AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins to Spend Thanksgiving with Old Friends

Published on November 25, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Road Warriors: The AHL's only undefeated road team (5-0-1-0) will put that status to the test this Wednesday, when the Griffins begin a five-game road swing against the Hershey Bears at 7:30 p.m. On Thanksgiving evening, the Griffins will visit the Binghamton Senators at 6:05 p.m. in the day's only AHL action, and they'll wrap-up the week on Saturday with a trip to the Windy City and an 8:00 p.m. contest against the defending Calder Cup champion Chicago Wolves. During the entire five-game sojourn, which concludes with games in San Antonio (Dec. 2) and Houston (Dec. 4), the Griffins will log 4,373 miles by bus and plane.

The (Un)Beat Goes On: The Griffins have not tasted defeat since a 4-2 loss to Houston at Van Andel Arena on Oct. 24, giving them a franchise-record 13-game unbeaten streak (10-0-3-0). Grand Rapids is riding the AHL's hottest streak since the 1999-2000 Rochester Americans posted a 14-game run (12-0-2-0). The 1947-48 Cleveland Barons established the AHL record with an incredible 27-game unbeaten streak (21-0-6).

Central Issues: Grand Rapids sits atop the Central Division standings at 11-3-4-0 (26 pts.), eight points ahead of Cincinnati. The Griffins are 11-1-4-0 (0.813) since their 0-2 start, and their 0.722 overall mark places them third in both the Western Conference and the entire AHL. Only the 2000-01 Griffins collected more points during their first 18 games (12-3-3, 27 pts.), while last year's squad also garnered 26 points out of the gate (13-5-0-0).

Family Reunion: Thanksgiving's battle in Binghamton will represent the first meeting of the season between the current and former affiliates of the Ottawa Senators. The Griffins served as Ottawa's top farm club the last three seasons (1999-2002), claiming more wins (146), points (319) and division titles (three) than any other Triple-A level team during that span. While seven current Griffins played for Grand Rapids last season, the Senators boast 13 players who spent time with the 2001-02 West Division champions.

Turkey Day: The Griffins have only played one other game on Thanksgiving Day during their history. On Nov. 27, 1997, Michel Picard's two goals led Grand Rapids to a 3-1 road win against the IHL's Fort Wayne Komets.

November to Remember: With a 6-0-2-0 mark at home during November, the Griffins went undefeated at home during a calendar month for the first time in their history (excluding a 1-0-0 home mark during April 2000). Back in the days of IHL shootout losses, Grand Rapids twice went an entire month without suffering a regulation loss on home ice: Nov. 2000 (6-0-1) and Mar. 1996 (3-0-2). The Griffins, who have never experienced a calendar month in which they did not suffer a regulation loss, are 8-0-3-0 overall during November with three road games remaining.

Home Sweet Home: Since their 0-3-1-0 start at home, the Griffins are 6-0-2-0 in their last eight at Van Andel Arena. The franchise record for a home unbeaten streak is 10 games (10-0-0, Dec. 22, 2000-Jan. 26, 2001).

Road Kill: The Griffins won their first three road contests this season to tie a franchise record (2000-01 and 2001-02), and their 11 points in six road games marks a franchise-best road start (5-1-0, 2001-02). Undefeated in six contests away from Van Andel Arena, the Griffins are within striking distance of the team record of eight straight road games without a loss, set last season (5-0-3-0, Jan. 6-Feb. 2, 2002).

Lamothe Sets Another Mark: Marc Lamothe continued his incredible start last week by extending his personal unbeaten streak to 12 games (8-0-4), breaking the individual mark established by Simon Lajeunesse (7-0-3) last season. The AHL's Player of the Week for Nov. 18 has not lost since opening night, posting a 1.70 GAA and a 0.938 save percentage during his streak. For the season, Lamothe ranks among the AHL's leaders with a 2.03 GAA (3rd), a 0.926 save percentage (T4th), eight wins (T1st) and two shutouts (T2nd).

The More Things Change...: After leading the AHL in both goals allowed (2.23) and shots allowed (25.34) last season, the Griffins currently rank second in the league in goals allowed (2.28) and fourth in shots allowed (27.78). During their current 13-game unbeaten streak, they've allowed only 23 goals.

One-Two Punch: While Marc Lamothe has earned most of the kudos for Grand Rapids' current record, rookie Joey MacDonald has proven to be an exceptional backup. He owns a 0.906 save percentage and a 2.46 GAA that ranks 14th in the AHL.

Mr. Overtime: Dave Van Drunen has factored in two of the Griffins' three overtime goals this season. He assisted on Travis Richards' game-winner in a 2-1 victory at Rochester on Oct. 25 that began the team's current 13-game unbeaten streak, then scored the game-winner off a pass from Mark Mowers with 26 ticks remaining in the extra session on Friday against San Antonio to extend the run. The fourth-year Griffins defenseman leads his team with a plus-11 rating.

League Leaders: Mark Mowers (7-15-22) and Michel Picard (8-14-22) are tied for fifth in the AHL scoring race, while Mowers is also tied for fifth with 15 assists.

Player Notes: Tomas Kopecky on Friday notched the first two-goal game of his young career...Michel Picard has points in six of his last seven games (4-6-10)...Derek King extended his scoring streak to three games (1-4-5) on Friday before sustaining a severe hamstring strain...After experiencing his first two-game scoring drought this season, Mark Mowers responded with three points (1-2-3) over the weekend...Since earning an assist in his third game with Grand Rapids, Stacy Roest has not gone more than one game without a point, earning marks in 12 of the last 15 games (3-12-15)...Rob Collins has points in four of the last five games (2-4-6), seven of the last nine (3-6-9) and nine of the last 12 (4-7-11).

Answering the Call: On Saturday the Griffins recalled center Nathan Robinson from ECHL Toledo and defenseman Philippe Plante from UHL Muskegon, and both players paid immediate dividends for Grand Rapids' depleted lineup. In that night's 4-2 win over Cleveland, Robinson chipped in two assists and Plante netted the game-winner, helping the Griffins withstand the absences of Travis Richards, Derek King and Patrick Boileau due to injuries. Plante has a point in each of his last two games with the Griffins (1-1-2).

Working Overtime: Last season, Grand Rapids was the only AHL squad that did not sustain an overtime loss (two overtime wins and 11 ties). The trend continues this season, as the Griffins have three wins and four ties in seven extra sessions, following Friday night's 3-2 win against San Antonio. No other AHL team has played as many overtime games this season without suffering a loss.

By the Numbers: Where the Griffins rank among the AHL's 28 teams in various statistical categories:
* Attendance: 6,645 avg. (6th)
* Power Play: 19-for-124, 15.3% (19th)
* Penalty Killing: 93-for-111, 83.8% (15th)
* Penalty Minutes: 20.0 avg. (21st)
* Goals For: 3.11 avg. (12th)
* Goals Against: 2.28 avg. (2nd)
* Shots For: 30.00 avg. (16th)
* Shots Against: 27.78 avg. (4th)

Teddy Bear Toss: When the Griffins scored their first goal against Cleveland on Saturday, fans showered the ice surface with 1,100 stuffed animals as part of the team's third annual Teddy Bear Toss. The toys were donated to Grand Rapids Police and Fire Departments, which will distribute them to needy children.

Griffins Alumni Report: Rookie NHL head coach Bruce Cassidy's Washington Capitals are fourth in the Southeast Division with a 9-10-2-0 record...Kip Miller is tied for fourth on the Caps with 11 assists and tied for fifth with 14 points...Florida's Jani Hurme (2-2-5) has a 2.30 GAA and a 0.930 save percentage...Ottawa's Patrick Lalime (8-6-2) owns a 2.45 GAA and a 0.907 save percentage, while Martin Prusek (2-0-0) shows a 3.00 GAA and a 0.911%...Todd White and Petr Schastlivy are tied for sixth on the Sens with nine points apiece. Schastlivy's six goals place third on the team, while White's five tallies rank fourth.

Red Wings Update: The Griffins are in the first season of a five-year affiliation with the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings are tied with St. Louis for first place in the NHL's Central Division with an 11-6-3-0 record, following a 1-1 tie at Edmonton on Saturday. They'll host Edmonton tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Get Your Tickets: Tickets for all regular season games at Van Andel Arena are currently on sale. Fans can visit either location of The Zone (Van Andel Arena store or Rivertown Crossings Mall kiosk) or any Tickets PLUS location (including Meijer stores), call 222-4000/800-585-3737 or visit www.griffinshockey.com. Full-season ticket packages, mini-plans and group tickets for all Griffins games are currently available by calling 800-2-HOCKEY.

This Week's Scouting Report

Wed., Nov. 27 at Hershey Bears - Giant Center - 7:30 p.m.

TV: None. Radio: WOOD 1300 AM/WHTC 1450 AM at 7:10 p.m. Season Series: First of two meetings overall, first and only in Hershey. All-Time Series: 2-0-0-0 Overall, 1-0-0-0 Road. Hershey Affiliation: Colorado Avalanche. Head Coach: Mike Foligno (5th season). The Bear Facts: After 64 years at Hersheypark Arena, the Bears moved into the new 10,500-seat Giant Center in October...Hershey's 10-4-2-1 record is good for second in the South Division...The Bears are undefeated in their last four (3-0-1-0) overall and own a 6-1-2-0 record at home...Philippe Sauve places among the AHL's best with eight wins (T1st) and a 2.17 GAA (5th)...Charlie Stephens' 16 points are tied for fourth among rookies...The Bears have the AHL's second-best power play (20.2%).

Thu., Nov. 28 at Binghamton Senators - Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena - 6:05 p.m.

TV: None. Radio: WOOD 1300 AM/WHTC 1450 AM at 5:40 p.m. Season Series: First of two meetings overall, first and only in Binghamton. All-Time Series: First meeting. Binghamton Affiliation: Ottawa Senators. Head Coach: John Paddock (1st season). Senate Majority: Binghamton this season has an AHL team for the first time since 1996-97...A sellout crowd of 4,680 is expected on Thanksgiving for a long-standing Binghamton hockey tradition...13 members of the Senators spent time with the Griffins last season...Binghamton is 8-8-2-1 on the season...The Sens allow only 2.58 goals (6th) and 26.74 shots (1st) per game...Ray Emery, who was on the Griffins' playoff roster, is ninth in the AHL with a 2.36 GAA...Josef Boumedienne leads the team with 15 points.

Sat., Nov. 30 at Chicago Wolves - Allstate Arena - 8:00 p.m.

TV: None. Radio: WOOD 1300 AM/WHTC 1450 AM at 7:40 p.m. Season Series: 1-0-1-0 Overall, 0-0-0-0 Road. Third of eight meetings overall, first of four in Chicago. All-Time Series: AHL: 8-5-1-0 Overall, 3-3-0-0 Road. Total: 23-12-3-0 Overall, 11-8-0-0 Road. Chicago Affiliation: Atlanta Thrashers. Head Coach: John Anderson (6th season). Hungry Like the Wolf: The defending AHL champs are last in the West Division at 5-9-1-2, behind expansion San Antonio, and rank 12th out of 14 teams in the conference...The Wolves are 2-3-0-1 at home...Chicago's ever-dangerous power play is tied for sixth in the league at 17.9%...26 of their 53 goals have been scored with the advantage...The Wolves rank fourth in the league in PIM (26.8 per game)...Norm Maracle owns a 3.02 GAA, and Steve Maltais paces the club with 15 points.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 25, 2002


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