Michael Brandsegg-Nygard scored midway through the third period Saturday to snap a tie and lift the Grand Rapids Griffins past the Toronto Marlies 3-2 at the Coca-Cola Coliseum.
The win gives the Griffins the third-best start through 20 games in the 90-year history of the AHL. Grand Rapids improved to 18-1-0-1 (W-L-OTL-SOL) for 37 points and a league-best .925 points percentage.
Out of 1,428 team seasons, the Griffins’ 20-game start ranks behind only the 2004-05 Manchester Monarchs (19-1-0-0, 38 points, .950) and the 2005-06 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (18-0-2-0, 38 points, .950).
The Griffins have outscored opponents 80-37, including a 42-21 edge on the road, where their 8-0-0-1 start is also the best in franchise history.
The Griffins scored the winning goal when Justin Holl’s shot deflected off a skate and wound up on Brandsegg-Nygard’s stick. He buried it with 10:29 remaining for his fifth goal.
Eduards Tralmaks (19:17 of the first period) and Sheldon Dries (8:25 of the second) also scored for the Griffins. Erik Gustafsson assisted on all three goals.
Sebastian Cossa made 23 saves to win his fifth game in a row and improve to 10-1.
Toronto fell to 10-10-1-1 (22 points).
The teams meet again Sunday in Toronto (4 p.m.).