Still Work to be Done
This Week’s Games
GRIFFINS vs. Chicago Wolves // Wed., March 29 // 7 p.m. // Van Andel Arena
Listen: WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM at 6:45 p.m.
Watch: AHLTV
Season Series: 5-2-1-0 Overall, 2-1-1-0 Home. Ninth of 10 meetings overall, fifth of five at Van Andel Arena
All-Time Series: 96-83-2-8-3 Overall, 46-38-2-6-2 Home
NHL Affiliation: Carolina Hurricanes
Noteworthy: With a 5-2-1-0 record and only two games remaining in the season series, the Griffins will be above the 0.500 mark against Chicago for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign (8-2-0-0).
Promotion: Winning Wednesday presented by Michigan First Credit Union
GRIFFINS vs. Milwaukee Admirals // Fri., March 31 // 7 p.m. // Van Andel Arena
Listen: WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM at 7 p.m.
Season Series: 2-5-0-0 Overall, 1-2-0-0 Home. Eighth of eight meetings overall, fourth of four at Van Andel Arena
All-Time Series: 109-79-7-8-8 Overall, 58-37-2-3-3 Home
NHL Affiliation: Nashville Predators
Noteworthy: Milwaukee’s power play ranks fifth on the circuit at 22.3% and its road power play is tied for 13th in the AHL at 20.0%.
Promotion: 2013 Calder Cup Celebration Game presented by University of Michigan Health-West
GRIFFINS at Rockford IceHogs // Sun., April 2 // 5 p.m. EDT // BMO Center
Listen: WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM at 4:45 p.m. EDT
Watch: AHLTV
Season Series: 3-3-0-0 Overall, 1-2-0-0 Road. Seventh of eight meetings overall, fourth of four at the BMO Center
All-Time Series: 61-41-9-11 Overall, 23-28-4-6 Road
NHL Affiliation: Chicago Blackhawks
Noteworthy: The IceHogs hold the final playoff spot in the Central Division with 69 points and nine games remaining. The Griffins are eight points behind Rockford with just eight games left.
Last Week’s Results
Wed., March 22 // GRIFFINS 6 vs. Chicago 3 // 26-29-4-3 (59 pts., 0.476, 6th Central)
Fri., March 24 // GRIFFINS 4 at Iowa 3 (SO) // 27-29-4-3 (61 pts., 0.484, 6th Central)
Sat., March 25 // GRIFFINS 0 at Iowa 3 // 27-30-4-3 (61 pts., 0.477, T6th Central)
Last Week’s Notes
Wednesday vs. Chicago (6-3 W) - The Griffins completed a stunning comeback in the final frame, scoring six goals to win 6-3 over the Wolves at Van Andel Arena. After trailing 2-0 entering the third, Danny O’Regan, Chase Pearson, Pontus Andreasson, Taro Hirose, Riley Sawchuk and Joel L’Esperance each lit the lamp to take the lead and eventually the win. Six goals in a home period was a franchise record for Grand Rapids after scoring five on 13 previous occasions. Dominik Shine tallied a career high three assists, pushing his season total to 10. O’Regan, who kicked off the rally, recorded his 15th point in 13 outings with a goal and a helper on Andreasson’s game-tying tally. Charlie Curti made his AHL debut and added an assist to the scoresheet after Hirose deflected his pass into the back of the cage for the eventual game-winner. Recap | Highlights
Friday at Iowa (4-3 SOW) - The Griffins completed their second consecutive two-goal comeback when they defeated the Wild 4-3 in a shootout at Wells Fargo Arena. The Griffins trailed 3-1 late in the second period before Joel L’Esperance got them within one going into the third period. Pontus Andreasson’s heroics with just five seconds left pushed the game to an eventual shootout where Danny O’Regan and L’Esperance capped off the night for Grand Rapids. With three helpers, Taro Hirose tied Nathan Paetsch for sixth on the franchise’s all-time assist leaderboard with 122. L’Esperance added two points while O’Regan’s power-play tally gave him nine points (4-5—9) in his last eight outings. John Lethemon garnered his first victory as a Griffin, saving 21 of 24 shots during regulation and both shootout attempts from the Wild. Grand Rapids moved within eight points of the Rockford IceHogs for the final playoff spot with nine games remaining. Recap | Highlights
Sunday vs. Milwaukee (1-3 L) - Wild’s netminder Zane McIntyre closed the door on all 27 shots from the Griffins, as the home team took a 3-0 victory at Wells Fargo Arena. McIntyre has been a problem for the Griffins all season, as the eighth-year pro posted a 5-1-0 mark, a 2.15 goals against average and a 0.932 save percentage against Grand Rapids. The Griffins’ penalty kill finished 4-for-4 but the Wild matched Grand Rapids with four kills of their own. Grand Rapids finished the season series against Iowa with a 3-5-1-1 record. The Griffins remain within eight points of the Rockford IceHogs for the final playoff spot in the Central Division. Recap | Highlights
Win Some, Lose Some: After enduring a season-high four-game winless streak from March 1-7, the Griffins battled back and enjoyed a four-game point streak (3-0-0-1) from March 10-16. However, Grand Rapids has won just two out of its last three contests but still has points in seven of its last 11 games (5-4-1-1). The Griffins are tied for sixth in the Central Division and are eight points out of a playoff spot with eight games remaining. Grand Rapids has points in 19 of its last 31 contests (14-12-3-2, 0.532). Since the new year, the Griffins have lost in regulation just 13 times through 35 games (16-13-3-3, 0.543).
Rewrite the Record Book: Taro Hirose has been known for his passing abilities throughout four seasons with the Griffins. The former Michigan State Spartan has continued to climb the Griffins’ all-time assist leaderboard, and with 122 assists he now is tied for sixth in franchise history with Nathan Paetsch. He is eight helpers away from tying Derek King for fifth in franchise history. Hirose is as consistent as they come, as he has had at least 22 assists in each AHL campaign in his career. The Calgary, Alberta, native has totaled a team-leading 39 helpers in 64 games this year. In addition, his 20 power-play assists this season are tied for seventh in the AHL. Hirose also leads the roster with 54 points (15-39—54) in 64 appearances. Hirose was recalled by the Red Wings on Tuesday.
Danny Boy: Danny O’Regan is starting to find a rhythm with the Griffins after joining the team on Dec. 19. After exploding for three points (2-1—3) in his Griffins debut, O’Regan had just three points in his next 12 games from Dec. 28-Feb. 15. However, the German-born forward enjoyed a five-game point streak (2-5—7) from Feb. 24-March 4 and now has nine points (4-5—9) in his last nine outings. O’Regan also has 19 points in his last 18 games (8-11—19).
Jumping for Joel: In his first year as a Griffin, Joel L’Esperance leads the team in goals with 23 and is tied for second on the roster with 43 points. L’Esperance has lit the lamp in two of the past three games and needs seven more tallies to tie his career high set during the 2018-19 season with Texas (30 goals). The Brighton, Mich., native is also just six points from tying his career-high mark from the 2021-22 campaign (49 points). Throughout 247 AHL contests, L’Esperance has amassed 179 points (103-76—179) and 134 penalty minutes.
Just Keep it Close: The Griffins have had their ups and downs this season, but they have excelled at winning close games. In fact, Grand Rapids is 15-2-4-3 (0.771) in games decided by one goal and 6-0-4-0 in overtime contests. In comparison, the Griffins are just 12-28-0-0 (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 eighth, three short-handed goals are tied for first
Simon Edvinsson—22 assists are tied for fifth among rookie defensemen, 27 points are tied for sixth among rookie defensemen
Taro Hirose—20 power-play assists are tied for seventh, 39 assists are tied for 11th
Joel L’Esperance—12 power-play goals are tied for third, 212 shots rank fourth
Milestones:
Danny O’Regan notched his 300th pro point with a goal on March 16 at Cleveland, while Dominik Shine scored his 50th pro goal with the game-winner, which was also his 100th pro point. Alex Nedeljkovic collected his 100th AHL victory in a 3-1 win at Chicago on March 12. Wyatt Newpower appeared in his 100th game as a Griffin on March 12 and Donovan Sebrango suited up in his 150th pro game.
John Lethemon—One win from 50 as a pro
Joel L’Esperance—Three games from 250 in the AHL
Danny O’Regan—Two points from 300 in the AHL
Chase Pearson—One assist from 50 as a pro, in the AHL and as a Griffin
Dominik Shine—One game from 350 as a pro, in the AHL and as a Griffin
Ben Simon—Four victories from setting the franchise record for most wins as head coach (147)
Tyler Spezia—Two goals from 50 as a pro
Photo by Mark Newman/Griffins