AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Toughest Test Since 1997 awaits Griffins

Published on January 6, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Run the Gauntlet: Starting with a visit by the Utah Grizzlies this Friday, the Griffins will match a franchise record by playing seven games in a span of only nine days. They'll entertain the Cleveland Barons on Saturday, visit San Antonio for games on Jan. 11 and 13, and then return to Van Andel Arena to host Manitoba (Jan. 14), Chicago (Jan. 16) and St. John's (Jan. 17). The Griffins have faced such a challenge only once before in their eight-year history, as their inaugural squad posted a 4-2-1 mark from March 1-9, 1997.

Promotional Calendar: The Griffins will try to avenge their 1-0 loss to Utah on New Year's Eve when the Grizzlies return to Van Andel Arena this Friday at 7:30 p.m. In homage to Clint Benedict, the first goaltender to wear a goalie mask in a professional game, the first 3,000 fans will receive a wearable Griffins goalie mask, courtesy of Centennial Securities. The Griffins will wear their red jerseys, modeled after the Red Wings, and six players will sign autographs after the game. When Cleveland visits on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., the Griffins will aim for their first win in three tries against the Barons this season. The Griffins will help alleviate the stress in fans' lives, as Exchange Financial will give away a free loan (no closing costs), and fans can get a free massage on the west terrace. During an intermission, contestants will compete for two round-trip, charter air seats from Detroit to anywhere Apple Vacations flies in Mexico or the Caribbean. Rules, restrictions and blackout dates apply.

Home-Work: The Griffins will host 17 games during January (eight) and February (nine), marking the busiest two-month stretch at home in franchise history. Starting this Friday, they'll host games on both Friday and Saturday over three consecutive weekends, the first time that has ever happened. Grand Rapids will also be at home for every Friday in February, only the second time that has occurred during a month (Nov. 2000).

Get a Little Closer: Despite suffering three straight regulation losses for the first time in more than a year (Dec. 2-6, 2002), the Griffins still stand atop the West Division with a three-point lead over Chicago. Milwaukee (four points) and Houston (seven) are also on the heels of the Griffins, who had a season-high nine-point advantage as recently as Dec. 27.

Griffins Caravan Hits Holland: The Griffins will hold a public practice at The Edge Ice Arena (4444 N. Holland Ave.) in Holland, Mich., from 6-7:30 p.m. this Wednesday, Jan. 7. Following an hour-long practice, the Griffins will skate with local youth hockey players and sign autographs for fans. Admission is free. This will mark the fourth consecutive season that the Griffins conduct a public practice outside the Grand Rapids metro area, and the second time they've done so in Holland. The caravan tradition began at The Edge in 2000, before moving on to Ferris State University in Big Rapids (2001) and Michigan State University in East Lansing (2002).

Write it Off: While losing three straight games last week, the Griffins were outscored by a cumulative 12-1 margin. The 11 goals they surrendered on Friday (1-4 at CHI) and Saturday (0-7 at MIL) equaled the 11 they allowed over a seven-game stretch from Dec. 12-27. They hadn't allowed as many goals in consecutive games since permitting a total of 14 from Dec. 8-9, 2001. In addition, the Griffins were held to just one goal over a three-game span for the first time since March 27-30, 2002.

Unlucky Seven: The Griffins' 7-0 loss at Milwaukee last Friday was the worst shutout defeat in their history and tied their franchise record for largest margin of defeat (1-8 at CIN, March 22, 1998).

Road Warriors: Grand Rapids, which set an AHL record last season with 26 road wins, is currently tied for the league lead with 12 victories in enemy territory (12-7-1-0), giving it a 24-win pace for a full season.

That's Enough: When Nathan Robinson scored at 11:05 of the third period during the Griffins' 4-1 loss at Chicago on Friday, it ended Grand Rapids' scoreless streak at 112:44. They've since been shut-out for the last 68:55, giving the Griffins just one goal over their last 181:39.

Rare Lapse: Marc Lamothe, the reigning AHL goaltender of the year, allowed four goals on 24 shots last Friday in Chicago before leaving the game at 16:43 of the second period. As such, the outing was just the second time in his last 18 appearances (dating to Nov. 13) that he surrendered more than two goals.

Big Mac Attack: Saturday's loss at Milwaukee marked the first defeat for Joey MacDonald in eight road decisions this season, and just his third loss in 21 road decisions over the last two years. This year, he shows a 6-1-1 record with a 2.37 GAA and a 0.928 save percentage, giving him two-year totals of 17-3-1 with a 2.15 GAA and a 0.925 save percentage.

Griffins Earn Their Wings: Although Nathan Robinson (Dec. 9), Joey MacDonald (Dec. 14), Ryan Barnes (Dec. 16), Kevin Miller (Dec. 20) and Darryl Bootland (Dec. 29) have returned to Grand Rapids during the last month, five other members of the Griffins are still on recall to Detroit, filling in for the injury-riddled Red Wings. Their NHL stats are as follows:

Player GP G A PTS +/- PIM Avg. Ice Time
Mark Mowers 25 2 7 9 5 0 11:56
Jiri Hudler 12 1 2 3 -1 10 8:09
Niklas Kronwall 14 0 4 4 5 16 14:08
Jamie Rivers 15 0 0 0 6 4 7:44

Goalie GP W L T SO GAA Save %
Curtis Joseph *16 *10 5 1 *2 *2.16 *0.914 * Leads team

By the Numbers: Where the Griffins rank among the AHL's 28 teams in various statistical categories:
* Power Play: 23-for-168, 13.7% (20th)
* Penalty Killing: 164-for-184, 89.1% (4th)
* Penalty Minutes: 15.03 avg. (27th)
* Goals For: 2.44 avg. (19th)
* Goals Against: 2.11 avg. (4th)
* Shots For: 26.61 avg. (23rd)
* Shots Against: 28.31 avg. (14th)
* Attendance: 6,554 avg. (8th)

Hudler at World Junior Championship: Nineteen-year-old forward Jiri Hudler, who was recalled by the Red Wings from the Griffins on Dec. 9, served as captain for the Czech Republic squad at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Finland, helping his team to a fourth-place finish. In seven games, Hudler tallied two goals, five points, six penalty minutes and a plus-six rating.

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 (26-12-4-1), following last night's 6-0 win over Nashville. They'll host Boston on Wednesday at 7:30 (WXSP).

The AHL's Grand Event!: The Griffins will be in the hockey spotlight next month, when they and the city of Grand Rapids host the 2004 Pepsi AHL All-Star Classic at Van Andel Arena. The two-day event will consist of the AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday, Feb. 8, followed by the AHL All-Star Game on Monday, Feb. 9. Of the 295 players that have taken part in the AHL All-Star Classic since 1995, 91 percent have competed in the NHL. For ticket and event information, visit griffinshockey.com/all-star.

This Week's Scouting Report

Fri., Jan. 9 vs. Utah Grizzlies (12-18-3-3) - Van Andel Arena - 7:30 p.m.

TV: None. Radio: WOOD 1300 AM at 7:10 p.m. Season Series: 1-1-0-0 Overall, 1-1-0-0 Home. Third of eight meetings overall, third of four in Grand Rapids. All-Time Series: AHL: 10-13-1-0 Overall, 5-8-0-0 Home. Total: 18-18-2-0 Overall, 12-8-0-0 Home. Utah Affiliation: Dallas Stars. Head Coach: Don Hay (3rd season). Grin and Bear It: After winning all seven home games against the Grizzlies during their IHL days, the Griffins have won just five of 13 Utah visits over the last three AHL seasons...Utah's only win in its last seven games (1-4-1-1) was its 1-0 victory at Van Andel Arena on New Year's Eve...The Grizzlies' power play is the worst in the AHL at 10.6%, but their penalty killers rank second at 89.9%...Utah has been out-scored 49-26 in the third period...Veteran Jarrod Skalde paces the bruins with 31 points (12-19-31).

Sat., Jan. 10 vs. Cleveland Barons (15-13-4-4) - Van Andel Arena - 7:30 p.m.

TV: None. Radio: WOOD 1300 AM/WHTC 1450 AM at 7:10 p.m. Season Series: 0-2-0-0 Overall, 0-0-0-0 Home. Third of four meetings overall, first of two in Grand Rapids. All-Time Series: 6-6-0-0 Overall, 3-2-0-0 Home. Cleveland Affiliation: San Jose Sharks. Head Coach: Roy Sommer (3rd season). Rock-n-Roll: The Griffins have 44 more wins than the Barons over the last three seasons (110-66), yet their record versus Cleveland stands at 0.500 following two losses this season...Barons goalies Seamus Kotyk and Dimitri Patzold each suffered injuries last week...In their stead, former Griffins backup Bujar Amidovski lost 6-4 at Syracuse on Sunday...Cleveland is an impressive 8-4-3-2 on the road...The Barons' power play is the second-most potent in the AHL at 17.8%...Miroslav Zalesak ranks among the league's best with 20 goals (T2nd), 22 assists (T4th) and 42 points (T2nd).

Sun., Jan. 11 at San Antonio Rampage (14-13-4-0) - SBC Center - 6 p.m.

TV: None. Radio: WOOD 1300 AM at 5:40 p.m. Season Series: 1-1-1-0 Overall, 0-0-0-0 Road. Fourth of 10 meetings overall, first of five in San Antonio. All-Time Series: 7-5-1-0 Overall, 3-2-0-0 Road. San Antonio Affiliation: Florida Panthers. Head Coach: Scott Allen (1st season). On a Stampede: San Antonio is just 2-7-1-0 in its last 10...Former Griffins goalie Simon Lajeunesse got his first win of the season (5-4 at CIN) on Saturday, the Rampage's lone victory in its last six outings...Eric Beaudoin is tied for seventh in league scoring with 34 points (13-21-34)...Goalie Travis Scott ranks among the AHL's best with 13 wins (T1st), 839 saves (1st) and a 0.933 save percentage (5th).

This Week's Games:
Fri., Jan. 9 Utah Grizzlies at GRIFFINS 7:30 p.m. WOOD 1300 AM
Sat., Jan. 10 Cleveland Barons at GRIFFINS 7:30 p.m. WOOD 1300 AM/WHTC 1450 AM
Sun., Jan. 11 GRIFFINS at San Antonio Rampage 6 p.m. WOOD 1300 AM

Last Week's Results:
Wed., Dec. 31 Utah Grizzlies 1 at GRIFFINS 0 20-10-4-0, 44 pts. (1st, West Division)
Fri., Jan. 2 GRIFFINS 1 at Chicago Wolves 4 20-11-4-0, 44 pts. (1st)
Sat., Jan. 3 GRIFFINS 0 at Milwaukee Admirals 7 20-12-4-0, 44 pts. (1st)

Check out the Grand Rapids Griffins Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from January 6, 2004


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