Griffins' home unbeaten streak stands at 14

February 23, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


Comforts of Home: With a pair of 2-1 weekend wins over Hamilton and Milwaukee, the Griffins' closest pursuers in the Western Conference race, Grand Rapids extended its home winning streak to eight games and its franchise record home unbeaten streak to 14 games (11-0-3-0). Both remarkable runs will be put to the test this week, as the Griffins continue their five-game home stand against the Utah Grizzlies (Thu.), Chicago Wolves (Fri.) and Philadelphia Phantoms (Sun.). These three games will conclude the busiest two-month schedule of home games in the Griffins' eight seasons, with Sunday's matinee versus Philly marking their ninth home game during February and the 17th in friendly confines since the first of the year.

Lamothe Earns Start for Red Wings: Goalie Marc Lamothe, recalled from the Griffins by the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 12 to sub for the injured Curtis Joseph, is slated to start for the Red Wings tonight when they visit the Edmonton Oilers at 9 (live on Fox Sports Net Detroit and espn2). Lamothe saw his only previous NHL action during the 1999-2000 season, when he went 1-1-0 during a two-game stint with Chicago. One year after being named the AHL's top goaltender, the 29-year-old again ranks among the circuit's leaders with 18 wins (T3rd), a 1.88 goals against average (6th) and four shutouts (T5th), while showing an 18-12-5 record and a 0.928 save percentage in 36 games. Dating back to Nov. 13, Lamothe has surrendered two or fewer goals in 24 of his last 29 appearances. In just over a season and a half between the Griffins' pipes, Lamothe has already attained franchise career records for games played (96), minutes played (5572:55), shutouts (10) and saves (2,328), and places second all-time in wins (51), goals against average (2.03) and save percentage (0.925).

Promotional Schedule: While the Griffins battle Chicago on the ice on Friday, dogs from the Kent Animal Network will be available for adoption on the Van Andel Arena concourse. Fans finding a new best friend can begin the adoption process on the "Spot." The Griffins will wear their Red Wings-inspired third jerseys, and a post-game Throw for Dough will be held. During Sunday afternoon's tilt with Philadelphia, the annual Griff's Carnival will feature carnival and classic arcade games on the concourse for kids of all ages. Children can get free airbrush tattoos and experience magic at the Peter Piper's Pickles Kids' Station, and all fans who bring their skates can hit the ice for 45 minutes during the Stouffer's Post-Game Family Fun Skate.

View From the Top: The Griffins, who boast a 15-3-4-0 record since Jan. 9, remain in the driver's seat for the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy, awarded to the AHL's regular season points champion. With a 35-15-8-0 record, Grand Rapids owns the most wins and points (78) and the highest winning percentage (0.672) among the AHL's 28 teams.

Any Place, Any Time: Grand Rapids' 19 home wins (19-5-6-0) and 16 road victories (16-10-2-0) each tie for most in the league. No AHL team has lost fewer times before the home folks this season than the Griffins, who sport a remarkable 16-2-3-0 record at Van Andel Arena since Nov. 28. Both losses since that date were by a single goal.

Overtime Magic: With Friday's 2-1 overtime win against Hamilton, the Griffins now possess incredible overtime marks of 6-0-8 this season and 14-2-27 all-time as members of the AHL. Since suffering back-to-back overtime losses on the road in November 2002, Grand Rapids has now prevailed in each of its last nine regular season games in which a winner was decided in overtime. Four of the Griffins' six overtime wins this season have come at home during their record 14-game unbeaten streak at Van Andel Arena. Strangely, all four of those game-winning goals were netted within a span of just 17 seconds of overtime, coming at 2:40 by Kory Karlander on Friday, 2:40 by Kevin Miller on Jan. 17 versus St. John's, 2:44 by Hugo Boisvert on Jan. 16 against Chicago, and 2:27 by Jiri Hudler on Jan. 10 versus Cleveland.

Defense Never Rests: Over the last 16 games, the Griffins' defense has surrendered just 21 goals (1.29 GAA), helping Grand Rapids climb to third in the AHL rankings for goals allowed per game (1.91). The Griffins have shut-out four of their last eight opponents at Van Andel Arena, and have allowed just six goals in their last 525:49 on home ice (0.68 GAA), dating back to the first period of a 2-2 tie with Rochester on Jan. 21.

Big Mac: Since Marc Lamothe's recall to Detroit, Joey MacDonald has shown why he is considered the best backup goalie in the AHL, posting a 5-1-0-0 record with two shutouts, a 1.16 goals against average and a 0.960 save percentage (168-175). He extended his record home shutout streak to 242:18 before surrendering a goal to Hamilton on Friday, and his overall shutout streak of 153:40, snapped last Monday in Houston, fell 18 seconds shy of Lamothe's franchise record. MacDonald's 16-3-3 record overall gives him the highest winning percentage of any AHL goalie (0.795), and he ranks among the league leaders with a 1.84 GAA (5th) and a 0.940 save percentage (3rd). He owns a stellar 9-1-1 mark in his last 11 outings.

Mr. Clutch: Kevin Miller has factored in the scoring of the deciding goal in five of the Griffins' six overtime wins this season, notching a team-record three O.T. goals and contributing assists on two others. After assisting on Kory Karlander's overtime goal on Friday versus Hamilton, he recorded his eighth game-winning goal of the season in Saturday's 2-1 win over Milwaukee, giving him the second-highest total in the AHL this year and the third-highest ever for a Griffin in a single season behind Michel Picard (12 in 1996-97) and Mark Mowers (nine in 2002-03).

Power Surge: It's no coincidence that the Griffins, with power play goals in 16 of their last 22 games, possess a 15-3-4-0 record since Jan. 9. They've connected on 23-of-99 opportunities (23.2%) during the stretch, compiling a 14-0-2-0 mark in games in which they've scored during a man-advantage.

League Leaders: Six Griffins currently rank among the AHL's best in various categories: Danny Groulx - Plus-16 rating (5th among defensemen); Jiri Hudler - Plus-19 rating (T5th); Marc Lamothe - 1.88 GAA (6th), 18 wins (T3rd) and four shutouts (T5th); Joey MacDonald - 0.795 winning percentage (1st), 1.84 GAA (5th) and a 0.940 save percentage (3rd); Kevin Miller - Eight game-winning goals (2nd); and Nathan Robinson - 10 power play goals (T4th), six game-winning goals (T4th).

By the Numbers: Where the Griffins rank among the AHL's 28 teams in various statistical categories:
* Power Play: 46-for-267, 17.2% (3rd)
* Penalty Killing: 251-for-287, 87.5% (9th)
* Penalty Minutes: 16.33 avg. (25th)
* Goals For: 2.55 avg. (13th)
* Goals Against: 1.91 avg. (3rd)
* Shots For: 26.76 avg. (24th)
* Shots Against: 28.05 avg. (T10th)
* Attendance: 6,584 avg. (9th)

Top Guns: Jiri Hudler owns a six-game point streak (2-6-8) and has registered points in seven of eight games (2-8-10)...Jeff Nelson has points in eight of the last 10 games (4-5-9)...Kevin Miller has points in seven of the last 10 outings (5-3-8)...Ryan Barnes has tallied points in three of his last four appearances (2-2-4).

Griffins Earn Their Wings: Eleven members of the Griffins have contributed to the success of the Detroit Red Wings this season. Five of those players remain with Detroit:

Player GP G A PTS +/- PIM Avg. Ice Time
Mark Mowers 36 2 7 9 6 2 10:40
Niklas Kronwall (inj.) 20 1 4 5 5 16 13:51
Jamie Rivers 29 2 2 4 9 18 9:43

Goalie GP W L T SO GAA Save %
Curtis Joseph (inj.) *26 13 9 2 *2 2.44 0.905
Marc Lamothe 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.000
* Leads team

Red Wings Update: The Griffins are in the second season of a five-year affiliation with the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings stand in first place in the NHL's Central Division (35-16-8-2), following their 5-1 win over St. Louis on Friday. They'll visit Edmonton tonight at 9 (FSN/espn2).

This Week's Scouting Report

Thu., Feb. 26 vs. Utah Grizzlies (19-30-4-3) - Van Andel Arena - 7 p.m.

TV: None. Radio: WOOD 1300 AM/WHTC 1450 AM at 6:40 p.m. Season Series: 2-2-1-0 Overall, 1-1-1-0 Home. Sixth of eight meetings overall, fourth and final in Grand Rapids. All-Time Series: AHL: 11-14-2-0 Overall, 5-8-1-0 Home. Total: 19-19-3-0 Overall, 12-8-1-0 Home. Utah Affiliation: Dallas Stars. Head Coach: Don Hay (3rd season). Grin and Bear It: Grand Rapids (0.672) and Utah (0.402) possess the best and worst winning percentages, respectively, in the AHL...Still, the Grizzlies have been a thorn in the Griffins' side, splitting the season series to date...Utah was the last team to defeat the Griffins at Van Andel Arena (Dec. 31)...Both of the Grizzlies' two wins versus GR came by a score of 1-0...Utah has won three of its last four and four of its last six...Veteran Jarrod Skalde is tied for 17th in league scoring (19-24-43)...Michigan native Jason Bacashihua owns a 2.62 GAA and a 0.912 save percentage.

Fri., Feb. 27 vs. Chicago Wolves (28-19-7-3) - Van Andel Arena - 7:30 p.m.

TV: None locally. Radio: WOOD 1300 AM at 7:10 p.m. Season Series: 5-2-0-0 Overall, 3-0-0-0 Home. Eighth of 10 meetings overall, fourth of five in Grand Rapids. All-Time Series: AHL: 15-9-2-1 Overall, 8-3-2-0 Home. Total: 30-16-4-1 Overall, 15-5-4-0 Home. Chicago Affiliation: Atlanta Thrashers. Head Coach: John Anderson (7th season). Huffin' and Puffin': Dating back to the 2003 playoffs, the Griffins have won nine of the last 11 against their fiercest rival, including a pair of overtime wins this season...The Wolves are just 3-5-1-0 in their last nine overall and have lost four of their last five on the road...Chicago's scoring average of 2.95 stands third in the league...Steve Maltais ranks among the AHL's best with 46 points (T12th) and 23 goals (5th)...Kari Lehtonen, recently ranked by The Hockey News as the top NHL prospect in the world, is 15-11-1 with a 2.38 GAA.

Sun., Feb. 29 vs. Philadelphia Phantoms (32-18-5-1) - Van Andel Arena - 4 p.m.

TV: None. Radio: WOOD 1300 AM/WHTC 1450 AM at 3:40 p.m. Season Series: First of two meetings overall, first and only in Grand Rapids. All-Time Series: 2-0-0-0 Overall, 1-0-0-0 Home. Philadelphia Affiliation: Philadelphia Flyers. Head Coach: John Stevens (4th season). Spook Scoop: The Griffins claimed both meetings with the Phantoms last season, winning 3-1 in Philly (Jan. 25, 2003) and 5-2 in Grand Rapids (Feb. 12, 2003)...The Phantoms are fifth in the AHL with 70 points and a 0.625 winning percentage...Philly averages over 29 penalty minutes per game, most in the league...The Phantoms rank fifth in goals allowed (2.18) and third in shots allowed (26.05)...Kirby Law, currently with the parent Flyers, stands sixth in the AHL with 54 points (21-33-54)...Former Griffin Neil Little is seventh with a 1.93 GAA.

This Week's Games:
Thu., Feb. 26 Utah Grizzlies at GRIFFINS 7 p.m. WOOD 1300 AM/WHTC 1450 AM
Fri., Feb. 27 Chicago Wolves at GRIFFINS 7:30 p.m. WOOD 1300 AM
Sun., Feb. 29 Philadelphia Phantoms at GRIFFINS 4 p.m. WOOD 1300 AM/WHTC 1450 AM

Last Week's Results:
Mon., Feb. 16 GRIFFINS 3 at Houston Aeros 1 33-14-8-0, 74 pts. (1st, West Division)
Wed., Feb. 18 GRIFFINS 1 at Houston Aeros 4 33-15-8-0, 74 pts. (1st)


Fri., Feb. 20 Hamilton Bulldogs 1 at GRIFFINS 2 OT 34-15-8-0, 76 pts. (1st)
Sat., Feb. 21 Milwaukee Admirals 1 at GRIFFINS 2 35-15-8-0, 78 pts. (1st)



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 23, 2004


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