Griffins Recreation #56 * Dwelling Recreation #30 * AHL Recreation #908
Season Sequence: 4-0-0-0 Dwelling Sequence: 2-0-0-0 Street Sequence: 2-0-0-0
All-Time Sequence: 47-23-5-3 All-Time Dwelling Sequence: 23-10-4-2 All-Time Street Sequence: 24-13-1-1
Wild at Griffins
Fifth of eight conferences total, third of 4 at Van Andel Area…The Griffins are 16-11-4-1 (.578) total because the 2019-20 season in opposition to the Wild however have been outscored by Iowa 105-97…Grand Rapids is 9-4-3-0 (.656) at residence in opposition to Iowa because the 2019-20 season with a plus-one scoring margin (48-47)…The Griffins have factors in eight of the final 12 conferences (6-4-2-0, .583) in opposition to the Wild in Grand Rapids…The Wild are 9-15-3-1 on the street this season, whereas Grand Rapids is 17-6-4-2 at residence…Iowa is 3-5-2-0 in its final 10 outings and has only one win in its final eight video games (1-5-2-0)…The Griffins are 5-2-2-1 of their final 10 and are on a 14-game level streak at residence (9-0-3-2)…The Wild’s energy play is tied for twenty sixth on the circuit at 16.4% and their penalty kill is available in at 72.9% (thirty second)…The Griffins rank twenty fourth within the league with a power-play fee of 17.3%, whereas their penalty kill is tied for twentieth at 81.2%…Iowa ranks thirtieth out of 32 groups with a median of two.52 targets scored per recreation and thirty first with a median of three.48 targets allowed per contest…Former Griffins head coach Ben Simon (2018-23) is now an assistant coach for the Wild…Former Griffin Turner Elson is featured on Iowa’s roster after being acquired by the Minnesota Wild on the NHL Commerce Deadline.
Final Time Out
After buying and selling blows by means of three durations, the Griffins in the end fell 3-2 in additional time to the Cleveland Monsters at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Tuesday. Of their final 12 street video games, the Griffins earned factors in 10 of these outings. Sebastian Cossa’s level streak prolonged to 12 contests (7-0-5) within the defeat, because the rookie netminder has not suffered a regulation loss since Jan. 12. Taro Hirose bagged a helper on Elmer Soderblom’s objective, which put the fifth-year professional at 4 factors (1-3–4) in his final seven video games. Brogan Rafferty picked up an help to stretch his helper streak (0-3–3) to 3 video games. The additional time defeat pushed the Griffins’ dropping streak to 5 outings, which is tied for the season excessive. This was the fifth assembly in opposition to Cleveland out of seven video games that entered additional time.
This Date in Griffins Historical past
2006: Eric Manlow places a cheerful finish to a team-record 14 shootout rounds in a 3-2 overcome Manitoba.
Roster Shake Up
– March 8—D Radim Simek assigned by Detroit
– March 9—F Jonatan Berggren recalled by Detroit
– March 11—F Tim Gettinger re-signed to a one-year contract extension by Detroit
– March 14—F Austin Czarnik recalled by Detroit; F Trenton Bliss recalled from Toledo (ECHL) by Grand Rapids
No Want for Further Our bodies
Final season, the Griffins used a franchise-record 49 gamers, which included a franchise-record eight goaltenders. The 49 gamers final marketing campaign beat out the earlier file of 48 set throughout the 2021-22 season. Nevertheless, it has been a lot totally different this season, because the Griffins haven’t had a single skater compete on an expert tryout. Grand Rapids has used simply 4 goaltenders this season, with two of them suiting up for only one recreation (John Lethemon & Ville Husso). The workforce has additionally used simply 28 skaters all through the season, a drastic change from the 49 and 48 gamers used previously two seasons, respectively.
Let’s Not Get Too Down on Ourselves
The Griffins noticed their 18-game level streak (13-0-3-2 from Jan. 13-March 2) come to an finish final Monday in Cleveland, which was one recreation shy of tying the franchise file of 19 contests (Feb. 4-March 20, 2015 15-0-3-1) and is the second-longest run within the AHL this season. After final weekend’s video games, the Griffins have now dropped 5 straight (0-2-2-1), which is tied for the season-high dropping skid (Oct. 20-Nov. 1). The Griffins’ energetic 14-game residence level streak (9-0-3-2) is the second-longest run within the AHL this season and the workforce’s first because it earned a degree in 15 straight video games at Van Andel Area from Nov. 11, 2015-Jan. 17, 2016 (14-0-1-0). Grand Rapids’ nine-game street level streak (8-0-0-1) from Dec. 27-Feb. 17 was their longest since an 11-game run (9-0-1-1) from Jan. 29-March 12, 2015 and is tied for the second longest within the AHL this season. The Griffins have secured at the least a degree in 27 of their final 32 contests (19-5-5-3). The Griffins are 18-4-4-3 since Christmas and have had a trio of successful streaks of 5 or extra video games in the identical season for the primary time since 2013-14. Grand Rapids has factors in 20 of its final 23 video games (15-4-3-2) inside Van Andel Area and has factors in 11 of its previous 14 street appearances (8-3-2-1). The Griffins have been stable at residence with a 17-6-4-2 mark, outscoring their opponents 89-69. Grand Rapids has battled on the street this season, incomes factors in 10 of its final 12 video games to maneuver to 10-11-3-2 away from residence.
Younger Weapons
Rookie forwards Marco Kasper and Carter Mazur have had promising begins to their skilled careers. Mazur has eight factors in his final seven video games (4-4—8) and ranks second on the workforce with 31 factors (15-16—31) in 48 contests. The Jackson, Michigan, native’s 15 targets are tied for eighth amongst first-year gamers within the AHL and his six power-play targets are tied for sixth. Mazur has three multi-point outings in his final six video games and now has 13 factors (5-8—13) in his final 17 video games from Jan. 26-March 12. Mazur was taken with the seventieth total choose by Detroit within the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and competed for Crew USA on the 2023 World Championship this previous summer season. Kasper, who was named the AHL Participant of the Week on Jan. 22, has three targets and 4 factors in his final seven outings and is tied for fifth on the roster with 26 factors (10-16—26) in 54 outings. Since Jan. 19, the 19-year-old has 12 factors (7-5—12) in 20 appearances. Kasper was chosen with the eighth total choose by Detroit within the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut as an 18-year-old final season.
New Child on the Block
Final Friday on the NHL Commerce Deadline, the Detroit Purple Wings acquired defenseman Radim Simek and a seventh-round choose within the 2024 NHL Entry Draft from the San Jose Sharks in trade for left wing Klim Kostin. Simek was then assigned to the Griffins later that afternoon. Simek, who was the captain of the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda, has 16 factors (4-12—16), 29 penalty minutes and a plus-four score in 40 video games this season. The 6-foot, 200-pound defenseman has spent simply three campaigns within the AHL with the Barracuda (2017-18, 2019-20, 2023-24), amassing 45 factors (11-34—45), 49 penalty minutes and a plus-12 score in 109 contests. Simek has spent 5 campaigns within the NHL with San Jose from 2018-23 and has suited up for 209 contests with 29 factors (7-22—29) and 74 penalty minutes.
Matty Ice
On Feb. 21, Matt Luff made his season debut after rehabbing an damage suffered in coaching camp that stored him sidelined for the primary 45 video games of the season. After being held scoreless in his first 5 outings, Luff went on to file a degree in three straight video games from March 2-8 and now has 5 factors (2-3—5) in his final 5 contests. Final season, the 26-year-old posted 25 factors (8-17—25) and 6 penalty minutes in 28 video games with the Griffins on high of manufacturing 4 factors (2-2—4) in 19 outings with the Detroit Purple Wings. The Windsor, Ontario, native has 150 factors (59-91—150) in 207 profession AHL outings from 2016-24.
Sea Bass Fishing
Sebastian Cossa was named the Howies Hockey Tape/AHL Participant of the Week on Feb. 26 when he posted a 2-0-0 file with one shutout to associate with a 1.00 GAA and a .970 save share from Feb. 21-25. On Feb. 21, the 21-year-old collected his first AHL shutout with 28 saves in a 1-0 victory over the Texas Stars, lifting Grand Rapids previous Texas into second place within the Central Division and turning into simply the third Griffins rookie to file a shutout during the last 9 seasons. Cossa went on to cease 37 photographs on Feb. 25, together with 14 within the third interval, to assist the Griffins snap Milwaukee’s 19-game successful streak and prolong Grand Rapids’ level streak to fifteen video games (11-0-2-2). Cossa received a team-high 4 straight video games from Jan. 19-Feb. 2 and is presently on a 12-game level streak (7-0-5) from Jan. 19-March 12. Since coming back from the vacation break on Dec. 27, Cossa has a 9-1-5 ledger with a 2.09 targets in opposition to common and a .922 save share. The previous 15th total choose by the Purple Wings within the 2021 NHL Entry Draft has allowed greater than two targets simply 5 occasions in his previous 15 video games. By way of 28 contests, Cossa is 13-7-8 with one shutout to associate with a 2.60 targets in opposition to common and a .910 save share. Cossa ranks eighth amongst rookie goaltenders in targets in opposition to common and seventh in save share.
Clutch Hutch
Veteran goaltender Michael Hutchinson has been stable for the Griffins this 12 months, posting a 13-10-3 mark with one shutout in 27 video games to associate with a 2.79 targets in opposition to common and a .898 save share. The 33-year-old loved a seven-game level streak from Jan. 13-March 1 (5-0-2). Since coming back from the vacation break on Dec. 27, Hutchinson has collected an 8-3-2 file with a .902 save share and a 2.62 targets in opposition to common. The Barrie, Ontario, native has an all-time AHL file of 119-81-23 with a 2.61 targets in opposition to common and a .915 save share. Hutchinson has additionally appeared in 154 NHL contests, displaying a 2.94 targets in opposition to common and a .902 save share.
Crunch Time
The Griffins have excelled throughout the third interval of video games this season, as they’ve outscored their opponents 67-47 within the last body and outshot their opponents 521-486. Grand Rapids has six wins when trailing after the second interval, which is tied for second within the AHL. The Griffins even have a 35-24 shot benefit in additional time this marketing campaign. Nevertheless, Grand Rapids is simply 5-11 in video games determined previous regulation (3-7 in OT, 2-4 in SO).
Thou Shall Not Cross
The Griffins’ protection has been a lot improved because the vacation break, permitting a median of two.52 targets per recreation from Dec. 27-March 12. Previous to the vacation break, Grand Rapids allowed 3.31 targets per recreation from Oct. 13-Dec. 20. The Griffins have allowed a complete of 159 targets by means of 55 video games this season, which ranks second within the Central Division and eighth within the AHL. Grand Rapids additionally ranks eleventh on the circuit with 2.89 targets in opposition to per recreation, which is second within the division trailing solely Milwaukee (2.65). Netminders Sebastian Cossa (2.60) and Michael Hutchinson (2.79) every possess a targets in opposition to common under 3.00. Defensemen Wyatt Newpower (+10), Antti Tuomisto (+4), Albert Johansson (+4), Radim Simek (+4), Simon Edvinsson (+4), William Wallinder (+4), Eemil Viro (+2) and Brogan Rafferty (+1) all have a constructive plus-minus score.
Johnny Bravo
Jonatan Berggren is on an energetic six-game level streak (3-5—8) from Feb. 24-March 4 and has 22 factors (11-11—22) in his final 19 video games from Jan. 13-March 4. Berggren additionally has 28 factors (12-16—28) in his final 24 outings and 31 factors (14-17—31) in his final 27 contests from Dec. 15-March 4. The 23-year-old is now tied for nineteenth within the AHL with 46 factors (19-27—46) and likewise leads the roster in factors (19-27—46), assists (27) and targets (19) by means of 43 appearances this season. The Enkoping, Sweden, product grew to become the seventh-fastest participant to achieve 100 factors as a Griffin, doing so in simply his 106th recreation on Jan. 26 in opposition to Belleville. Berggren has a mixed 117 factors (44-73—117) in 120 profession AHL appearances from 2021-24, accumulating an help throughout his a hundredth recreation as a Griffin on Jan. 10 in opposition to Milwaukee. Throughout his rookie season with the Griffins in 2021-22, Berggren broke Grand Rapids’ rookie single-season scoring file with 64 factors (21-43—64) in 70 video games, 5 extra factors than the earlier file held by Teemu Pulkkinen (2013-14). Berggren was recalled by Detroit final Saturday.
Oh, It’s You Once more
The Griffins are in second place within the Central Division with a 27-17-7-4 file and 65 factors, 18 factors away from a playoff spot. Within the last 17 video games of the common season, Grand Rapids will compete in opposition to the Central Division 16 occasions, with its solely recreation exterior of the division coming in opposition to Cleveland. The Griffins have finished effectively in opposition to their division rivals, as they’re 21-10-3-2 (.653) with a plus-16 scoring margin in opposition to the Central Division. Grand Rapids is undefeated this season in opposition to Iowa (4-0-0-0). Chicago, Iowa and Rockford will all be the Griffins’ most frequent opponents down the stretch, as there are nonetheless 4 conferences remaining in opposition to every franchise.
Pucks on Web
The Griffins have finished effectively when outshooting their opponents this season with a 14-3-4-4 (.720) file in comparison with a 12-13-3-0 (.482) mark when they’re being outshot. Grand Rapids is 16-5-3-4 (.696) when producing at the least 30 photographs and 16-8-5-2 (.629) when it retains its opponents between 20-29 photographs. The Griffins rank seventeenth within the AHL with 29.9 photographs per recreation, whereas they concede the seventh fewest within the league at 28.5. The Griffins are averaging 33.2 photographs per recreation of their final 14 outings, whereas giving up a median of 28.9.
Below Three is Key
Unsurprisingly, the Griffins have finished effectively in video games the place they’ve scored 4 or extra targets, going 19-1-2-0 (.909). Though, when scoring three targets or much less the workforce is simply 8-16-5-4 (.379). Grand Rapids has surpassed the four-goal mark in 14 of its final 32 outings. On the flip aspect, Grand Rapids is simply 7-14-7-3 (.387) when permitting at the least three targets, in comparison with a 20-3-0-1 mark (.854) when permitting two targets or much less. Of their final 32 appearances, the Griffins have allowed three or extra targets 17 occasions.
AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Sebastian Cossa—2.60 GAA locations eighth amongst rookie netminders, .910 save share ranks seventh amongst rookie goaltenders
Simon Edvinsson—Eight targets are tied for twelfth amongst defensemen, three game-winners are tied for fourth amongst defensemen
Carter Mazur—Six power-play targets are tied for sixth amongst rookies, 15 targets are tied for eighth amongst rookies
Antti Tuomisto—4 targets are tied for tenth amongst rookie defensemen, one power-play objective is tied for eighth amongst rookie defensemen, two game-winners are tied for second amongst rookie defensemen, plus-four score is tied for 14th amongst rookie defensemen
William Wallinder—Three targets are tied for fifteenth amongst rookie defensemen, plus-four score is tied for 14th amongst rookie defensemen
Milestones
On Tuesday, Matt Luff bagged his one hundred and fiftieth level within the AHL. Albert Johansson suited up for his a hundredth recreation as a Griffin final Saturday.
Zach Aston-Reese—One level from 150 as a professional
Taro Hirose—Two targets from 50 as a Griffin
Albert Johansson—Two video games from 250 as a professional
Joel L’Esperance—Two video games from 300 within the AHL
Elmer Soderblom—One objective from 50 as a professional, two video games from 200 as a professional
Tyler Spezia—One help from 50 as a Griffin
Dan Watson—One win from 300 as a head coach
Photograph by Mark Newman/Griffins
