Postava Forces Red Wings to Put Him in Their Plans

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GRAND RAPIDS — Eduards Tralmaks learned Michal Postava was hard to beat playing against him in Czechia’s top league games last season. What he learned this season now playing with on the Grand Rapids Griffins is that Postava practices like he’s in a Game 7 of a playoff series.

“I can’t score on him in practice as much as I try. . . he’s a competitor,” Tralmaks said. “Even if there’s an empty net, he’s gonna basically jump at the puck. He’s just very good with his angles.”

When he was leading Kometa Brno to the Czechia championship at age 22, the Czechia media drew comparison to Dominik Hasek. Postava can get into shooter’s heads with his obsessiveness at preventing goals from being scored.

His career save percentage numbers speak how stubborn he is about preventing goals. In his march to the title last season, he posted a 1.97 GAA and .940 save percentage in the postseason. This season, Postava shows a 1.71 GAA and .937 save percentge in the regulr season. He owns a 1.25 GAA and .945 save percentage in his four AHL playoff starts.

“This guy is going to play in NHL for a long time.” Tralmaks said. “I don’t want to put pressure on Postie. Sorry Postie. But I know he’s going to be a big-time player in the future. Hopefully he doesn’t forget about me.”

Numbers Tell Story

Postava has been even better than his numbers show. That’s evidenced by the fact that he has played 29 games in the regular season and playoffs without giving up more than three goals in a game. He has given exactly three goals just six times.

To give Postava, 24, the net for the playoffs, Grand Rapids coach Dan Watson had to sit Sebastian Cossa, 23. He was recently named Detroit’s top prospect by McKeen’s website. He’s a first-round pick being groomed to be a starting goalie. Based on the numbers, Cossa had a strong season. But Postava was more consistent and better as the season wore on.

Good Record vs. Wolves

“Everyone’s got full trust and confidence in him and we’ve seen it all year long from both goalies,” Watson said. “But just down the stretch, (Postava) was seeing the puck well, extremely confident, he was playing the puck well, and it’s followed right into these playoffs. To be able to continue to throw him in the net again, it’s an easy decision.”

Postava’s approach to playing is simple: “I feel good when I’m trying to be the best version of myself.”

The Griffins are playing the Chicago Wolves in this playoff round. Postava was 3-1 against Chicago in the regular season and only gave up five goals in those starts. That’s a .956 save percentage against the Wolves.

Watson hasn’t said whether he plans to work Cossa into games as the playoffs continue.

“Let’s see how much work (Postava) gets.,” Watson said. “. . . I think that’s one thing we strive to do from the start of the year, is make sure our team’s well conditioned and they’re all athletes and we’ll make sure that he gets rest, recovery. But at some point in time, if it doesn’t look like he can start we’ll get Cossa right in there with no problem.”

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