Griffins Game #45 * Home Game #22 * AHL Game #729

Season Series: 1-2-0-0 Home Series: 1-2-0-0 Road Series: 0-0-0-0
All-Time Series: 68-39-1-1-9 All-Time Home Series: 38-17-1-1-6 All-Time Road Series: 30-22-0-0-3

Moose at Griffins
Fourth of eight meetings overall, fourth of four at Van Andel Arena…Since the Moose rejoined the AHL in 2015-16, Grand Rapids is 24-15-0-2 (0.610) against them, including a 16-7-0-1 (0.688) ledger in Grand Rapids…Grand Rapids has points in seven of the past 11 meetings against the Moose at Van Andel Arena, dating back to the 2019-20 season...This is the 119th meeting between the two teams, which is the fifth-most encounters by any Grand Rapids opponent...Manitoba is 5-3-1-1 in its last 10 games while the Griffins are 6-2-1-1...On foreign ice this season, the Moose are 12-8-2-1 and the Griffins bolster an 8-10-2-1 ledger in West Michigan...The Moose rank third in the AHL with a power play percentage of 23.9% and their road power play ranks second at 27.7%...Manitoba’s penalty kill is also one of the best on the circuit, as it sits at seventh at 83.4%...Moose rookie goaltender Arvid Holm ranks ninth among first-year netminders with a 2.74 goals against average and fourth with a 0.915 save percentage.

Last Time Out
Four third-period goals, including two empty-net tallies by the Manitoba Moose snapped the Grand Rapids Griffins’ four-game win streak in a 4-1 contest on Friday at Van Andel Arena. Arvid Holm allowed just one score in 24 shots on net, with Steven Kampfer burying the lone goal for Grand Rapids on a power play in the initial stanza. The veteran defenseman is riding a two-game point stretch and has six points in his last seven outings (1-5–6). Adam Erne made his Griffins debut, recording an assist on Grand Rapids’ opening goal and Jakub Vrana continued his five-game point streak with an apple as well (4-3–7). Despite the loss, Grand Rapids is 6-2-1-1 in its last 10 games.

Roster Shakeup
- Feb. 2—F Filip Zadina assigned by Detroit on a conditioning loan
- Feb. 3—F Alex Chiasson re-signed to a PTO by Grand Rapids
- Feb. 5—F Filip Zadina and F Jonatan Berggren recalled by Detroit; F Adam Erne assigned by Detroit
- Feb. 9—D Seth Barton reassigned to Toledo (ECHL) from Grand Rapids by Detroit; D Donovan Sebrango reassigned to Grand Rapids from Toledo by Detroit

This Date in Griffins History
2001: Mathieu Chouinard extends his record by winning his ninth straight decision at Van Andel Arena, a 5-2 win over Houston that marks GR’s 12th win in its last 13 home games.

I Think I got my Swagger Back
The Griffins are starting to find themselves and were on a season-high four-game win streak from Jan. 29-Feb. 4. Grand Rapids also enjoyed a four-game point streak (2-0-1-1) from Jan. 14-21. The last time the Griffins had a four-game win streak was from Dec. 31, 2021-Jan. 7, 2022. Grand Rapids also has points in eight of its last 10 contests (6-2-1-1). Since the new year, Grand Rapids has lost in regulation just four times through 15 games (8-4-1-2, 0.633). The Griffins jumped into sixth in the Central Division but are still nine points out of a playoff spot with 28 games left.

Tower of Terror
The 6-foot-8 Elmer Soderblom was held off the scoresheet in his first six AHL games but has exploded for six points (4-2—6) in his previous five appearances from Jan. 29-Feb. 10. The Gothenburg, Sweden, native had a three-game goal streak from Jan. 29-Feb. 3, which tied for the longest run on the team this season. The rookie has also skated in 21 games with the Red Wings this season, compiling eight points (5-3—8) and eight penalty minutes.

Vroom Vroom
After being held off the scoresheet in the first four games of his Griffins career, Jakub Vrana is starting to find the back of the net. Vrana is currently riding a five-game point streak (4-3—7) from Jan. 29-Feb. 10. He recorded a season-high two goals in his last outing on Feb. 4 at the Texas Stars. The veteran also has points in seven of his last eight appearances (6-3—9). Since being assigned to the Griffins on Dec. 28, Vrana has 10 points (6-4—10) in 16 games.

Starting to Find a Groove
After going 0-for-21 on the power play from Jan. 7-21, the Griffins are starting to find a rhythm on the man-advantage. Grand Rapids has recorded a power-play goal in each of its previous four games (5-for-12, 41.7%), which is the first four-game stretch of goals since Oct. 29-Nov. 4. Since Jan. 28, the Griffins are 6-for-17 (35.3%) on the power play and are now tied for 19th in the AHL with a conversion rate of 18.2%. The penalty kill has also been much improved, killing off 10 straight penalties in four games. The Griffins are 26-for-30 (86.7%) on the PK since Jan. 14 and place 25th on the circuit at 78.0%.

Alexander The Great
Netminder Alex Nedeljkovic has been a welcomed addition to the Griffins roster, as the goaltender was assigned by Detroit on Jan. 4. Nedeljkovic was on a three-game win streak, which is tied for the longest run by a Griffins goaltender this campaign. Through 13 outings, Nedeljkovic has a 7-4-2 record with one shutout along with a 2.37 goals against average and a 0.923 save percentage. On Jan. 14, Nedeljkovic posted a 27-save shutout against the Chicago Wolves, his first in the AHL since Feb. 7, 2020 against Hartford (17 saves). On Jan. 11, Nedeljkovic recorded his fourth assist and fifth point of his AHL career, which was his first AHL point since Jan. 19, 2020.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity, Jig
The Griffins concluded their five-game road trip last week with a 4-1-0-0 (0.800) record, which included their 500th road win in franchise history on Feb. 4 at the Texas Stars (500-412-12-34-60). Grand Rapids also finished a stretch of seven out of eight games on the road from Jan. 16-Feb. 4 with a 5-1-1-1 (0.750) mark. The Griffins are now on a four-game home stand and will also play nine of their next 11 contests in friendly confines from Feb. 10-March 4. Grand Rapids is 8-10-2-1 (0.452) at home this season and 11-11-0-1 (0.500) on the road.

Just Keep it Close
The Griffins have had an up-and-down start to the season, but they have excelled at winning close games. In fact, Grand Rapids is 10-0-2-2 (0.857) in games decided by one goal and 4-0-2-0 (0.833) in overtime contests. In comparison, the Griffins are just 9-21-0-0 (0.300) in games decided by two or more tallies. In the 2021-22 season, the Griffins finished with a 13-7-6-2 (0.607) mark in games decided by one goal.

AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Austin Czarnik—Five game-winning goals are tied for second, three short-handed goals are tied for first
Simon Edvinsson—15 assists are tied for sixth among rookie defensemen, 18 points are tied for sixth among rookie defensemen
Taro Hirose—14 power-play assists are tied for 10th
Joel L’Esperance—Eight power-play goals are tied for eighth, 143 shots rank sixth

Milestones
Brian Lashoff appeared in his 750th game as a pro on Feb. 3 at Texas and Jakub Vrana registered his 150th assist as a pro. Vrana skated in his 100th AHL game on Jan. 29 at Chicago and bagged his 300th pro point in the process (151-149—300). Austin Czarnik recorded his 300th pro point with an assist on Jan. 28 at Milwaukee.
Simon Edvinsson—Three points from 50 as a pro
Albert Johansson—One assist from 50 as a pro
Steven Kampfer—Two assists from 150 as a pro
Joel L’Esperance—One goal from 100 as a pro
Chase Pearson—Two assists from 50 as a pro, in the AHL and as a Griffin
Dominik Shine—One assist from 50 as a pro, as a Griffin and in the AHL

Photo by Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins