AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Griffins Visit Rochester for Possible Playoff Preview

Published on January 22, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Looking Ahead: The Griffins will conclude a four-game road swing against North Division rivals by visiting the first-place Rochester Americans this Wednesday and Friday. The Griffins have won their last three games against Rochester, outscoring the Amerks 11-3 during a trio of December victories at Van Andel Arena. If the season were to end today, Rochester and fourth-place Grand Rapids would meet in the North Division Semifinals.

Ace in the Hole: Grand Rapids will host the Toronto Marlies this Saturday in its final game before the AHL All-Star break, hoping to snap a series streak of eight consecutive victories by the visiting club. American Idol star Ace Young will sign autographs for fans before the game and perform live during the first intermission.

On the Tube: Comcast Local will provide live telecasts of three AHL events over the next eight days to hockey fans throughout Michigan. The package begins with Saturday's game between the Griffins and Marlies and concludes with coverage of the AHL All-Star Skills Competition (Sunday) and the AHL All-Star Game (Monday). All events start at 7 p.m.

Road Life: The Griffins have already played 25 of their 40 home games, meaning 21 of their final 36 games will be contested in hostile territory, where they are 9-8-2-0 this season.

Fare Thee Well: After going 1-1 with a 2.93 GAA and a 0.898 save percentage in two games during his conditioning stint with the Griffins, goaltender Joey MacDonald was recalled by the Red Wings on Friday. He allowed two goals on 30 shots in Detroit's 3-1 loss at Colorado on Saturday, giving him a 0-3-1 record, a 3.32 GAA and a 0.875 save percentage in his debut NHL season.

Miss You: Goaltender Jimmy Howard has missed the last eight games due to injury and faces an uncertain return, an unfortunate circumstance considering his success against this week's foes. Howard is 3-1 against Rochester with a 1.75 GAA and a 0.937 save percentage, and 2-1 versus Toronto with a 1.76 GAA and a 0.946 save percentage.

Midwinter Drought: Grand Rapids scored just a single goal in both of its losses at Hamilton over the weekend, equaling its lowest two-game output of the season. In their last four games, the Griffins have totaled only six goals while logging one shootout win and three losses.

Fight the Power: The Griffins have killed off 44 of their opponents' last 46 power play chances overall, including 24 of the last 25 on the road. They've also denied 32 of the last 33 at home.

Down on the Farm: Following his assignment to the Toledo Storm last Wednesday, Evan McGrath enjoyed a stellar ECHL debut, scoring a power play goal, adding an assist and finishing with a plus-2 rating and 2nd Star honors in a 4-0 win over Cincinnati on Friday. In three games with Toledo, McGrath shows four points (1-3-4), a plus-4 rating and two penalty minutes.

Kudos: Jonathan Ericsson's 22 points (4-18-22) tie him for 13th among AHL defensemen and third among first-year blueliners...Kip Miller is tied for 18th in AHL scoring with a team-high 43 points (15-28-43)...Matt Ellis' 164 shots rank fourth in the league...Josh Langfeld has points in six of his last eight games as a Griffin (3-4-7).

Shining Stars: Center Kip Miller (captain, PlanetUSA AHL All-Stars) and defenseman Derek Meech (Canadian AHL All-Stars) will represent the Griffins at the 2007 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic, Jan. 28-29 in Toronto. Both players will make their first AHL All-Star Classic appearances alongside a pair of former Griffins, defenseman Sheldon Brookbank of the Milwaukee Admirals and starting forward Alexandre Giroux of the Hershey Bears.

Scouting Report

Wed., Jan. 24 at Rochester Americans (29-12-1-0) - Blue Cross Arena - 7:05 p.m.

Fri., Jan. 26 at Rochester Americans - Blue Cross Arena - 7:35 p.m.

Radio: WOOD 1300 AM at 6:59 p.m. (Wed.) and 7:10 p.m. (Fri.). Web Casts: Video ($6 - B2 Networks) and audio (free) available through griffinshockey.com. Season Series: 3-1-0-0 Overall, 0-0-0-0 Road. Fifth of eight meetings overall, first of four in Rochester. All-Time Series (W-L-T-OTL-SOL): 13-8-1-0-0 Overall, 4-5-0-0-0 Road. NHL Affiliations: Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers. Head Coach: Randy Cunneyworth (7th season). Notes: The final four games of the eight-game season series will take place in Rochester...The first-place Amerks own a six-point lead over Manitoba in the North Division race...Rochester is the league's fifth-best offense at 3.74 goals per game. The Americans are averaging only 1.75 goals versus the Griffins but 3.95 against the rest of the AHL...Clarke MacArthur ranks eighth in AHL scoring with 50 points (17-33-50)...Kip Miller has registered nine points (2-7-9) in four games against Rochester this season.

Sat., Jan. 27 vs. Toronto Marlies (18-23-2-3) - Van Andel Arena - 7 p.m.

TV: Comcast Local at 7 p.m. Radio: WOOD 1300 AM at 7 p.m. Web Casts: Video ($6 - B2 Networks) and audio (free) available through griffinshockey.com. Season Series: 2-2-0-0 Overall, 0-2-0-0 Home. Fifth of eight meetings overall, third of four in Grand Rapids. All-Time Series (W-L-T-OTL-SOL): 5-5-0-0-0 Overall, 2-3-0-0-0 Home. NHL Affiliation: Toronto Maple Leafs. Head Coach: Greg Gilbert (1st season). Notes: Including the 2006 playoffs, the visiting team has won the last eight clashes between the Griffins and Marlies, including three Toronto victories at Van Andel Arena...Matt Ellis has four goals in four games against Toronto...Marlies defenseman Staffan Kronwall is the brother of former Griffin and current Red Wing Niklas...Justin Pogge earned his first pro win by making 49 saves in a 4-0 blanking of the Griffins on Oct. 27, setting a record for the most saves made by an opposing goalie in a shutout of Grand Rapids...Toronto is 14-10-0-2 on the road but just 4-13-2-1 at home.

This Week's Games

Wed., Jan. 24 GRIFFINS at Rochester Americans 7:05 p.m. WOOD 1300 AM/B2 Networks

Fri., Jan. 26 GRIFFINS at Rochester Americans 7:35 p.m. WOOD/B2

Sat., Jan. 27 Toronto Marlies at GRIFFINS 7 p.m. Comcast Local/WOOD/B2

2007 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic - Toronto

Sun., Jan. 28 AHL All-Star Skills Competition 7 p.m. Comcast Local

Mon., Jan. 29 AHL All-Star Game 7 p.m. Comcast Local

Last Week's Results

Fri., Jan. 19 GRIFFINS 1 at Hamilton Bulldogs 2 20-17-4-2, 46 pts. (4th, North Division)

Sat., Jan. 20 GRIFFINS 1 at Hamilton Bulldogs 5 20-18-4-2, 46 pts. (4th)

Check out the Grand Rapids Griffins Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2007


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