Griffins Game #8 * Home Game #4 * AHL Game #114

Season Series: 0-1-0-1 Home Series: 0-0-0-0 Road Series: 0-1-0-1
All-Time Series: 30-16-2-4 All-Time Home Series: 16-6-0-3 All-Time Road Series: 14-10-2-1

Griffins vs. Stars
Third of eight meetings overall, first of four at Van Andel Arena…The Stars took the first two meetings of the season last weekend in Texas, winning 4-3 in a shootout on Friday and 3-0 on Saturday…Grand Rapids has won the last three matchups at Van Andel Arena and has points in five of the last six in West Michigan (4-1-0-1)…The Griffins have points in six of the last eight meetings overall (5-2-0-1)…Matt Puempel (1-1—2) and Joe Hicketts (0-2—2) lead the team in the season series.

Last Time Out (Friday): Moose 1 at Griffins 4 - Recap
Grand Rapids has won 12 of the last 14 regular season meetings between the teams...The Griffins are 19-6 against the Moose since Manitoba rejoined the AHL in 2015-16...Matt Puempel notched his first career AHL hat trick and the first three-goal game by a Griffin since Wade Megan on Feb. 15, 2019 vs. San Antonio...Calvin Pickard turned aside 36 shots to earn his second straight win...Rookie Joe Veleno netted his first pro goal at 18:35 of the third period while on the power play...Jonathan Ericsson collected his first point (assist) as a Griffin since March 1, 2009 at TOR.

Status Update
The Griffins are 2-0 in their four-game homestand and stand 4-2-0-1 overall. Grand Rapids continues its home stretch tonight against the Texas Stars before finishing up the run next Wednesday when the Central Division-leading Iowa Wild come to town.

Isn’t That Special
The Griffins are third in the AHL in power play efficiency at 28.1% (9-for-32) and have scored in five of seven games, including three multi-goal outings. Chris Terry (1-3—4) and Joe Hicketts (0-4—4) tie for the team lead in power play points. The penalty kill, which started 5-for-12, has fought off its last 13 in a row spanning to the second period on Oct. 18 at Texas.

Puemped Up
In his seventh year as a pro, Matt Puempel registered his first AHL hat trick in last night’s victory. His only other pro hat trick came as a member of the New York Rangers on Dec. 29, 2016 at Arizona. The former first-round draft pick by Ottawa in 2011, Puempel notched his 50th goal as a Griffin in his 126th game and ties Ed Patterson (1997-98; 1999-01) for 22nd on the franchise’s all-time goal scoring chart with 51.

Pick-ing His Shots
Manitoba’s goal at 2:27 of the third period last night snapped Calvin Pickard’s streak where he had made 66 saves over a 125:21 span dating to the third period at Texas on Oct. 18. In his last two starts combined, Pickard has stopped 62 of 63 shots.

Adding to the List
Givani Smith became the 180th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL when he made his debut with the Red Wings last night in their 2-0 loss against the Buffalo Sabres at Little Caesars Arena. Smith logged 11:01 of ice time and had two shots. A second-round selection, 46th overall, in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by Detroit, Smith shows four points (2-2—4) in four games with the Griffins this season.

Feeling at Home
As a four-game homestand is underway, the Griffins are playing five contests at Van Andel Arena in the month of October for the second time in the last 10 seasons (2017-18).

Back Up, Terr
Chris Terry paces the team in both points (9) and assists (6) and his three multi-point outings tie for the most. In his 11th-year pro, Terry led the Griffins with 61 points last season and the most recent player to lead the Griffins in scoring in back-to-back seasons was Andy Miele in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

All That Ras
Second-year pro Michael Rasmussen ranks third on the team lead in points with seven (2-5—7). In his short Griffins career, the ninth overall selection in the 2017 draft is averaging a point per game with nine (4-5—9) in nine.

First Things First
Grand Rapids’ roster currently features four recent Detroit first-round draft picks (Moritz Seider 2019, Filip Zadina 2018, Joe Veleno 2018, Michael Rasmussen 2017). Four of the Red Wings’ last six first rounders are on the west side of the state, with the exceptions being Dennis Cholowski (2016), who made Detroit’s roster following training camp, and Evgeny Svechnikov (2015), who was recalled on Tuesday. From 2002-15, the Griffins had only seven Detroit first rounders total suit up for them: Jakub Kindl (2005-11; 14-15), Niklas Kronwall (2003-06), Dylan Larkin (2015 playoffs only), Anthony Mantha (2014-15), Tom McCollum (2009-15), Riley Sheahan (2011-14) and Brendan Smith (2010-13). The Griffins’ opening night lineup had five Detroit first rounders in it, far surpassing the previous record of two. The Griffins had never seen more than three Red Wings first rounders suit up for the club at any point in the same season until this year. Adding in Matt Puempel (24th overall by Ottawa in 2011) and Dylan McIlrath (10th overall by the New York Rangers in 2010), Grand Rapids’ roster boasts six former first-round draft selections.

Living Lars
Filip Larsson became the fifth Griffins rookie goalie in the team’s AHL era (since 2001-02) to pick up the win in his AHL debut after his 24-save performance on Oct. 12 at Rockford, joining Petr Mrazek (Nov. 3, 2012 at Texas), Tom McCollum (Oct. 3, 2009 at Peoria), Jimmy Howard (Oct. 28, 2005 vs. Iowa) and Simon Lajeunesse (Dec. 12, 2001 at Utah).

This Date in Griffins History
2002: Michel Picard’s two goals and one assist give him 250 points as a Griffin and power the club to a 6-2 win at Syracuse.
2004: The Griffins kick off a franchise-record nine-game homestand with a 4-0 drubbing of Rochester, giving the team its first-ever 5-0 start. Joey MacDonald makes 20 saves to match Mathieu Chouinard’s individual-record 5-0 start from 2000-01 and claim the tenth shutout of his Griffins career.

Griffins in General
Grand Rapids is in the franchise’s 24th overall season of play, 19th as a member of the American Hockey League and 18th as the primary affiliate of the 11-time Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings…Grand Rapids is 969-658-27-58-113 (0.585) in the regular season since 1996-97 to go along with 17 playoff appearances, seven division titles and two Calder Cups (2017, 2013)…The Griffins have earned 40 or more wins and accumulated 90 or more points in six of the last seven seasons…Grand Rapids has qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs in a franchise-record seven consecutive seasons and advanced to at least the second round on five occasions…The Griffins’ 8-5 season-opening win at Chicago on Oct. 5 marked the club’s 750th win in the AHL…Grand Rapids’ 309 regular season wins since the 2012-13 campaign are second behind Toronto’s 323 and the Griffins’ 670 points in that span are third, trailing Toronto (699) and Providence (671)…Since the affiliation began in 2002-03, 90 Griffins have gone on to play for the Red Wings.

Milestones Within Reach
Brian Lashoff – needs one point to reach 100 as a Griffin/in the AHL
Chris Terry – needs five assists to reach 300 in the AHL
Matthew Ford – needs two goals to reach 200 in the AHL

Time: 7 p.m. at Van Andel Arena (doors open at 6 p.m.).

Concession Specials for Remaining October Home Games*: Fans will enjoy nearly a dozen deeply discounted concession items from 6 p.m. through the conclusion of each game (while supplies last; stand locations vary). Specials include:

• $1 Items: Small Pepsi drink, soft-serve ice cream, popcorn, pretzel, cotton candy, churro;
• $2 Items: Hot dog, pizza slice, chips & cheese;
• $3 Taco Trio: Three street tacos, available at the Mex-To-Go stand located at section 126 (regularly $6.50);
• $6 Burger Basket: Cheeseburger with fries, available at stands located on the lower level and sections 104, 108 and 122 on the concourse (regularly $8.50).

* No alcohol sales permitted for these games

Go Orange Night presented by Kids’ Food Basket: The Griffins will wear special Go Orange jerseys and stations will be set up around the concourse as fans are encouraged to help Kids’ Food Basket reach its community goal of having 100,000 brown bags decorated. A West Michigan-based organization that services approximately 8,800 children across three counties, Kids’ Food Basket nourishes children to reach their full potential.

Go Orange Ticket Pack: Through this online offer, specially priced lower level center ice seating to the Go Orange game is just $26 per ticket or lower level faceoff seating is $22 per ticket – both a savings of $3 per ticket. Proceeds from every Go Orange Pack purchased will benefit Kids’ Food Basket. Tickets are available at griffinshockey.com/kfb.

Kids' Food Basket Food Drive presented by Michigan First Credit Union: As part of Michigan First Credit Union's "First for Good" community initiative, fans are encourage to bring food items in support of the Kids' Food Basket Sack Supper program. Requested items include: fruit cups/pouches, dried fruit, toasted oat cereal, pretzel twists, goldfish crackers and cheez-it crackers. Team members from Michigan First Credit Union will be in the arena's main lobby to collect donations.

Post-Game Jersey Auction: After the game, fans can bid on the Go Orange jerseys that will be worn by the Griffins during the game, with proceeds to benefit Kids’ Food Basket. The jersey auction will take place off the Griffins’ bench in sections 121 and 122.

Friends & Family 4-Packs presented by Big E’s Sports Grill: Available for all Saturday games, each pack includes four tickets and $20 in concession cash for a great low price. Visit griffinshockey.com/f4p or call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2. Continuing this season, fans may use their concession cash to purchase healthy choice menu options at the stand located outside of section 126, including low-fat yogurt, apples, oranges, granola bars and smoothies.

Photo at top by Texas Stars