The Grand Rapids Griffins left Casey’s Center with a 3-0 shutout win over the Iowa Wild on Friday night, leaning on an early power-play strike, a steady middle-period push and a perfect night in goal from Trey Augustine.
Wilmer Skoog got Grand Rapids moving just 4:50 into the game, beating a screened William Rousseau from the top of the circles on the man advantage to make it 1-0. The Griffins then controlled the first period shot count, outshooting Iowa 15-6 over the opening 20 minutes.
The second period brought a costly Iowa mistake, and John Leonard made the Wild pay at 15:21 to stretch the lead to 2-0. Through two periods, both teams had put up 21 shots.
Leonard wasn’t done. He struck again 9:42 into the third period, finishing an odd-man rush to put the game out of reach at 3-0.
Augustine stopped all 31 shots he faced to secure the shutout, while Rousseau finished with 30 saves for Iowa. Grand Rapids finished with a 33-31 edge in shots and went 1-for-5 on the power play. The Wild were held scoreless on three chances.
The two teams will finish their weekend set at Casey’s Center on Saturday at 6 p.m. on Veterans Appreciation Night. The first 1,500 fans will receive a hat courtesy of Flying Eagle Financial and WHO. Iowa will wear specialty jerseys honoring veterans and will hold a postgame jersey auction, with proceeds benefiting ALS Association Iowa.
In Other News...
Kevin Fiala Just Reentered A Wild Trade Story Fans Still Feel
Kevin Fiala is back in the lineup for the Los Angeles Kings, and his season debut came against the New York Islanders with an assist attached to it. The winger had spent roughly nine months on injured reserve after a serious injury at the 2026 Winter Olympics while playing for Switzerland, a long layoff that made his return a notable moment for a player who has already had a winding recent history.
For Wild fans, Fialas name still carries a little extra weight because of the trade that sent him to Los Angeles in 2022. Any time he resurfaces in a meaningful way, it tends to reopen old questions about what Minnesota lost and how the deal has aged, even if the focus now is simply on his health and how quickly he can settle back in for the Kings. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Fabers Return Could Strengthen His Case To Lead The Wild
Brock Fabers return is coming into view after the defenseman was sidelined by a fractured skull suffered when a puck hit him in the ear during the Wilds preseason finale. He is expected to be back for an upcoming game against the Boston Bruins, a welcome development for a team that values what he brings on and off the ice.
For Minnesota, the timing matters beyond just getting a good defenseman back in the lineup. Faber has already built a reputation as a key player with the kind of leadership traits that have drawn praise from captain Jared Spurgeon, and a strong return could only reinforce the idea that he belongs in the conversation as a future leader of the Wild, even if the organization remains careful not to rush him. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Could Be In The Middle Of A Dylan Larkin Bidding War
The Dylan Larkin market is starting to take shape, and Minnesota is right in the middle of it. Detroit is reportedly exploring a trade for the center, who has already submitted a list of preferred destinations that includes the Wild and the Hurricanes, and there was already a strong Minnesota offer turned away earlier in the process. Now the conversation has moved into the more familiar territory of players, draft picks and package construction, with both sides trying to find a deal that makes sense.
For the Wild, the appeal is obvious if they can get back into the mix after being rebuffed once. Carolinas interest adds another layer, even with its center depth, and it could turn this into a real bidding battle if the Red Wings decide to keep listening. Nothing is finalized yet, but this is the kind of situation that can move quickly once one team decides to push its best offer across the line. [Read more 🡒]