 1-0 in a tightly contested playoff battle.
Cossa, selected 15th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, has been a cornerstone of the Griffins' success this season. Alongside fellow prospect Trey Augustine (taken 41st overall in 2023), the Red Wings have built an impressive pipeline of goaltending talent in Grand Rapids. But for Game 1 of their postseason series, head coach Dan Watson turned to Michal Postava between the pipes.
Postava, signed as a free agent this past offseason, has been nothing short of spectacular. He posted a 17-6-1 record with a stingy 1.97 goals-against average and a remarkable .940 save percentage during the regular season. Those numbers made the decision a difficult but understandable one for the coaching staff.
The game itself was a classic playoff nail-biter. Mason Shaw broke the deadlock late in the third period, and Moose goaltender Dom DiVincentiis stood tall with 39 saves to earn the shutout and give Manitoba an early series lead.
For Cossa, the night off was a rare pause in an otherwise dominant season. The 23-year-old netminder compiled a stellar 26-8-4 record with a 2.33 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage, and five shutouts. His only NHL action came in relief of Ville Husso on December 10, 2024, where he made 12 saves and stopped two shootout attempts to earn a 6-5 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
The decision to start Postava over Cossa speaks volumes about the depth Detroit has built between the pipes. With Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman emphasizing development and competition at every level, the Griffins' playoff run will be a crucial test for both netminders. As the series shifts to Game 2, all eyes will be on who gets the nod next—and whether Cossa will get his chance to shine when it matters most.