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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins Finally Pack Their Bags

November 6, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Uno, Dos, Tres: Saturday's 5-4 shootout win over Manitoba was the third straight victory for both goaltender Jimmy Howard and the Griffins, who completed their season-high eight-game homestand with a 4-3-0-1 mark. They'll finish off a rare four-game set against the Moose with games on Tuesday and Wednesday at the MTS Centre.

On the Road Again: Tuesday's game in Winnipeg will be the Griffins' first road contest since Oct. 13 in Toronto (25 days previous), when they beat the Marlies 4-2 to improve to 2-0-1-0 on foreign ice.

Working for the Weekend: This weekend's home games against Milwaukee and Albany will mark the Griffins' fourth consecutive Friday-Saturday set at Van Andel Arena. Friday's game versus the Admirals - their first meeting since Milwaukee's 4-0 triumph in the 2006 Western Conference Finals - is the fourth of nine straight Friday home games for Grand Rapids. It's another Student Night, as all college and high school students can purchase a lower bowl ticket for only $10 with a valid student ID. In addition, the Wendy's Friday Family Four Pack offers four small single combos from Wendy's and four Griffins tickets for $44. Saturday's first-ever clash with the River Rats will conclude the Griffins' run of five consecutive Saturdays at home. An autograph session with Griffins players will be held after the game.

So Long: After scoring a goal and an assist Friday to extend his point streak to 11 games - tying for the fifth-longest run in franchise history - Valtteri Filppula was recalled by the Detroit Red Wings. He has appeared in five games with the Wings this season, scoring his first NHL goal against Manny Legace in Detroit's 3-2 win at St. Louis on Oct. 28 and adding an assist in Saturday's win over Columbus.

Turn it Up: Since being shut-out 4-0 by Toronto on Oct. 27 and averaging 2.75 goals per game over their first eight contests, the Griffins have responded by outscoring their opposition 15-6 during their three-game winning streak.

Big Week: Jimmy Howard made 23 saves in Friday's 4-0 victory over the Moose to earn his first shutout of the season and the third of his career. He followed that up by matching his career high of 40 saves in Saturday's 5-4 shootout win, posting his third straight victory. He currently ranks among the AHL's leaders with five wins (T4th), one shutout (T1st) and a 2.39 GAA (9th). The Griffins have earned points in six of Howard's seven starts this season (5-2-0), including an overtime loss.

Two and Counting: After going without a goal in his first 72 pro games last season - 62 with Hamilton and 10 with Edmonton - Danny Syvret has lit the lamp twice in 11 games as a Griffin. During his incomparable 2004-05 junior campaign with London, he potted 23 goals en route to winning the Memorial Cup and being named the Canadian Major Junior Defenseman of the Year.

Back in Style: After recording a plus-one rating while averaging 12:16 in ice time in two games with Detroit last Wednesday and Thursday, Kyle Quincey returned to the Griffins' lineup on Friday to post the game-winning goal and an assist. Quincey, who is tied for the scoring lead among Grand Rapids defensemen (2-4-6) and sixth overall on the team, played four games in as many nights last week between the two clubs.

Old Faithful: Griffins leading scorer Kip Miller is tied for 17th in AHL scoring with 13 points (5-8-13), having figured on the scoresheet in nine of the team's 11 games. He had a season-high two goals and three points in Saturday's 5-4 shootout win over Manitoba, forcing overtime with his second goal and scoring the clincher in the shootout en route to first star honors.

Mr. Consistency: Both Matt Ellis and Josh Langfeld have yet to go three games without a goal this season, while Kip Miller has not yet had so much as a two-game point drought.

Sore Spot: Grand Rapids has allowed four or more goals in a game six times already this season. Saturday's 5-4 shootout win over Manitoba marked the first time they won on such an occasion (1-3-1-1).

Scouting Report

Tue., Nov. 7 at Manitoba Moose (3-6-1-2) - MTS Centre - 8:30 p.m.

Wed., Nov. 8 at Manitoba Moose - MTS Centre - 8:30 p.m.

Radio: WTKG 1230 AM at 8:10 p.m. (Tue.) and WOOD 1300 AM at 8:10 p.m. (Wed.). Web Casts: Video ($6 - B2 Networks) and audio (free) available through griffinshockey.com. Season Series: 2-0-0-0 Overall, 0-0-0-0 Road. Third and fourth of eight meetings overall, first and second of four in Winnipeg. All-Time Series (W-L-T-OTL-SOL): 32-14-1-0-4 Overall, 15-8-0-0-0 Road. NHL Affiliation: Vancouver Canucks. Head Coach: Scott Arniel (1st season). Notes: The MTS Centre was very kind last season to Grand Rapids, which posted records of 3-1 during the regular season and 2-1 during the playoffs at the venue...After going 2-0 in shootouts while stopping 11 of 13 shots (84.6%) during his Griffins career, Drew MacIntyre is 0-2 in shootouts with the Moose this season, having stopped only five of nine attempts (55.6%).

Fri., Nov. 10 vs. Milwaukee Admirals (2-3-1-0) - Van Andel Arena - 7 p.m.

Radio: WOOD 1300 AM at 6:59 p.m. Web Cast: Video ($6 - B2 Networks) and audio (free) available through griffinshockey.com. Season Series: First of eight meetings overall, first of four in Grand Rapids. All-Time Series (W-L-T-OTL-SOL): 41-22-7-1-3 Overall, 24-9-2-0-0 Home. NHL Affiliation: Nashville Predators. Head Coach: Claude Noel (4th season). Notes: Milwaukee swept the Griffins in the 2006 Western Conference Finals, taking each of the last three games by a single goal...By Friday, the Admirals will have played only six games - half as many as 10 AHL teams, including five in their own division - during the season's first 37 days. But starting that night, they'll play 14 games in just 21 days (through Nov. 29).

Sat., Nov. 11 vs. Albany River Rats (4-6-1-0) - Van Andel Arena - 7 p.m.

Radio: WOOD 1300 AM at 7 p.m. Web Cast: Video ($6 - B2 Networks) and audio (free) available through griffinshockey.com. Season Series: First of two meetings overall, first and only in Grand Rapids. All-Time Series (W-L-T-OTL-SOL): First meeting. NHL Affiliation: Carolina Hurricanes. Head Coach: Tom Rowe (1st season). Notes: The River Rats have not qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs since 2000, a six-year drought that is twice as long as any other AHL team's...Albany is in its first year of affiliation with the 2006 Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, following 13 seasons with the New Jersey Devils...David Gove had a 17-game stint with the Griffins in 2001-02, scoring six points (2-4-6).

This Week's Games

Tue., Nov. 7 GRIFFINS at Manitoba Moose 8:30 p.m. WTKG 1230 AM/B2 Networks

Wed., Nov. 8 GRIFFINS at Manitoba Moose 8:30 p.m. WOOD 1300 AM/B2

Fri., Nov. 10 Milwaukee Admirals at GRIFFINS 7 p.m. WOOD/B2

Sat., Nov. 11 Albany River Rats at GRIFFINS 7 p.m. WOOD/B2

Last Week's Results

Fri., Nov. 3 Manitoba Moose 0 at GRIFFINS 4 5-3-1-1, 12 pts. (2nd, North Division)

Sat., Nov. 4 Manitoba Moose 4 at GRIFFINS 5 SO 6-3-1-1, 14 pts. (2nd)

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