Griffins Game #10 * Home Game #5 * AHL Game #154

Season Series: 0-1-0-1 Home Series: 0-0-0-0 Road Series: 0-1-0-1
All-Time Series: 65-34-1-1-8 All-Time Home Series: 35-14-1-1-5 All-Time Road Series: 30-20-0-0-3

Griffins vs. Moose
Third of eight meetings overall, first of four at Van Andel Arena…Since the Moose rejoined the AHL in 2015-16, Grand Rapids is 21-10-0-1 against them and has outscored the Moose 100-73…On home ice in that span, the Griffins are 12-4-0-0 with a 56-38 scoring advantage…Grand Rapids has claimed seven of the last 10 meetings at Van Andel Arena…The Griffins will welcome Manitoba to West Michigan for the first time since Jan. 11, 2020 when Grand Rapids defeated the Moose 6-2...The Griffins are winless in the first two games against Manitoba for the first time since 2015-16…This is the 110th meeting between the two teams, which is tied with Cleveland for the fourth most encounters by any Grand Rapids opponent...Ryan Murphy and Dennis Yan lead the Griffins against the Moose with one goal apiece while Riley Barber, Taro Hirose, Dan Renouf and Dominik Shine each have an assist...Calvin Pickard lives in Winnipeg during the offseason and forward Jon Martin was born there.

Last Week’s Results
The Griffins went 2-0 during their short two-game road trip last weekend. On Friday, Grand Rapids matched up against the Iowa Wild and won a 6-5 overtime thriller. Jonatan Berggren registered the overtime winner, which was his third goal in just as many outings. Riley Barber, Turner Elson and Hayden Verbeek each earned a goal and an assist while Taro Hirose (1-2—3) and Chase Pearson (0-3—3) bagged three-point nights. Pearson’s three helpers set a new career high for the center. Netminder Calvin Pickard made 28 saves and recorded his second straight victory. On Saturday, Grand Rapids won its third game in the last four contests when it defeated Rockford, 2-1. Tyler Spezia scored a shorthanded attempt, which was the first of the season for the Griffins. Just 10 seconds later, Hirose pushed his point streak (2-5—7) to four games when he tallied the game-winner. Pickard allowed just one goal for the fourth time in six appearances and received his third consecutive win in a 21-save effort. Barber (3-4—7) and Berggren (3-2—5) each grabbed an assist to extend their point streak to four games.

Like Father, Like Son
Grand Rapids defenseman D.J. King is the son of former Griffins player Derek King (1999-01; 2002-04) and when D.J. made his AHL debut on Nov. 6 against Rockford, they joined Chris (2008-09) and Jake (2018-19) Chelios as the second father-son duo to have played for Grand Rapids. D.J. just missed out on playing against his dad as Derek was promoted to interim head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks the morning of game day against Rockford. Derek is the Griffins’ all-time leading playoff scorer (16-25—41) and ranks fifth in regular season points (73-130—203). Family ties have been a common theme throughout the franchise history, as four sets of brothers have suited up for the Griffins: Sheldon (2001-03) and Wade (2001-02) Brookbank; Valtteri (2005-07) and Ilari (2010-11) Filppula; Kevin (1999-00; 03-04), Kelly (1999-00) and Kip (2000-02; 04-05; 06-07) Miller, along with cousin Drew (2016-17); Todd (1996-98; 99-00; 01-02) and Jeff (1996-97; 03-04; 05-06) Nelson.

Not Your Average Joe
Center Joe Veleno was reassigned by Detroit on Nov. 7 after skating in four games for the Red Wings last week, totaling two points (1-1—2) and four penalty minutes. Before being recalled to Detroit on Oct. 30, the Kirkland, Quebec, native appeared in five contests with Grand Rapids to start the year and registered three goals, including two on the power play which is tied for 16th in the AHL. The former first-round draft choice has suited up for nine games in the NHL and has amassed three points (2-1—3) and eight penalty minutes.

Fit for a King
Former Rockford IceHogs coach Derek King was named interim head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, 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.

Mo Appreciation
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for October after recording eight assists in nine games. The 187th Grand Rapids alumnus to play in the NHL, he became the fourth former Griffin to earn the honor, joining Detroit’s Dylan Larkin (November 2015) and Jimmy Howard (March 2010) and Ottawa’s Karel Rechunek (January 2001).

This Date in Griffins History
2016: Joe Hicketts scores his first pro goal 1:53 into overtime to give the Griffins a 4-3 road win over Central Division-leading Milwaukee.

Rarified Air
Brian Lashoff’s 522 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 nine games behind No. 6 Roger DeJordy (Hershey Bears 1962-70). Lashoff is still 133 games away from breaking the Griffins’ all-time games played record, held by Travis Richards with 655 games (1995-2006).

Powerful Play
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 has been no different through nine games as the power play is converting on 24.2% of its opportunities, which ranks eighth in the league.

Calvin’s University
Goaltender Calvin Pickard is off to a fast start as he has allowed just one goal in four of his six appearances and has won three straight games. The 10-year pro currently is teid for 11th in the AHL with a 1.99 goals against average while his 0.936 save percentage is tied for 10th. Twelve goals allowed through his first six games is Pickard’s best start since the 2015-16 season when he let in 11 tallies. 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.

High-Flying Hirose
After leading the Griffins in assists a year ago with 23, Taro Hirose is off to a great start as he has bagged nine helpers in just as many games, which is a team high and tied for fourth in the league. Seven assists have come on the power play, which is second in the AHL. Hirose is currently enjoying a four-game point streak (2-5—7) dating back to Oct. 30.

Return of Riley
Riley 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. Although it was a slow start to this year, Barber is now in the midst of a four-game point streak (3-4—7). His nine points (4-5—9) this season are tied for second on the roster while his four power play goals are tied for first in the league.

Jonny On The Spot
Rookie Jonatan Berggren is currently enjoying a four-game point streak (3-2—5), dating back to Oct. 30. 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 former second-round draft choice is tied for 13th among league rookies with three goals while his five six points (3-3—6) are tied for 17th among first-year players.

AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Calvin Pickard—1.99 goals against average is tied for 11th, 0.936 save percentage is tied for 10th
Ryan Murphy—Six points (2-4—6) are tied for 12th among defensemen, two goals are tied for 10th among defensemen
Riley Barber—Four power play goals are tied for first
Joe Veleno—Two power play goals are tied for 16th
Taro Hirose—11 points (2-9—11) is tied for 11th, nine assists are tied four fourth, seven power play assists are second
Jonatan Berggren—Three goals are tied for 123h among league rookies

Upcoming Milestones
Turner Elson—Six assists from 100 in the AHL
Brian Lashoff—Three assists from 100 as a pro
Luke Witkowski—Three points from 50 in the AHL, one game from 400 as a pro, one assist from 50 as a pro
Tyler Spezia—Three assists from 50 as a pro
Jonatan Berggren—One assist from 50 as a pro
Jon Martin—Two assists from 50 as a pro

Photo by Jonathan Kozub/Moose