Griffins Game #23 * Home Game #11 * AHL Game #157

Season Series: 1-5-0-0 Home Series: 1-1-0-0 Road Series: 0-4-0-0
All-Time Series: 88-69-2-6-3 All-Time Home Series: 43-30-2-4-2 All-Time Road Series: 45-39-0-2-1

Griffins vs. Wolves

Seventh of 10 meetings overall, third of five at Van Andel Arena…The Griffins are 1-5 against the Wolves and 11-2-3-0 versus all other teams...Grand Rapids tonight concludes a seven-game homestand (4-1-1-0) while Chicago plays the final contest of an eight-game road swing (2-3-1-1)...It took until their ninth home game of the season for the Griffins to suffer a regulation loss at home — becoming the last AHL team to do so — as Chicago skated to a 5-1 victory here on Monday. The Wolves scored three power play goals, including a pair of 5-on-3 tallies, to snap both their three-game winless skid and the Griffins’ four-game point streak...It marked the first loss by a home team in six meetings between the rivals this season...Although the Wolves’ primary affiliation is with the Carolina Hurricanes, their top four scorers through their first 24 games are all Nashville Predators prospects who in normal times would be playing for the rival Milwaukee Admirals: forwards Phil Tomasino (9-14—23), Tanner Jeannot (10-11—21) and Tommy Novak (5-14—19), and defenseman Frederic Allard (2-14—16)...Grand Rapids has faced Chicago 168 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.

The Fourth Time’s the Charm?

Tonight marks the fourth attempt by the Griffins and Wolves to play AHL Game #157. Postponed from its original March 19 date due to league COVID-19 protocols affecting Chicago, it was subsequently bumped from its April 13 rescheduled date due to protocols affecting Grand Rapids, before being postponed yet again on April 15 due to protocols affecting Chicago.

Busy Bodies

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. Updating those numbers, Grand Rapids will play its final 10 games and six home contests over the next 17 days.

Last Time Out

Gregor MacLeod’s third-period tally on Wednesday lifted the Griffins to a 3-2 victory over the Rockford IceHogs at Van Andel Arena. The Griffins, now 6-1-3-0 at home this season, improved to 4-0-2-0 against their Central Division rival. Playing for the first time in five games, Patrick Curry got things going for the Griffins just 1:48 into the opening period, but Dylan McLaughlin answered with a power play goal against Kevin Boyle at 11:51, giving him a goal in three straight games at Van Andel Arena. Riley Barber’s team-high 15th goal of the season at 18:36 gave the Griffins a 2-1 lead at the first intermission. After a scoreless second period, Mitchell Fossier notched the tying goal on a penalty shot at 4:58 of the third. The deadlock didn't last long, however, as MacLeod connected at 8:14 on a shot from the left boards that was misplayed by Ivan Nalimov, who had replaced Cale Morris in the IceHogs’ net to start the period. Nalimov stoned a penalty shot attempt by Taro Hirose with 2:26 remaining to give Rockford a chance, but the IceHogs were unable to score the equalizer after pulling their netminder for an extra attacker.

A First Time for Everything

Last night marked the third game in the Griffins’ 25 seasons that featured a penalty shot for each team and the first-ever at Van Andel Arena. On Oct. 11, 2008 at Lake Erie, Darren Helm was stopped by Jason Bacashihua while Daniel Larsson denied Kyle Cumiskey. On April 10, 2011 at Milwaukee, Ilari Filppula could not beat Atte Engren, and Jordan Pearce turned back Ryan Flynn.

Late Bloomers

The Griffins, who until last Tuesday’s 5-3 win over Cleveland had not won this season when trailing after two periods, have now rallied in the third frame in three of their last four wins, including a 5-4 victory over Iowa on April 16 and last Wednesday’s 2-1 triumph against the Monsters.

Congrats Are in Order

Joe Veleno made his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday in their 1-0 shootout loss at Columbus, logging two shots and winning 57% (4 of 7) of his faceoffs in 14:59 of ice time. He became the 185th Griffins alum to play in the NHL, after recording 23 points (11-12—23) in 54 games with Grand Rapids last season.

This Date in Griffins History

2015: With captain Jeff Hoggan’s inspired, rugged performance leading the charge in a must-win game, the Griffins claw their way to a 5-2 victory over Toronto in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Following an early Marlies goal, the Griffins rattle off four straight markers, including the first of two on the night by Teemu Pulkkinen. (The Griffins eventually become the 11th team in AHL history to win a best-of-five series after having trailed 0-2.)

That’s a Wrap

Tonight, the Griffins 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.

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.

Life of Riley

Riley Barber has goals in five of the last eight games and seven of the last 11 outings, and he has registered points in 17 of 22 contests this season. His 15 goals on the season tie for second in the league, amazing considering that his 22 games played are six and 11 fewer than his companions in the top three. Barber’s 23 points (14-8—22) tie for 21st in the league while his 11 power play points tie for fifth. 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

With a goal last night, Gregor MacLeod pushed his AHL career-high point streak to four games (2-2—4), giving him points in six of his last eight appearances (2-4—6)...Turner Elson has an assist in four of the last six games and points in six of nine contests (1-5—6)...Charle-Edouard D’Astous has an assist in four of his last seven outings...Second on the Griffins in scoring with 18 points (4-14—18) in 19 games, Taro Hirose had a six-game point streak (1-5—6) and three-game assist streak snapped on Monday by Chicago...Givani Smith’s three-game goal streak and eight-game point streak also came to an end that night, each falling one game shy of Riley Barber’s season-high for a Griffin…Troy Loggins (3-0—3) has a goal in three of the last six games...Dylan McIlrath, who scored his first goal of the season on Monday, has points in three of the last six games (1-2—3).

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 nine 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 have been even better this season, currently sitting seventh in the league at 21.7% and third on the road at 31.1%. Their home power play, however, ranks 26th, having converted 10.5% of its chances.

Offense Taken

The Griffins stand second in the AHL in shots per game (33.18) and are tied for 12th in goals per game (3.18).

For the Defense

Grand Rapids is 10th in the league in goals allowed per game (2.95)…The Griffins — outshot in consecutive games for the first time this season — have been outshot in only five of their first 22 games, and only twice have they allowed 30 or more shots, a total that they have reached on 15 occasions. Grand Rapids ranks third in the AHL in shots allowed per game (25.23).

Milestones

Dylan McIlrath’s six penalty minutes on Monday against Chicago put him past 1,000 for his nine-year pro career (1,003). Upcoming player milestones include:

Turner Elson—Six points from 100 for his Griffins career, one assist for 100 as a pro

Joe Hicketts—Two 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

Dominic Turgeon—Four 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