Grigals seals shootout win for SaiPa in Lappeenranta
Latvian goaltender Grigals made 18 saves on 19 shots in regulation and overtime, then stopped a decisive shootout attempt to help Finnish club SaiPa beat Pori. It was his second appearance in the team's five Liiga games this season.
Latvian goaltender Grigals, 28, helped Finnish Liiga club SaiPa defeat Pori in a game played in Lappeenranta. Through regulation and overtime he stopped 18 of 19 shots faced, and in the shootout he made the save on the second of Pori's two attempts to seal the win for his team.
The game marked only his second appearance for SaiPa in the club's five Liiga games so far this season. Grigals represented Latvia at the World Championship earlier this spring, and in the Champions League he has started in three of the team's four games to date.
Strong save numbers across competitions
In the Finnish Liiga, Grigals currently holds a save percentage of 97.14%, having previously backstopped a 4:0 win over Kouvola, one of last season's league finalists. In the Champions League his save percentage stands somewhat lower, at 89.3%.
SaiPa itself has opened the autumn campaign in strong form, collecting 11 of a possible 15 points in the Liiga and seven of a possible 12 points in the Champions League.
