Griffins Game #34 * Home Game #19 * AHL Game #370

Season Series: 0-0-0-0 Home Series: 0-0-0-0 Road Series: 0-0-0-0
All-Time Series: 32-31-3-2 All-Time Home Series: 19-14-1-1 All-Time Road Series: 13-17-2-1

Griffins vs. Marlies
First of four meetings overall, first of two at Van Andel Arena…This will be the first meeting between the two franchise’s since Nov. 9, 2019 when Toronto defeated the Griffins 5-2 in West Michigan...The 2021-22 campaign will be the first time since the 2015-16 season that Toronto and Grand Rapids will play more than two games...The Griffins and Marlies had met for 11 consecutive seasons from 2005-16 before taking a three-year hiatus (2016-19)…Grand Rapids’ last win against the Marlies was back on Nov. 8, 2019...The Griffins are 1-5-0-0 against Toronto since the 2015-16 season and have been outscored 26-12...The Marlies are 8-7-1-0 on the road this year and hold a 6-3-1-0 record in the past 10 games...Grand Rapids is 8-6-3-1 at home this season and are 6-2-1-1 in its past 10 outings...Toronto ranks in the middle of the AHL in power play percentage at 19.0% (T15th) while its penalty kill is tied for 17th at 81.1%...Calvin Pickard appeared in 33 regular season games with the Marlies in 2017-18, posting a 21-9-2 record to go along with a 2.31 GAA, a 0.918 save percentage and one shutout…Pickard helped Toronto win the 2018 Calder Cup after playing in three postseason games and showing a 1-0-0 record, a 1.00 GAA and a 0.956 save mark…Ben Simon served as an assistant coach with the Marlies during the 2014-15 season (40-27-9-0 record).

Last Time Out
Rocco Grimaldi’s hat trick halted Grand Rapids’ eight-game home point streak (5-0-2-1), as the Griffins fell to the Milwaukee Admirals 5-2 on Saturday at Van Andel Arena. The defeat also ended a six-game point streak (5-0-1-0) versus the Admirals. After the 200^th overall meeting on Saturday, the Griffins now hold a 107-70-7-8-8 record over Milwaukee. Muskegon, Mich., native Justin Abdelkader made his season debut tonight, setting the new standard for longest time span between Griffins appearances at 4,305 days, or 11 years, nine months and 12 days (April 10, 2010 to Jan. 22, 2022). Gemel Smith also made his season debut, logging an even plus-minus rating. Matt Berry tallied his first goal as a Griffin in the contest while Dennis Yan joined him with his sixth tally of the season.

Roster Movement
- Jan. 21, 2022—F Justin Abdelkader signed to a PTO
- Jan. 22, 2022—F Gemel Smith assigned by Detroit; F Kyle Criscuolo and D Luke Witkowski recalled to Detroit’s taxi squad
- Jan. 23, 2022—F Kyle Criscuolo, D Luke Witkowski and G Calvin Pickard reassigned by Detroit
- Jan. 24, 2022—G Kaden Fulcher recalled to Detroit's taxi squad.

Winning Resolution
The Griffins have gotten off to a strong start to ring in 2022, as the team has 12 points (5-2-1-1) in the opening nine games of the new year. The 12 points in nine games this month have already surpassed the Griffins’ point total in October (7 GP, 5 pts.) and December (7 GP, 7 pts.) and ties their November mark (10 GP, 12pts.). The Griffins enjoyed a six-game point streak from Dec. 22-Jan. 8, which was the longest since an identical 4-0-2-0 run from March 3-26, 2021. Grand Rapids now has points in nine of its last 11 games (6-2-2-1).

Busy Bodies
The Griffins have competed in 32 games over the first 99 days of the season between Oct. 15-Jan. 21. The calendar for Grand Rapids intensifies in the second half of the campaign, as the club is scheduled to play 43 contests over 96 days from Jan. 22-April 28. The Griffins are no stranger to a busy workload, as Grand Rapids appeared in 16 games in 30 days to conclude the 2020-21 season.

Welcome Home, Abby
Veteran left wing Justin Abdelkader signed a professional tryout on Friday with the Griffins. The 14-year-pro competed with the Griffins for two seasons from 2008-10 before moving on to the Detroit Red Wings, where he ultimately played parts of 13 seasons. The Muskegon, Mich., native became the first West Michigan native to suit up for Grand Rapids when he made his AHL debut on Oct. 11, 2008. Abdelkader skated in 109 games for the Griffins and totaled 76 points (35-41—76) and 188 penalty minutes, earning AHL All-Rookie Team honors during the 2008-09 season when he logged 52 points (24-28—52) in 76 contests. Abdelkader earned a full-time roster spot with Detroit in the 2010-11 season and concluded his NHL career with 739 games, 252 points (106-146—252) and 608 penalty minutes. The left winger wore the “A” on his Red Wings jersey from 2016-20 while also captaining Team USA at two World Championships (2014, 2021).

Going with the Flow
It has been a busy season thus far for head coach Ben Simon and general manager Pat Verbeek, as players on professional tryouts have been plentiful for the Griffins this year. Ten PTO skaters have seen action so far this season and have totaled 78 games played; both numbers surpass any full season since Simon joined the team as an assistant coach in 2015-16. On average, 11.8% of Grand Rapids’ lineup has been tryout players, yet the team sits in third place in the Central Division with a 0.545 winning percentage through Jan. 23.

Huffin’ and Puffin’
So far this season, the Griffins are 2-9-1-2 (0.250) against the Central Division-leading Chicago Wolves and second-place Manitoba Moose. The Griffins picked up their first win against either club since Nov. 12 on Jan. 14. However, Grand Rapids is 13-3-3-0 (0.763) against the rest of the AHL.

This Date in Griffins History
2002: The Griffins and Detroit Red Wings hold a joint press conference at The B.O.B. in downtown Grand Rapids to announce a five-year affiliation agreement (2002-03 to 2006-07). Red Wings GM Ken Holland and assistant GM Jim Nill are present for the announcement, made before an overflow crowd of media and sponsors.

Olympic Bound
Eight former Griffins will represent five different countries at the 2022 Winter Olympics. All three goaltenders from the 2018-19 team that went 38-27-7-4 (0.572) will be headed to Beijing. Valtteri Filppula was selected to represent Finland for the second time, as he claimed a bronze medal at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Tomas Jurco (2012-14; 15-17) also received his second selection onto Team Slovakia after playing for his home country in the 2014 Sochi Games, while competing for the Griffins that season.

Fast Starts
On Dec. 4, the Griffins set a season high for goals in a period when they exploded for five tallies in the opening frame against Rockford. Despite allowing four goals in the past four games in the opening frame, Grand Rapids has still outscored its opponents 17-9 over the opening 20 minutes of its last 14 games. In fact, the team has outscored their opponent 36-27 in the first period this season. The Griffins are 12-4-2-1 (0.711) this season when scoring first and 10-2-0-0 (0.833) when leading after the opening frame. The majority of Grand Rapids’ goals (36, 37.5%) have come during the first period.

Rarified Air
Brian Lashoff’s 538 games played for the Griffins ranks first among active AHL players who have spent their entire AHL career with the same club and fifth 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 Backor (Pittsburgh Hornets 1945-54) for the No. 5 spot on Jan. 14 against Manitoba and is now 32 games behind No. 4 Paul Larivee (Providence Reds 1952-62). Lashoff is still 117 games away from breaking the Griffins’ all-time games played record, held by Travis Richards with 655 games (1995-2006).

Jonny Apple Seed
Rookie Jonatan Berggren completed a four-game point streak (0-5—5) from Dec. 22-Jan. 8, which tied Kyle Criscuolo for the longest assist streak on the team this season. The Uppsala, Sweden, native registered a career-high four assists on Jan. 18 at Cleveland, which set a new single-game high for any Griffin this season. Berggren’s four helpers were one shy of tying the Griffins rookie single-game record of five assists set by Tomas Tatar (11/27/10) and Chris Bala (1/10/02). The Swede has points (1-10—11) in seven of the last eight contests. The former second-round is tied for 17th among league rookies with eight goals. His 27 points (8-19—27) are tied for fifth among first-year players on the circuit and rank second on the Griffins’ roster.

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 20 helpers in the opening 32 games, which is a team high and tied for 11th in the league. Nine assists have come on the power play, which is tied for 10th in the AHL. Hirose logged his second three-point night (2-1—3) of the season on Jan. 1 against Milwaukee, which tied a career high for the forward. In that same game, he also tied a career-best two goals. The former Michigan State Spartan enjoyed a four-game point streak (3-3—6) from Jan. 1-8. Hirose’s 29 points (9-20—29) this season pace the Griffins and are tied for 19th in the league. He was recalled by Detroit on Dec. 15 and made his NHL season debut on Dec. 18 against the Devils.

Murphy’s Law
Reigning AHL defenseman of the year Ryan Murphy has started to find a rhythm offensively for the Griffins. The nine-year pro is sixth on the roster and leads all Grand Rapids’ blueliners with 17 points (6-11—17) in 32 outings. Murphy has climbed up the defensemen leaderboard in the AHL, as his point total is tied for 20th while six goals are tied for fourth. The Aurora, Ontario, native signed a one-year contract with Detroit on July 28, 2021 and is the midst of his inaugural season with the Griffins.

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 25 points (12-13—25) in 24 contests. The Harvard University graduate logged a two-game point streak (1-1—2) from Oct. 30-31 and surpassed that mark with a 10-game point streak (7-11—18) from Nov. 20-Jan. 5, which set a new career high for the forward. His point streak was the 17th-longest in Griffins history. Most recently, Riley Barber had a nine-game point streak from Feb. 5-March 11, 2021 that was the longest to ever start a Griffins season or career. Criscuolo’s 10-game streak also tied for the ninth-longest scoring run in Grand Rapids history and the longest since Matt Puempel’s 11-game tear from Oct. 23-Nov. 15, 2019. The sixth-year pro is third on the roster with 25 points while his 12 goals pace the Griffins. Criscuolo made his NHL season debut with Detroit on Dec. 1 against Seattle, marking his first NHL game since March 5, 2018. Criscuolo then collected his first career NHL point on an assist against New Jersey on Dec. 18.

Calvin’s University
Goaltender Calvin Pickard is off to a fast start, as he has allowed two goals or less in 14 of his 26 appearances this season. The 10-year-pro currently ranks seventh in the AHL with a 2.34 goals against average while his 0.929 save percentage places third. The netminder made his sixth straight start on Nov. 28 and 10th consecutive appearance, both personal highs as a Griffin. In fact, Pickard has seen action in 26 of the 33 games this season, including 16 straight from Nov. 5-Dec. 22. Pickard made his 12th consecutive start on Dec. 22, which set a new career high for the goaltender and was only halfway to Joey MacDonald’s franchise record of 24, set during the 2004-05 season. The goaltender recorded his third assist of the season on Dec. 4 versus Rockford, which set a new AHL career high for assists in a season. Pickard recorded his first shutout of the year 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.

AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Riley Barber—Five power play goals are tied for 11th
Jonatan Berggren—Eight goals are tied for 17th among league rookies, 27 points (8-19—27) are tied for fifth among first-year players
Taro Hirose—20 assists are tied for 11th, nine power play assists are tied for 10th
Ryan Murphy—Six goals are tied for fourth among blueliners
Wyatt Newpower—39 penalty minutes are tied for fifth among rookies
Calvin Pickard—2.34 goals against average ranks seventh, 0.929 save percentage places third, 1541 minutes leads the league and 13 wins are tied for second
Dominik Shine—79 penalty minutes rank second

Milestones
Matt Berry collected his first goal as a Griffin on Jan. 22 against Milwaukee while forwards Justin Abdelkader and Gemel Smith each made their season debuts. Other upcoming milestones include:
Kyle Criscuolo—Five assists from 100 as a pro, six assists from 100 in the AHL
Brett McKenzie—Three goals from 50 as a pro
Ryan Murphy—Four goals from 50 as a pro
Luke Witkowski—One point from 50 in the AHL

Photo by Sam Iannamico/Griffins