Beauty Plays of the Week: March 2026
Every Wednesday during the season, “Graced By Rain” awards a “Beauty Play of the Week” from the past week of Grand Rapids Griffins games. Some are goals, some are saves, and some are hits. While each is different, they all provided an extra element of beauty to an already beautiful sport.
Below are plays from March 2026.
William Lagesson’s Hit On Jean-Luc Foudy
Awarded: March 4, 2026
The simplicity of doing your job and doing it well is what makes this play beautiful. Many will hone in on the end result, but Lagesson hadn’t made those two hits, Jean-Luc Foudy wouldn’t have coughed up the puck, allowing a breakaway to happen.
Carter Mazur’s First Goal Back From Injury
Awarded: March 11, 2026
In his first game back from injury, Carter Mazur’s patience in front of the net paid off with a goal. “I was just sitting in the slot and Angle made a perfect pass to me,” explained Mazur.”I made sure to put it in the net for him.”
The most beautiful part of this play came at the end with Tyler Angle’s celebration of the goal. Honestly, this is the most excited he’s ever been celebrating a goal, even his own.
“Ammo (Amadeus Lombardi) left the game, and Angle took his spot. Then Angle on the bench was like, ‘Let’s get you a goal,’ before that shift. And then we went out and did it,” said Mazur. “It was pretty cool that he said that before the shift, and it happened.”
Michal Postava Multi Saves
Awarded: March 18, 2026
In the Grand Rapids Griffins 1-0 loss to the Chicago Wolves on March 15, goaltender Michal Postava stood on his head, preventing the Griffins from being blown about by the Wolves. Postava earned the “Beauty Play of the Week” on this particular play due to the fact he stayed calm while getting peppered with shots.
John Leonard's 30th Goal
Awarded: March 25, 2026
Everything about John Leonard’s 30th goal of the season can be added to the list of reasons why he is too good to be playing in the AHL.
First, Leonard fell over a stick and immediately hopped back up, allowing him to quickly get back into the play. A few seconds later, he obliterates one of the Milwaukee Admirals with an open ice hit that prevents a rush from happening. Then, a board battle happened in the corner that Leonard was able to win and take off down the ice with the puck before finding the back of the net.
To sprinkle a little beauty dust on top, this all happened while the Griffins were on the penalty kill.
Carter Mazur’s Last-Second Goal
Awarded: March 31, 2026
A four-on-one breakaway turned into a literal last-second goal that ignited an epic comeback against the Cleveland Monsters on March 26, 2026.
This was the first of two goals from Mazur in his 100th game as a Griffin.
