Dominik Shine made sure the fans at Van Andel Arena had something to remember Thursday night. The veteran forward notched his second hat trick of the season in a dominant 5-0 win over the Texas Stars - and in the process, etched his name even deeper into Grand Rapids Griffins history.
With those three goals, Shine moved into third place on the franchise’s all-time scoring list, now sitting at 95 career tallies. That puts him past Mitch Callahan and within striking distance of Francis Paré (102) and Michel Picard (158). It was a milestone night, but also a snapshot of what this Griffins team has become: cohesive, selfless, and locked in.
That last part was on full display during a unique moment involving rookie forward Amadeus Lombardi. After Shine’s goal was initially announced as unassisted - his 11th career unassisted goal, a new franchise record - a video review showed Lombardi had chipped the puck along the boards to set it up.
The assist was added postgame. But Lombardi?
He wasn’t having it.
He told head coach Dan Watson, with media nearby, that he didn’t want the assist. He didn’t ask for it, and he didn’t think he deserved it. That kind of gesture doesn’t show up on a stat sheet, but it says a lot about the culture in Grand Rapids right now.
This is a team that’s rolling - and doing it together. After a few bumps in January, the Griffins have now won five of their last six and own the AHL’s best record at 37-7-2-1.
That’s 77 points through 47 games. And it’s not just the veterans like Shine leading the way.
The youth movement is contributing in a big way, too.
Sebastian Cossa, the Red Wings’ top goaltending prospect, turned in his fifth shutout of the season with a 26-save performance. That’s the most by a Griffins goalie since Jared Coreau posted six back in 2015-16. Cossa looked dialed in all night - calm, square, and confident in his crease.
On the blue line, Shai Buium found the back of the net for the first time this season. The rookie defenseman now has five points in his last three games, and he’s starting to show flashes of the two-way game that made him a high draft pick. Antti Tuomisto, Nate Danielson, and Ondrej Becher also chipped in with assists, while Lombardi - assist or not - continued to be a sparkplug in the middle of the ice.
Coach Watson emphasized the importance of protecting home ice, especially with the schedule ahead. The Griffins are in the middle of a stretch where 10 of their next 13 games are at home, before finishing the season with 11 of 14 on the road. That makes this current run even more critical.
“We want to be known as a hard team to play against when we have the lead, especially here at home,” Watson said postgame. “And we talk about building momentum here. I thought our guys handled tonight extremely well.”
Right now, it’s hard to argue. The Griffins are playing with purpose, and Shine’s milestone night - paired with Lombardi’s unselfish gesture - is just the latest example of a team that’s not only winning, but doing it the right way.
Red Wings Pipeline Check-In
Dylan Larkin picked up his first Olympic point in Team USA’s 5-1 win over Germany - a matchup that saw him go up against Detroit teammate Moritz Seider. It’s always fun to see NHL teammates face off on the international stage, and Larkin’s leadership continues to shine through in any jersey he wears.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, one of Detroit’s promising prospects, is making the most of his time in Grand Rapids. His development arc is trending in the right direction, and he’s earning more responsibility with each game.
Carter Bear is on a heater. The young forward has now scored 23 goals in his last 25 games - a stretch that’s turning heads and could force some tough decisions in the Red Wings’ front office down the line.
Around the Red Wings Alumni
Daniel Sprong is heating up overseas. The former Red Wings winger recorded a hat trick in Avtomobilist’s 8-1 rout of Metallurg.
Sprong, who started the season with CSKA, was traded after his coach reportedly didn’t love his all-around game. Since landing with Avtomobilist, he’s found a groove - 13 points in 11 games, after posting 31 in 29 for CSKA.
Dominik Kubalik, another ex-Wing, was a healthy scratch for Czechia in their third preliminary game against Switzerland. It’s been an up-and-down international stint for Kubalik, who’s still looking to find consistency on the big stage.
The Griffins are clicking, the Red Wings pipeline is producing, and the organization as a whole is showing signs of depth and direction. Nights like this - with Shine lighting the lamp, Cossa shutting the door, and Lombardi putting team before stats - are the kind that championship cultures are built on.