Griffins Game #24 * Home Game #12 * AHL Game #380

Season Series: 0-1-0-0 Home Series: 0-0-0-0 Road Series: 0-1-0-0
All-Time Series: 1-2-0-0 All-Time Home Series: 1-0-0-0 All-Time Road Series: 0-2-0-0

Wolf Pack at Griffins
Second of two meetings overall, first and only at Van Andel Arena…This will be Hartford’s first trip to Grand Rapids since Nov. 14, 2008 (3-2 W)...The Griffins are 1-2-0-0 all time against the Wolf Pack and have never lost against Hartford in West Michigan...Grand Rapids is 5-5-1-0 at home this season and enter the contest with wins in two of its last three games overall…Hartford is 3-7-1-0 on foreign ice this season...The Wolf Pack are 4-5-0-1 in their last 10 games overall...Hartford’s power play ranks second to last on the circuit at 13.8% and its penalty kill ranks 11th in the AHL at 82.4%...Longtime Griffin Turner Elson (2017-22) signed with the New York Rangers this past offseason and is featured on the Wolf Pack’s roster. Through 294 games as a Griffin, Elson amassed 144 points (61-83—144) and 228 penalty minutes...Blake Hillman is also on the Hartford’s roster and competed in 15 games with Grand Rapids from 2019-20 and 2021-22...Wolf Pack GM Ryan Martin was the Griffins’ GM from April 2013 until August 2021 and helped construct both of Grand Rapids’ Calder Cup championship teams...Hartford assistant coach Jamie Tardif played five seasons with the Griffins from 2006-11, racking up 154 points and 322 penalty minutes in 316 games and serving as captain for his final two seasons.

Last Time Out
The Griffins were shut out for the first time this season in a 4-0 loss against the Wolf Pack at the XL Center. Magnus Hellberg, in his fourth game with Grand Rapids, recorded 41 saves in the contest. During his conditioning loan with the Griffins, the former Wolf Pack netminder had a 2.50 goals against average and a 0.932 save percentage. The contest marked Brian Lashoff's 600th game as a Griffin and in the AHL. In his Grand Rapids career, Lashoff has recorded 31 goals and 95 assists for 126 total points. Hartford out-shot the Griffins 45-21 in the contest, including a 34-11 advantage over the final two periods.

Roster Shake Up
- Dec. 10—G Victor Brattstrom reassigned from Toledo by Detroit
- Dec. 11—G Magnus Hellberg recalled by Detroit
- Dec. 12—F Drew Worrad assigned to Toledo by Grand Rapids
- Dec. 13—D Steven Kampfer recalled by Detroit
- Dec. 14—F Elmer Soderblom recalled by Detroit
- Dec. 15—D Eemil Viro reassigned from Toledo by Detroit

This Date in Griffins History
2015: Anthony Mantha scores a pair of second-period goals while Jared Coreau stops 47 shots as the Griffins set a franchise record with their 12th consecutive win, 3-2 at Lake Erie.

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 6-0-1-0 (0.929) in games decided by one goal. In comparison, the Griffins are just 4-12-0-0 (0.250) 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.

O Captain! My Captain!
Captain Brian Lashoff competed in his 600th game as a Griffin and in the AHL on Saturday, Dec. 10 at Hartford. Lashoff’s 600 games played for the Griffins rank first among active AHL players who have spent their entire AHL career with the same club and fourth 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 Paul Larivee (Providence Reds, 1952-62) for the No. 4 spot on April 6, 2022 against Cleveland and is now eight games behind No. 3 Howie Yanosik (Hershey Bears, 1957-67). Lashoff is still 55 games away from breaking the Griffins’ all-time regular-season games played record, held by Travis Richards with 655 games (1995-2006).

You Need to Be This Tall to Ride the Rollercoaster
On Friday Dec. 9, left wing Elmer Soderblom made his Griffins/AHL debut, becoming the tallest player to ever compete for Grand Rapids. At 6-foot-8, Soderblom edged out former 6-foot-6 players in Jared Coreau, Francois Leroux, Brad Norton, Michael Rasmussen, Dan Turple, Sebastian Cossa and Simon Edvinsson. The Gothenburg, Sweden, native has two goals in 13 games with Detroit this season but does not have a point through two games with the Griffins. Soderblom was selected with the 159th pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by Detroit and is his rookie season in North America. He was recalled by the Red Wings on Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Had to Get in Shape
Goaltender Magnus Hellberg saw his conditioning loan with the Griffins end on Sunday when he was recalled by the Detroit Red Wings. In terms of games played, Hellberg’s conditioning loan tied for the longest among the six DRW goalies and their eight GRG stints, while his save percentage was among the best. The Uppsala, Sweden, native went 2-2-0 with the Griffins along with a 2.50 goals against average and a 0.932 save percentage.

Welcomed Offensive Production
Last Wednesday, veteran Alex Chiasson made his Griffins debut against the Iowa Wild, collecting two helpers. Chiasson followed that performance with another two points (1-1—2) on Friday at Springfield. Through two games, the 10th-year pro has four points (1-3—4) and a plus-three rating. Through parts of 10 seasons in the NHL, Chiasson has 224 points (114-110—224) and 353 penalty minutes in 631 games. The Griffins signed the Montreal, Quebec, native to a professional tryout on Nov. 26.

Pontus Pilot
After a slow start that saw him tally one point (0-1—1) in the first seven games, Pontus Andreasson has been among the driving forces of the Griffins’ offense of late. Andreasson enjoyed a four-game point streak (3-2—5) from Nov. 18-26 and has 14 points in the last 15 outings (7-7—14). The Munkedal, Sweden, native bagged his first goal in North America on Nov. 11 against Toronto to conclude a three-point contest (2-1—3). In 2021-22 in the Swedish Hockey League, Andreasson finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting when he totaled 38 points (18-20—38) in 52 games. The 24-year-old signed a one-year contract with Detroit this past offseason.

Bobbing for Apples
Taro Hirose collected his first pro hat trick on Nov. 18 at San Diego, which concluded his career-high four-point (3-1—4) night. Hirose has been known for his passing abilities throughout four seasons with the Griffins. In fact, the former Michigan State Spartan has had at least 22 assists in each full AHL campaign in his career. This season has a similar pace, as Hirose has totaled a team-leading 17 helpers in 23 games and his 11 power-play assists are tied for sixth in the AHL. Hirose tied his single-game AHL high with three assists on Dec. 7 against Iowa. Hirose has points in 15 of the 23 contests this season (6-17—23).

Inching Closer to No. 200
On Dec. 14 at the Minnesota Wild, Magnus Hellberg (197th) and Elmer Soderblom (198th) became the 197th and 198th Griffins alumnus to compete in the NHL. Jonatan Berggren made his NHL debut with Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 10, becoming the 196th Griffin to compete in the NHL. On Sunday, Nov. 6, forward Austin Czarnik became the 195th Griffin to appear in the NHL when he made his Red Wings debut. Previously, Matt Luff became the 194th Griffin in the NHL when he made his season debut with Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 27 at the Boston Bruins.

Take the Over
The Griffins averaged just 2.75 goals a game during the 2021-22 season while giving up 3.16. However, Grand Rapids is averaging 2.91 goals this season while conceding 3.91. Thirteen of its 23 games so far have had seven or more total goals scored, with eight of those contests having eight or more tallies. The Griffins are tied for 28th on the circuit with 90 goals against while their 67 goals for are tied for 24th in the AHL.

AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Pontus Andreasson—Four power-play goals are tied for fourth among rookies
Taro Hirose—17 assists are tied for 12th, 11 power-play assists are tied for sixth
Joel L’Esperance—Six power-play goals are tied for seventh

Milestones
Captain Brian Lashoff skated in his 600th game as a Griffin and in the AHL on Dec. 10 at Hartford. Taro Hirose notched 100th assist as a Griffin and in the AHL on Dec. 9 at Springfield and he tallied his 150th pro point on Dec. 7 against Iowa when he tallied three helpers.
Alex Chiasson—One game from 700 as a pro
Steven Kampfer—Two points from 200 as a pro
Joel L’Esperance—Five goals from 100 as a pro
Tyler Spezia—One game from 150 as a Griffin and in the AHL

Photo by Hartford Wolf Pack