Griffins Prepare for Pair of Games at Tucson
April 4, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
This Week's Games
GRIFFINS at Tucson Roadrunners // Fri., April 6 // 10:05 p.m. EDT // Tucson Arena
GRIFFINS at Tucson Roadrunners // Sat., April 7 // 10:05 p.m. EDT // Tucson Arena
Listen: WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM at 9:35 p.m. both nights
Watch: AHLLive.com
Season Series: 0-0-0-0 Road, 1-1-0-0 Overall. Third and fourth of four meetings overall, first and second of two at Tucson Arena
All-Time Series: 0-0-0-0 Road, 1-1-0-0 Overall
NHL Affiliation: Arizona Coyotes
Noteworthy: Grand Rapids will play its first game in the state of Arizona since facing off against the IHL's Phoenix Roadrunners on March 5, 1997.
Last Week's Results
Wed., March 28 Texas Stars 2 at GRIFFINS 3 SO 37-24-1-7 (82 pts, 3rd Central Division)
Fri., March 30 San Jose Barracuda 2 at GRIFFINS 3 SO 38-24-1-7 (84 pts, 3rd)
Sat., March 31 GRIFFINS 6 at Milwaukee Admirals 2 39-24-1-7 (86 pts, T2nd)
Opening Faceoff: The Grand Rapids Griffins have points in seven consecutive games (6-0-0-1) and tie Manitoba for second in the Central Division. The Griffins' magic number to clinch a franchise-record sixth consecutive Calder Cup Playoff berth is three. Grand Rapids continues its five-game road trip this week when it visits the Pacific Division-leading Tucson Roadrunners for games Friday and Saturday.
Follow the Leaders:
Points: Eric Tangradi (29-31-60), Ben Street (19-41-60)
Goals: Tangradi (29)
Assists: Street (41)
PIM: Dylan McIlrath (117)
Plus-Minus: Filip Hronek (+21)
Goaltender Wins: Jared Coreau (20)
Goals Against Average: Coreau (2.47)
Save Percentage: Coreau (0.916)
Last Week's Notes:
Wednesday vs. Texas: The Griffins saw their third straight game decided in a shootout...Three rookies (Filip Hronek, Luke Esposito, Axel Holmstrom) scored in the five-round shootout, with Holmstrom's being the winner...Grand Rapids outshot Texas 42-20...Hronek scored his ninth goal of the season at 11:57 of the second period...Ben Street lit the lamp for the 17th time 35 seconds into the third...Grand Rapids is 2-2-0-1 in the season series against Texas and the teams will play their sixth and final game on April 11 in Cedar Park...Tom McCollum recorded 18 saves to log his fourth consecutive victory, which ties a season high for the team.
Friday vs. San Jose: The Griffins played their fourth straight game that extended beyond regulation...Luke Esposito and Matt Puempel both scored in the four-round shootout, with Puempel's being the winner...Tom McCollum recorded 33 saves and stopped 3-of-4 attempts in the shootout to win his team-high fifth consecutive start...Dylan McIlrath posted his fifth goal of the campaign just 16 seconds into the second period...Ben Street recorded a goal for the second straight game when he lit the lamp at 7:10 of the third period.
Saturday at Milwaukee: Grand Rapids has points in six straight road games (5-0-0-1)...After falling behind by two goals at the 10:35 mark of the second period, the Griffins scored six unanswered goals to close the game...Eric Tangradi posted a season-high four points (2-2-4), the second Griffin this year with four points (Turner Elson, Oct. 6 vs. MB)...Ben Street added a goal and two assists while defenseman Robbie Russo banked a goal and an assist...Tom McCollum pushed his winning streak to six games after stopping 28-of-30 shots...The Griffins have won seven straight regular season meetings at Panther Arena.
Walleye Report: Under second-year head coach Dan Watson, the ECHL's Toledo Walleye have clinched the regular season's Central Division and lead the Western Conference with 103 points (49-16-3-2 record). Tyler Barnes (20-31-51) and Kyle Bonis (26-24-50) lead the team in scoring while Griffins-contracted Mike Borkowski (19-29-48) ties for third. Griffins-contracted and 2018 ECHL All-Star Pat Nagle leads the league with 36 victories (36-5-4) while his 2.15 GAA ranks third and his 0.926 save percentage places fourth.
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American Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2018
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- Sens Edged by Thunderbirds - Belleville Senators
- Roy Nets Four Points as Checkers Flatten Phantoms - Charlotte Checkers
- Sateri Shines in 2-1 T-Birds Win in Belleville - Springfield Thunderbirds
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- Spectra to Introduce Four New Concession Concepts to Sens Fans at Yardmen Arena - Belleville Senators
- Strome Named to 2017-18 AHL All-Rookie Team - Tucson Roadrunners
- Tom Kostopoulos to Retire Following 2017-18 Season - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Bears Weekly: Bears Visit Charlotte for Final Road Trip - Hershey Bears
- Syracuse Crunch Release Craig Wyszomirski from PTO - Syracuse Crunch
- Appleton and Niku Named to AHL All-Rookie Team - Manitoba Moose
- San Antonio Rampage Goaltender Ville Husso Named to 2017-18 AHL All-Rookie Team - San Antonio Rampage
- Filip Hronek Named to 2017-18 AHL All-Rookie Team - Grand Rapids Griffins
- 2017-18 American Hockey League All-Rookie Team Announced - AHL
- Daniel Sprong Named to AHL All-Rookie Team - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Danforth Named to ECHL All-Rookie Squad - Rochester Americans
- Rampage Sign Defenseman Turner Ottenbreit to Amateur Tryout Contract - San Antonio Rampage
- San Jose Barracuda Announce Schedule Change - San Jose Barracuda
- Coyotes Recall Mermis from Tucson - Tucson Roadrunners
- Griffins Prepare for Pair of Games at Tucson - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Flames Terminate Emergency Recall for Defenseman Oliver Kylington - Stockton Heat
- Downtown Career Fair Returns to the Blue Cross Arena on Friday, April 6 - Rochester Americans
- Comets Sign Defenseman Nolan Valleau, Release Forward Zac Lynch - Utica Comets
- Panthers Reassign F Owen Tippett to Thunderbirds - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Red Wings Assign Three to Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Senators Sign Sturtz to ATO - Belleville Senators
- Game Day Build-Up: Senators vs. Thunderbirds, April 4 - Belleville Senators
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- Milwaukee Sinks Wolves; Magic Numbers Now 2 - Chicago Wolves
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