Griffins Game #21 * Home Game #9 * AHL Game #174

Season Series: 1-4-0-0 Home Series: 1-0-0-0 Road Series: 0-4-0-0
All-Time Series: 88-68-2-6-3 All-Time Home Series: 43-29-2-4-2 All-Time Road Series: 45-39-0-2-1

Griffins vs. Wolves

Sixth of 10 meetings overall, second of five of Van Andel Arena…The Griffins’ last four home games scheduled against the Wolves were postponed due to league COVID-19 protocols affecting either team…Chicago enters tonight’s matchup on its first three-game winless streak (0-1-1-1) of the season, while Grand Rapids is 3-0-1-0 thus far on its seven-game homestand and has earned points in every home game this season (5-0-3-0)...The Griffins broke Chicago’s season-opening seven-game winning streak with a 4-1 victory at Van Andel Arena on Feb. 26, then snapped Cleveland’s six-game run with a 5-3 win here last Tuesday, their first of consecutive comeback wins against the Monsters, who in turn beat the Wolves 4-2 yesterday...The Wolves have held serve in all four clashes of these teams in the Chicago suburbs, making the home team 5-0 in the season series...Grand Rapids has faced Chicago 167 times in the regular season dating back to their IHL days, the second-most of any Griffins opponent (Milwaukee, 192)...The Griffins, who had surrendered only 11 goals over their first six games, lost 8-4 in Chicago on Feb. 28, allowing their most goals against in more than 10 years (a 10-8 win at Chicago on Nov. 27, 2010). It marked only the eighth time in 25 seasons that Grand Rapids yielded eight or more goals to the opposition…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.

Getting Busy

After playing just 16 games overall and only four times at home during the first 70 days of this season – owing to both a light early schedule and six postponements since March 16 – the Griffins on April 16 began a stretch which has them scheduled to play their final 16 games and 12 home contests over a span of only 30 days. They’ll conclude a seven-game homestand by playing three games at Van Andel Arena in the next four nights.

Last Time Out

After a sluggish opening 40 minutes last Wednesday, the Griffins’ offense scored twice in the final 20 to post its second straight third-period comeback win against the Cleveland Monsters (2-1), as Kaden Fulcher earned his first victory in the AHL behind 27 saves. During a power play 12:58 into the second period, Cleveland defenseman Wyatt Newpower whipped a shot off the post and into the net from the left circle, the third tally in two nights for the Monsters’ AHL-best unit. As they did in Tuesday’s 5-3 rally, the Griffins found their offensive stride in the final frame. At the 5:30 mark, Givani Smith took a deft touch-pass from Taro Hirose in the neutral zone and skated to the top of the right circle before unleashing a wrist shot that slipped past Matiss Kivlenieks. Only 1:35 later, Troy Loggins scored for the second straight night, knocking home a puck that had fallen behind Kivlenieks after he made a save on a Dylan McIlrath slap shot. The Griffins, who until last Tuesday had not won this season when trailing after two periods, have now rallied in the third frame in each of their last three wins, including a 5-4 victory over Iowa on April 16.

This Date in Griffins History

2017: Kyle Criscuolo tips a feed from Dan Renouf past Marek Mazanec 10:03 into overtime to give the Griffins a second straight three-game sweep of Milwaukee in the Central Division Semifinals and propel them into the second round for a franchise-record fifth consecutive year. The 3-2 victory also continues the Griffins’ remarkable success at closing out opponents, as Grand Rapids wins its fifth straight game in which its opponent faces playoff elimination and improves to 4-0 in such games on the road since the beginning of its Calder Cup run in 2013. Jared Coreau’s 41 saves and Matt Lorito’s tying goal with 3:38 remaining in regulation set the stage for Criscuolo’s heroics.

That’s a First

This Thursday, the Griffins will conclude a seven-game April homestand that surpasses their most regular season home games ever during the month. Prior to this season, their high-water mark for regular season games at Van Andel Arena during April had been five, established in 2015.

Congrats Are in Order

Defenseman Jared McIsaac, Detroit's 4th choice (36th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, made his AHL debut last Tuesday against Cleveland. He sustained a shoulder injury in his first game with HPK in Finland’s Liiga last fall and had not played since.

A Long Time Coming

On April 17, goalie Kaden Fulcher made his AHL debut and played his first game in more than 15 months, due to an injury that ended his 2019-20 season, the pandemic, and bouncing between the Griffins and Detroit's taxi squad this season. His last game had been on Jan. 4, 2020, when he made 24 saves for the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye in a 5-2 home loss to Indy. Fulcher made 25 saves in that 4-3 overtime loss to Iowa, including 12 during the third period to help the Griffins rally from a two-goal deficit and earn a point. He then earned his first victory in the AHL and first at any level in more than two years in last Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Cleveland. Fulcher, who was limited to two ECHL games last season due to an injury, made 27 saves in his second career AHL contest, logging his first win since making 27 stops in Toledo’s 5-0 home triumph over Indy on March 3, 2019.

All Hands on Deck

Forward Dominik Shine has played the last four games on defense, accumulating a plus-five rating at his foreign position while helping the Griffins to a 3-0-1-0 record. Forward Tyler Spezia was also called into blue line duty for the games against Iowa on April 16 and 17.

Life of Riley

Riley Barber has goals in four of the last six games and six of the last nine outings. His five-game point streak (4-1—5) was snapped on Wednesday against Cleveland, but he has still registered a point in 16 of 20 contests this season. His 14 goals on the season tie for third in the league, amazing considering that his 20 games played are seven to 11 fewer than each of the other four players in the top five. Barber’s 22 points (14-8—22) tie for 22nd in the league while his 11 power play points tie for third. He posted a nine-game point streak 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.

High-Flying Griffins

Second on the Griffins in scoring with 18 points (4-14—18) in 17 games, Taro Hirose has points in six straight games (1-5—6) and in seven of the last eight outings (3-6—9). He also owns a three-game assist streak...Givani Smith has goals in three consecutive games and points in eight straight games (8-2—10). Both streaks are one shy of Riley Barber’s season-highs for a Griffin…Turner Elson, whose three-game assist streak was snapped on Wednesday against Cleveland, has points in five of the last seven games (1-4—5)...Joe Hicketts and Chase Pearson both have three assists in their last three outings...Troy Loggins (3-0—3) and Gregor MacLeod (1-2—3) have registered points in three of the last four games...Charle-Edouard D’Astous has an assist in three of his last five appearances.

Rarified Air

Brian Lashoff’s 513 games played for the Griffins rank first among active AHL players who have spent their entire AHL career with the same club and tie for eighth 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, who has been unfit to play the last seven games, tied No. 8-ranked Stan Smrke (Rochester 1957-67) on March 26 and is now four games behind No. 7 Pete Kapusta (Providence Reds 1946-55).

Powerful Play

Following a 2019-20 campaign in which they finished sixth in the AHL’s power play rankings at 20.9%, the Griffins are off to an even better start this season, currently sitting sixth in the league at 23.4% and third on the road at 31.1%. Their home power play, however, ranks 24th, having converted 12.5% of its chances.

Offense Taken

The Griffins stand second in the AHL in shots per game (34.25) and 11th in goals per game (3.30).

For the Defense

After holding their opposition to two goals or less in five straight contests (March 11-26) and nine times over a stretch of 11 games, the Griffins surrendered at least four goals in five consecutive games from March 27-April 17. Still, Grand Rapids is tied for seventh in the league by allowing 2.90 goals per game…The Griffins have been outshot in only three of their first 20 games, and only twice have they allowed 30 or more shots, a total that they have reached on 15 occasions — including 13 of the last 16 outings. Grand Rapids ranks third in the AHL in shots allowed per game (25.20).

Upcoming Milestones

Turner Elson—Seven points from 100 for his Griffins career, two assists for 100 as a pro

Joe Hicketts—Four games played for 300 as a pro, three assists from 100 for his Griffins/AHL career

Brian Lashoff – Three assists for 100 as a pro

Dylan McIlrath—Three penalty minutes for 1,000 as a pro

Dominic Turgeon—Six games from 300 for his Griffins/AHL career

It’s a Start

The roar of a Griffins crowd was partially restored on March 13 when the team began welcoming up to 750 fans per home game, pursuant to the most recent order from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Griffins 2021-22 season ticket members are being given the first opportunity to purchase tickets to home games during the remainder of the 2020-21 season. Other fans can sign up for Griffins Nation, the team’s official email newsletter, to receive priority access to 2020-21 tickets whenever limited seats are made available for sale throughout the season. On occasion, single-game tickets may also be purchased online at griffinshockey.com.

We Miss You, Bob!

On Feb. 8, the beloved 21-year Voice of the Griffins, Bob Kaser, underwent successful heart surgery at the Meijer Heart Center in Grand Rapids to repair several blocked arteries. Released from the hospital on Feb. 14, his recovery at home continues to go well. Everyone in Griffins Nation, the Griffins organization, the AHL, and the Michigan hockey community wishes Bob all the best in his recovery and a quick return to health. We can’t wait until he is back in the booth.

Photo by Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins