Two Old Favorites On The Table This Week

This Week’s Games
Milwaukee Admirals at GRIFFINS // Fri., Nov. 23 // 7 p.m. // Van Andel Arena
Listen: WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM at 6:45 p.m.
Watch: AHLTV
Season Series: 1-0-0-0 Home, 1-0-0-0 Overall. Second of 10 meetings overall, second of five at Van Andel Arena
All-Time Series: 51-29-2-2-2 Home, 93-61-7-7-7 Overall
NHL Affiliation: Nashville Predators
Noteworthy: In the first meeting on Nov. 3, Dylan McIlrath scored his first goal of the season with 3:42 remaining to break a 1-1 tie.

GRIFFINS at Chicago Wolves // Sat., Nov. 24 // 8 p.m. EST // Allstate Arena
Listen: WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM at 7:35 p.m.
Watch: AHLTV
Season Series: 0-1-0-0 Road, 1-1-0-0 Overall. Third of eight meetings overall, second of four at Allstate Arena
All-Time Series: 41-32-0-2-1 Road, 82-57-2-6-3 Overall
NHL Affiliation: Vegas Golden Knights
Noteworthy: Grand Rapids snapped a six-game losing streak to the Wolves with a 5-3 victory in the last meeting on Oct. 20 at Van Andel Arena.

Last Week’s Results
Wed., Nov. 14 Rockford IceHogs 1 at GRIFFINS 3 7-6-0-1 (15 points, 6th Central Division)
Fri., Nov. 16 Ontario Reign 4 at GRIFFINS 3 7-7-0-1 (15 points, 7th Central)
Sat., Nov. 17 Manitoba Moose 2 at GRIFFINS 3 OT 8-7-0-1 (17 points, T5th Central)

Status Update: The Grand Rapids Griffins have points in seven of their last nine games (6-2-0-1) and tie for fifth in the Central Division with an 8-7-0-1 overall record. Grand Rapids will conclude its four-game homestand on Friday against Milwaukee before traveling to Chicago for a Saturday matchup with the Wolves.

Follow the Leader(s):
Points: Chris Terry (16)
Goals: Terry (11)
Assists: Carter Camper (11)
Plus-Minus: Turner Elson (+9)
PIM: Elson (27)
Wins: Harri Sateri (5)
GAA: Patrik Rybar (2.33)
Save %: Rybar (0.907)

Last Week’s Notes:
Wednesday vs. Rockford – The Griffins improved to 12-5-0-1 in their annual matinee game, with wins in three straight and five of their last seven afternoon affairs at home…Attendance was 7,452, bolstered by approximately 4,000 local students and teachers...Grand Rapids has won five straight meetings against Rockford...On home ice, the Griffins have claimed nine of the last 10 and 14 of the last 17 versus the ‘Hogs...Rookie Filip Zadina lit the lamp twice, his third multi-goal game of the season...Patrik Rybar ran his point streak to four following a 29-save performance...Grand Rapids recorded 34 shots, its ninth consecutive game with 30 or more attempts.
Friday vs. Ontario – Ontario claimed the inaugural meeting between the teams after scoring three third-period power play goals...Grand Rapids will complete the home-and-home set when it visits southern California on April 3...Chris Terry netted a season-high three points behind two goals and an assist...Terry scored seven seconds into the game, the fastest goal to open any period in Griffins franchise history...The previous fastest was eight seconds, set by Jamie Tardif on Dec. 30, 2008 at Peoria...Grand Rapids lost on home ice in regulation for the first time since Oct. 17 vs. Texas.
Saturday vs. Manitoba – After Manitoba tied the game with 35 seconds remaining in regulation, Carter Camper scored 35 seconds into overtime…The Moose recorded 16 shots, the lowest for a Griffins opponent this season…Manitoba had two attempts in the third period, another low for a Griffins opponent in a single frame this season…Harri Sateri made 14 saves to log his third win in his last four games…Saturday was only the second game this season for Grand Rapids that went past 60 minutes…Colin Campbell made his return to the lineup after missing the previous 13 games due to injury.

This Week’s Promotions: Friday against Milwaukee is the team’s 19th annual teddy bear toss, as fans are encouraged to bring new, store-tagged teddy bears and stuffed animals to throw onto the ice after the Griffins score their first goal. Fans can also enjoy $2 hot dogs and $2 domestic drafts from 6-8 p.m., while supplies last.

Friendly Confines: The Griffins have points in six of their first eight home games (5-2-0-1), including wins in three of their last four. Grand Rapids is a +4 in goal differential at home while averaging 3.38 goals, compared to -7 and 2.75 on enemy ice.

Terr-ing It Up: The AHL’s leading scorer from a season ago, Chris Terry has posted back-to-back multi-point games, including a season-high three points (2-1—3) last Friday. His team-high 11 markers place fourth in the AHL and he has three goals in the last two games, seven in the last six and nine in the last nine. Since Nov. 4, the 10th-year pro paces the league with seven goals while his 10 points in that span tie for the most.

Central of Attention: Last Saturday against Manitoba kicked off a stretch for the Griffins that will see them play 14 straight Central Division opponents. Cleveland on Dec. 19 ends the run. Grand Rapids will also play 20 consecutive divisional games from Feb. 10-March 31.

Spinning Records: Chris Terry established a franchise record for fastest goal to start any period when he scored just seven seconds into last Friday’s game versus Ontario. The previous mark was eight seconds, set by Jamie Tardif in the first period on Dec. 30, 2008 at Peoria.

Road Reversal: After dropping their first four road games and being outscored 17-5 in that stretch, the Griffins have won three of their last four on foreign ice with a 17-12 scoring edge. During its last four road games, Grand Rapids is outgunning its home opponent during the third period 13-3.

Page Turner: Sixth-year pro and second-year Griffin Turner Elson is on a four-game point streak that matches a career high (achieved twice previously and most recently April 10-17, 2015 with Adirondack). Elson’s four multi-point games tie for second on the team. He has 12 points – which places third on the team – through the first 16 games and is on pace for 57 points, which would shatter his previous best of 30.

Happy Camper: Following an assist and the overtime goal in last Saturday’s win, Carter Camper collected his team-leading sixth multi-point game of the season and his second in as many outings. The first-year Griffin and eighth-year pro paces the club in assists (11) and ranks second in points (15), trailing Chris Terry by one.

Add Rybar for Support: Goaltender Patrik Rybar (pronounced REE-bar) had his four-game point streak (3-0-1) snapped in last Friday’s 4-3 loss to Ontario. He shows a 1.80 goals against average since Oct. 27, and that places fifth in the AHL among goalies who have played more than 200 minutes in that span. His overall GAA of 2.33 places seventh in the AHL. The 25-year-old is in his first season in North American and led the Czech Extraliga in both GAA (1.73) and shutouts (7) in 36 games with Hradec Kralove last season.

No Shots For You: Grand Rapids held Manitoba to 16 shots last Saturday, the eighth time in 16 games the Griffins have allowed 25 or less attempts. Sixteen also marked a season-best for shots against. The Griffins rank third in the AHL in shots against (26.1).

Pick Ehn Up Points: Skating in his first season in North America, Christoffer Ehn shows six points (1-5—6) in the last seven games. Detroit’s third choice, 106th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Ehn also has one assist in 10 games with the Red Wings this season. By appearing in Detroit’s 3-2 shootout win against Vancouver on Nov. 6, Ehn became the 173rd Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL.

Z-Score: The sixth overall selection in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by Detroit, Filip Zadina recorded his team-high third multi-goal game of the season in last Wednesday’s 3-1 matinee victory vs. Rockford. In the last seven games, he shows six points (4-2—6) and a plus-two rating. Zadina paces the team with two power play goals, ranks second with six goals and ties for fourth with 10 points. The 18-year-old is the highest Red Wings draft pick ever to suit up for the Griffins. Only three players in Griffins history were drafted higher than No. 6: Jason Spezza (No. 2 by Ottawa in 2001), Darrin Shannon (No. 4 by Pittsburgh in 1988) and Stephen Weiss (No. 4 by Florida in 2001). Dylan Larkin (selected 15th overall in the 2014 Draft) was the previous highest Red Wings draft selection to play for Grand Rapids.

Saari, Not Saari: Second-year defensemen Vili Saarijarvi and Filip Hronek, a pair of Red Wings draft picks in 2015 and 2016, respectively, both show five points (1-4—5) to tie for the scoring lead among team blueliners.

Thanksgiving Measuring Stick: Entering Thanksgiving, the Griffins tie for fifth in the Central Division and would be out of a playoff spot if the season ended today. The November holiday is often used as a prediction for hockey teams and their playoff fate. This has rung true for the Griffins, as 12 times in their 17 AHL seasons their playoff position at Thanksgiving has correctly corresponded with the season’s ultimate postseason status. Of the eight previous times the Griffins have been out of a playoff position at Thanksgiving, they still went on to the postseason four times. During the Griffins’ current six-year playoff streak, they have been out of a playoff spot at Thanksgiving on three occasions (2014-15, 2015-16 and 2017-18).

Milestones Within Reach:
Joe Hicketts – needs two games played to reach 150 in the AHL. Needs two points to reach 50 in the AHL
Turner Elson – needs two games to reach 250 in the AHL. Needs one point to reach 100 in the AHL
Brian Lashoff – needs one point to reach 100 as a pro
Carter Camper – needs five points to reach 350 in the AHL
Chris Terry – needs six points to reach 500 as a pro
Jake Chelios – needs three points to reach 100 in the AHL
Matthew Ford – needs two assists to reach 200 in the AHL
Matt Puempel – needs two games played to reach 250 in the AHL. Needs two goals to reach 100 as a pro

Milwaukee Notes: Current record 10-6-3-0, 23 points, T1st Central Division…With a rivalry dating back to the International Hockey League days, the Griffins have faced the Admirals more than any other opponent in team history as the two clubs will meet up for the 176th time in the regular season on Friday…Grand Rapids posts a 34-15-2-0 (0.686) regular season mark against the Admirals since 2013-14, including an 18-7-1-0 (0.712) record in 26 games at Van Andel Arena…The Griffins are 10-3-1-0 in their last 14 regular season meetings against Milwaukee…In the first meeting of the season on Nov. 3, Dylan McIlrath scored his first goal of the season with 3:42 remaining to break a 1-1 tie…Christoffer Ehn produced his first North American pro goal vs. Milwaukee on Nov. 3…Griffins first-year head coach Ben Simon appeared in 18 games with the Admirals during the 2003-04 season and finished with four points (1-3—4)…Karl Taylor is in his first campaign behind Milwaukee’s bench after serving the last four seasons as an assistant with the Texas Stars.

Tommy Mac is Back (in different colors): Goaltender Tom McCollum, who played with the Griffins from 2009-16 and 2017-18, returns to Van Andel Arena on Friday as a member of the Admirals. Selected 30th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, McCollum is Grand Rapids’ all-time goaltending leader in wins (123), games played (263), minutes (14900:25) and saves (6640). He helped Grand Rapids win the 2013 Calder Cup and is the team’s only four-time AHL Man of the Year nominee. McCollum also appeared in three career games with the Red Wings, showing a 1-0-0 record, a 2.98 GAA and a 0.879 save percentage. He became the 117th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL when he debuted on March 30, 2011 vs. St. Louis. In his career facing Grand Rapids, McCollum is 0-0-2 with a 1.90 GAA and a 0.952 save percentage. His two appearances vs. the Griffins came on April 12 and 14, 2017, at Van Andel Arena as a member of the Charlotte Checkers. McCollum served as a backup in Milwaukee’s first visit to the Van on Nov. 3.

Chicago Notes: Current record 9-5-1-1, 20 points, 3rd Central Division...Grand Rapids snapped a six-game losing streak to the Wolves with a 5-3 victory in the last meeting on Oct. 20 at Van Andel Arena…The Griffins have faced the Wolves 150 times in the regular season, the second most of any Grand Rapids opponent…On Oct. 13 at Chicago, rookie David Pope scored his first professional goal and goaltender Patrik Rybar made his North American professional debut…Brooks Macek, originally drafted 171st overall by the Red Wings in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, tallied a hat trick on Oct. 13…Macek leads the AHL in goals (14) and shooting percentage (46.7), while tying for third in points…Teammate Daniel Carr ties for the league lead in points with 22…Second-year defenseman Vili Saarijarvi collected his first AHL goal on Oct. 20 vs. Chicago…Griffins first-year head coach Ben Simon and assistant coach Brad Tapper won the Calder Cup as players with the Wolves in 2002, their second consecutive season capturing a league championship together after hoisting the IHL’s Turner Cup with the Orlando Solar Bears in 2001…Simon logged 196 games with Chicago from 2001-03 and 2004-05, registering 87 points (37-50—87) and 192 PIM…Tapper appeared in 98 games with the Wolves from 2001-04, tallying 58 points (24-34—58) and 130 PIM…Tapper served as an assistant with the Wolves from 2014-16…First-year Griffin Jake Chelios made his AHL debut with Chicago on April 11, 2014 at Iowa and went on to skate in 45 games with the Wolves from 2013-15 and picked up 16 points (1-15—16)...Chicago has won back-to-back regular season Central Division titles.

Win Some, Lose Some: Compare the statistics between the Griffins’ eight wins and eight (including OT and SO) losses:

Back-to-Backs: This weekend marks the sixth of 26 times total this season the Griffins will play on consecutive nights.

Photo by Sam Iannamico/Griffins