Griffins Game #17 * Road Game #9 * AHL Game #257

Season Series: 0-3-1-0 Home Series: 0-3-1-0 Road Series: 0-0-0-0
All-Time Series: 90-74-2-7-3 All-Time Home Series: 44-35-2-5-2 All-Time Road Series: 46-39-0-3-1

Griffins vs. Wolves
Fifth of 12 meetings overall, first of six at Allstate Arena…Grand Rapids has faced Chicago 176 times in the regular season dating back to their IHL days, the second-most of any Griffins opponent (Milwaukee, 195)…The Griffins went 3-7-0-0 against the Wolves a season ago and possess a 19-25-1-1 record against Chicago over the last five years...In the past five seasons, the Griffins are 10-11-0-1 against the Wolves on away ice and are being outscored 74-70...Grand Rapids has held a winning record at Chicago twice in the past five campaigns (2019-20, 2016-17)...Grand Rapids is winless in the past five games against Chicago and has been outscored 23-7...Both Grand Rapids’ (73.3%, 29th) and Chicago’s (79.6%, 20th) penalty kill percentage rank in the bottom half of the AHL. In addition, the power play for each franchise (Griffins 16.4%, 24th; Wolves 18.1%, 18th) also places near the bottom of the circuit…Chicago (21-9-1-2, 45 pts, 0.682) won the Central Division in 2020-21 during the shortened, no-playoffs season...Kyle Criscuolo paces the Griffins against Chicago with four points (1-3—4) in three games while Riley Barber is close behind with three scores (2-1—3)...Chicago’s Andrew Poturalski has been Grand Rapids’ nemesis this season, as the forward has 12 points (5—7—12) in four games...As part of his 11-year pro career, Griffins coach Ben Simon registered 87 points (37-50—87) in 196 games with the Wolves from 2001-03 and 2004-05 and was a part of their first Calder Cup title in 2002.

Last Time Out
The Chicago Wolves scored five unanswered goals in the third period on Friday, including three in the final 1:36, to take a stunning 5-3 victory over the Griffins at Van Andel Arena. Grand Rapids is now winless in its last five games against the Wolves dating to last season. The result spoiled a strong early showing by the Griffins, who saw Kyle Criscuolo extend his goal streak to three games as part of a three-point night and Jared McIsaac potted his first two goals as a pro. Criscuolo’s three-game goal streak tied Jonatan Berggren (Oct. 30-Nov. 5) for the longest on the team this season. Criscuolo has totaled eight points (3-5—8) in those contests. Calvin Pickard made his fifth straight start in net and ninth consecutive appearance, both personal highs as a Griffin.

Roster Shake Up
The Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday signed forward Matt Berry to a professional tryout. Berry comes to Grand Rapids from the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. The Canton, Mich., native has amassed 24 points (9-15—24) and 22 penalty minutes in 15 games with Toledo this year. His 24 points are tied for second in the ECHL among forwards while his 15 assists and plus-16 rating places first. Berry has logged five multi-point outings this season, including two four-point nights on Nov. 14 and 21. The sixth-year pro last played in the AHL during the 2018-19 season when he posted 18 points (4-14—18) in 42 contests with the San Diego Gulls. The former Michigan State Spartan has 62 AHL games to his name with 22 scores (7-15—22).

Hot Streaks
After a 2-4-0-1 start to the season, the Griffins have posted a 5-2-2-0 record in the past nine games. In addition, Grand Rapids is currently enjoying a six-game road point streak with a 4-0-1-1 ledger.

Fit for a King
Former Rockford IceHogs coach Derek King was named interim head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 6, joining 11 other former Griffins players or coaches currently behind an NHL bench. He is one of four Griffins alumni serving as a head coach in the NHL.

This Date in Griffins History
2002: In the first clash between the current and former affiliates of the Ottawa Senators, Binghamton becomes the first team to defeat Grand Rapids since Oct. 24, taking a 2-1 overtime win against the visiting Griffins on Thanksgiving night. Jeff Ulmer, one of 12 Senators who played for Grand Rapids in 2001-02, notches the game-winner.

Cris-COOL-o
After being sidelined in the first four games due to an injury, center Kyle Criscuolo has made up for his lost time with 11 points (5-6—11) in just as many outings. The Harvard University graduate logged a two-game point streak (1-1—2) from Oct. 30-31 and surpassed that mark with an active three-game point streak (3-5—8) from Nov. 20-26. He has posted back-to-back three-point (1-2—3) nights this week against Milwaukee and Chicago. Criscuolo’s current three-game goal streak ties Jonatan Berggren (Oct. 30-Nov. 5) for the longest on the team this season. The sixth-year pro ranks fourth on the roster with 11 points.

High-Flying Hirose
After leading the Griffins in assists a year ago with 23, Taro Hirose has picked off right where he left off as he has bagged 12 helpers in the opening 16 games, which is a team high and tied for eighth in the league. Seven assists have come on the power play, which is tied for fifth in the AHL. Hirose saw his six-game point streak (2-7—9) from Oct. 30-Nov. 13 come to an end on Nov. 17 against Chicago. Hirose’s 16 points (4- 12—16) this season pace the Griffins and are tied for 19th in the league.

Calvin’s University
Goaltender Calvin Pickard is off to a fast start, as he has allowed two goals or less in seven of his 13 appearances this season. Pickard recorded his first shutout of the season and fourth as a Griffin on Nov. 12 against Manitoba, moving him into a tie for 10th place in franchise history with Jani Hurme, Martin Prusek, and Eddie Pasquale. The 10-year pro currently ranks 12th in the AHL with a 2.44 goals against average while his 0.925 save percentage is tied for fourth. Pickard played in just nine games in North America a season ago due to being assigned to Detroit’s taxi squad for much of the year. The Moncton, New Brunswick, native also spent some time with Vienna in the ICEHL last season, logging six games and a 1.96 goals against average.

Jonny on the Spot
Rookie Jonatan Berggren saw his six-game point streak (3-4—7 from Oct. 30-Nov. 13) come to a close on Nov. 17 against Chicago. The Uppsala, Sweden, native bagged his first AHL goal and two-point (1-1—2) night on Oct. 30, which began a three-game goal scoring streak for the right winger. The forward recorded his first two-goal night in the AHL on Nov. 20 at Texas. The former second-round draft choice notched his 50th pro assist on Nov. 12 against Manitoba and is tied for seventh among league rookies with six goals while his 12 points (6-6—12) are tied for 10th among first-year players. Berggren’s six goals paces the team as the forward has tallied three goals in the past three contests.

Timmy Turner
Veteran Turner Elson has already surpassed his goal count (4) from the 2020-21 season, as he has totaled five goals in the opening 16 games this year. The Edmonton, Alberta, native began the campaign with a goal during the season opener but then was held scoreless in the next four outings. The nine-year pro has cranked it up as of late with three goals in his last seven contests. In addition, the left winger has amassed seven points (4-3—7) in his last nine games, including a three-game point streak (1-2—3) from Nov. 19-24. Elson’s five goals are tied for second on the roster while his 10 points (5-5—10) are tied for fifth.

Return of Riley
Although it was a slow start to this year, Riley Barber rattled off a six-game point streak (4-5—9) from Oct. 30-Nov. 13. His 13 points (5-8—13) this season place second on the roster while his four power play goals are tied for first in the AHL. Barber led the Griffins in goals (20), points (34) and points per game (1.06) a season ago. His scoring pace equaled a 48-goal, 81-point clip in a regular 76-game AHL season. Barber also ranked second in the league for goals, just one shy of Cooper Marody (who played seven more games), and was named a Central Division AHL All-Star. Six game-winning goals tied a career best while his four-game goal streak from Feb. 26 through March 11 also matched a career high. The forward added seven multi-point outings out of 32, including a career-high four points (2-2—4) on May 7 against Chicago. Barber posted a nine-game point streak (8-5—13) from Feb. 5-March 11 that was the longest ever to start a player’s Griffins career as well as the longest from the start of a Griffins season.

Rarified Air
Brian Lashoff’s 526 games played for the Griffins ranks first among active AHL players who have spent their entire AHL career with the same club and seventh in league history among one-team players. Of the players ahead of him on that list, the most recent – and, coincidentally, the record-holder – last played during the 1970-71 season (Bill Needham of the Cleveland Barons, 981 games played). Lashoff overtook Pete Kapusta (Providence Reds 1946-55) for the No. 7 spot on Oct. 27 against Chicago and is now five games behind No. 6 Roger DeJordy (Hershey Bears 1962-70). Lashoff is still 129 games away from breaking the Griffins’ all-time games played record, held by Travis Richards with 655 games (1995-2006).

Power Outage
Following a 2019-20 campaign in which they finished sixth in the AHL’s power play rankings at 20.9%, the Griffins exceeded that mark in 2020-21 with a power play conversion rate of 21.5%, the fifth best on the circuit. This season began just like the past years but the power play has stalled as of late, cashing in on just two of its last 27 opportunities (0.07%). Grand Rapids was held scoreless in 17 consecutive power play chances before it broke the drought on Wednesday with a goal on the man advantage against Milwaukee. Through 16 games the power play is converting on 16.4% of its opportunities, which ranks 24th in the AHL. The penalty kill has not been any better, placing third to last in the AHL at 73.3%. Through the 16 games this season, the penalty kill has allowed at least one goal in 12 contests.

AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Riley Barber—Four power play goals are tied for first
Jonatan Berggren—Six goals are tied for seventh among league rookies, 12 points (6-6—12) are tied for 10th among first-year players
Taro Hirose—16 points (4-12—16) are tied for 19th, 12 assists are tied for eighth, seven power play assists are tied for fifth
Ryan Murphy—Two goals are tied for 18th among blueliners
Wyatt Newpower—30 penalty minutes are second among rookies and eighth among league defensemen
Calvin Pickard—2.44 goals against average ranks 12th, 0.925 save percentage is tied for fourth
Dominik Shine—56 penalty minutes places second
Luke Witkowski—39 penalty minutes are third among league blueliners

Milestones
Jon Martin picked up his 50th assist as a pro on Nov. 19 at Texas and Tyler Spezia notched the same milestone on Nov. 24 at Milwaukee. Spezia also skated in his 150th game as a pro on Nov. 26 against Chicago. Other upcoming milestones include:
Riley Barber—Three points from 50 as a Griffin
Kyle Criscuolo—One point from 150 as a pro
Turner Elson—Four assists from 100 in the AHL, five goals from 50 as a Griffin
Brian Lashoff—Three assists from 100 as a pro
Brett McKenzie—Three goals from 50 as a pro
Calvin Pickard—One game from 50 as a Griffin and 250 in the AHL
Luke Witkowski—Three points from 50 in the AHL, one assist from 50 as a pro

Photo by Mark Newman/Griffins