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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Busy week features three games versus conference powers

March 13, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


It's Great to be Back: Sunday's 7-3 win in Chicago enabled Grand Rapids to become the first Western Conference team to qualify for the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs, as it earned a postseason bid for the eighth time in 10 seasons. The Griffins, who pace the AHL with 45 wins, 95 points and a 0.720 winning percentage, now own an 11-point lead over Syracuse in the North Division race, as they take aim at their third division title in five AHL seasons (Central in 2003, West in 2002). Their magic numbers for securing the division crown stand at 19 points over Manitoba, 18 over Syracuse and 10 over Toronto.

Tough Test: The victory in Chicago on Sunday began a five-games-in-seven-nights stretch for the Griffins. Three of their four remaining games will be contested against Western Conference powers Milwaukee (87 pts., 2nd West) on Tuesday, Manitoba (83 pts., 3rd North) on Wednesday, and Toronto (72 pts., 4th North) on Saturday. In fact, Saturday's game against the Marlies at Van Andel Arena will present a likely preview of the North Division semifinals.

Weekly Promotions: Tickets are going fast for the Griffins' home games this Friday versus Cleveland (3,000 remaining) and Saturday against Toronto (600). The promotional lineup for the week includes:

- Wednesday - Visit wgrd.com for a coupon offering a lower bowl ticket for $10;

- Friday - St. Patty's celebration includes Irish food specials, half-price green beer, and music from funkadelic classic rock group Mo Biggsley. It's Student Night, and all high school and college students showing their I.D. at the box office the night of the game can purchase a $10 lower bowl ticket;

- Saturday - "American Idol" and country music star Josh Gracin will sing the national anthem and perform one of his hits during each intermission, presented by Chemical Bank and B-93.7 FM. Gracin will also sign autographs for fans from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Back End Alignment: The Griffins have made two valuable additions to their defense in the last four days, receiving Brett Lebda on assignment from the Detroit Red Wings (Friday) and signing Terry Virtue (Monday). In 43 games with the Red Wings this season, Lebda tallied 12 points (3-9-12) along with a plus-9 rating that ties for fifth among NHL rookies. After recording a goal and an assist in his return on Sunday, he shows nine points (3-6-9) in 12 games with the Griffins this year. Virtue, a 15-year veteran, two-time Calder Cup champion and two-time AHL All-Star, is expected to make his debut with Grand Rapids this Friday.

Scoring Binge Continues: The Griffins' 18 goals over the past three games, their most for any such stretch this season, have pushed their AHL-leading total to 268, 11 short of the franchise record of 279 set in 2000-01.

Rare Combination: Darryl Bootland netted his first hat trick as a Griffin last Wednesday versus Peoria, then increased his career-best goal total to 23 on Sunday against Chicago. Currently among the league leaders in both goals (T30th) and penalty minutes (290, 2nd), he has become the first AHL player in eight years to record 20 goals and 200 penalty minutes in the same season. Now, he is poised to become the first AHL player in 11 years to post 20 goals/300 PIM. Former Griffin Matt Ruchty was the last of eight players in league history to accomplish the feat, notching 26 goals and 348 PIM for Albany in 1994-95.

Nobody Does it Better: After breaking Michel Picard's nine-year-old franchise record for goals (46) on March 5 versus Rochester, Donald MacLean hit the 50-goal plateau with two lamplighters on Sunday at Chicago. He became the first player in five seasons (Hartford's Brad Smyth in 2000-01) and the 46th player in AHL history to reach the golden milestone. Already the owner of the longest point streak in Griffins history (19 games) from earlier this season, MacLean extended his goal-scoring streak to seven games, eclipsing the record of six held by Jiri Hudler, Kip Miller and Pavol Demitra. His unprecedented success can further be seen in the following numbers:

0 - Griffins players who have led the league in goals (Binghamton's Denis Hamel currently stands second with 44);

0.61 - MacLean's goals-per-game average for his Griffins career (previous franchise record = 0.45, Mark Mowers);

0.78 - MacLean's goals-per-game average this season (franchise record = 0.56, Michel Picard in 1996-97);

4 - Points needed to reach 400 for his 435-game AHL career;

27 - Games, out of the last 28, in which MacLean has recorded a point (30-16-46);

33 - Players in AHL history who have scored at least 51 goals, his next increment;

34 - Games, out of the last 36, in which he has recorded a point (38-20-58);

49 - Goals scored by MacLean in his last 55 outings (0.89 per game);

52 - Grand Rapids pro hockey record for goals scored in a single season (George Parker, 1950-51 IHL Rockets);

60 - MacLean's current goal-scoring pace, a total that would tie for fourth in AHL history;

75 - Points by MacLean this season, fourth (tied) in the AHL and eighth on the Griffins' single-season chart.

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