Griffins Game #18 * Home Game #9 * AHL Game #275

Season Series: 2-0-0-0 Home Series: 1-0-0-0 Road Series: 1-0-0-0
All-Time Series: 54-36-9-11 All-Time Home Series: 34-11-5-5 All-Time Road Series: 20-25-4-6

Griffins vs. IceHogs
Third of eight meetings overall, second of four at Van Andel Arena…Dating back to the final meeting of the 2019-20 season, Grand Rapids now has points in 10 of the last 11 games (7-1-2-1) against the IceHogs...The Griffins are 18-10-6-6 in the last five seasons against Rockford. At home in the past five years, Grand Rapids is 15-3-4-3 against the IceHogs, outscoring them 76-50...Rockford comes to West Michigan with a 4-4-0-1 road record this season...Prior to their 9-4 win at Rockford on March 3 last season, the Griffins’ last nine-goal outing was a 9-1 win at Rockford on Feb. 5, 2016. They came within two goals of matching of their team record, set in an 11-6 victory at – you guessed it – Rockford on Jan. 19, 2013…Rockford is Grand Rapids’ third-most frequent opponent (Chicago 177, Milwaukee 195), as tonight’s game marks the 111th meeting between the two franchises...Both Grand Rapids’ (16.7%, 25th) and Rockford’s (17.0%, 23rd) power play percentage rank in the bottom half of the AHL. In addition, the penalty kill for each franchise (Griffins 73.8%, 30th; IceHogs 78.8%, T21st) also place near the bottom of the circuit...Tyler Spezia leads the way for the Griffins against Rockford with three points (2-1—3) in two games...Griffins head coach Ben Simon served as an assistant in Rockford for two seasons (2011-13).

Last Week’s Results
The Griffins went 1-2 last week with a win against Milwaukee and two losses to Chicago. On Wednesday, Grand Rapids extended their road point streak to six games (4-0-1-1) with a 6-3 victory over the Admirals. Kyle Criscuolo (1-2—3), Jonatan Berggren (1-1—2) and Dominik Shine (2-0—2) each recorded multi-point games. Calvin Pickard notched his seventh win and Brett McKenzie skated in his 150th game as a pro. On Friday, the Wolves scored five unanswered goals in the third period, including three in the final 1:36, to take a stunning 5-3 win over the Griffins. Jared McIsaac picked up his first two goals as a pro and Criscuolo amassed three points (1-2—3) for the second straight contest. Pickard made his fifth consecutive start and ninth straight appearance, both personal highs as a Griffin. Grand Rapids failed to get its first win of the season in five tries against Chicago on Sunday, as they fell 3-1. The defeat snapped the Griffins’ six-game road point streak (4-0-1-1). Criscuolo extended his point streak (3-6—9) to four games. Pickard competed in his 50th game as a Griffin and 250th in the AHL. Matt Berry made his Grand Rapids debut after being signed to a PTO earlier that morning.

Roster Shake Up
The Detroit Red Wings on Thursday reassigned center Kyle Criscuolo and defenseman Dan Renouf to the Griffins. After being recalled on Monday, Criscuolo made his NHL season debut on Wednesday against Seattle and totaled 9:17 of ice time and a minus-one rating. The Harvard University graduate is currently enjoying a four-game point streak (3-6—9) from Nov. 20-28 with Grand Rapids. Renouf skated in one game for Detroit last week, logging a plus-two rating on Nov. 24 against St. Louis. Through 11 games this season with the Griffins, the Pickering, Ontario, native has two points (0-2—2) and 15 penalty minutes. On Tuesday, Grand Rapids released left wing Max Humitz from his PTO. The second-year pro skated in four games for the Griffins from Nov. 17-28, logging a plus-two rating. This was Humitz’s second stint with Grand Rapids this season, as he appeared in two outings from Nov. 5-6 and bagged an assist during his AHL season debut on Nov. 5 at Iowa. Humitz has registered six points (3-3—6) and two penalty minutes in 14 AHL contests, all coming with Grand Rapids.

Huffin’ and Puffin’
So far this season, the Griffins are 0-4-1-0 (0.100) against the Central Division-leading Chicago Wolves and 7-3-1-1 (0.667) against the rest of the AHL.

This Date in Griffins History
2016: A 33-save performance by Cal Heeter in his Griffins debut leads the way to a 4-1 victory at Rockford.

Cris-COOL-o
After being sidelined in the first four games due to an injury, center Kyle Criscuolo has made up for his lost time with 12 points (5-7—12) in just as many outings. The Harvard University graduate logged a two-game point streak (1-1—2) from Oct. 30-31 and surpassed that mark with an active four-game point streak (4-5—9) from Nov. 20-28. He posted back-to-back three-point nights last week against Milwaukee and Chicago. Criscuolo’s three-game goal streak (Nov. 20-26) tied Jonatan Berggren (Oct. 30-Nov. 5) for the longest on the team this season. The sixth-year pro is tied for third on the roster with 12 points. On Monday, Criscuolo was recalled by Detroit and made his NHL season debut on Wednesday against Seattle, marking his first NHL game since March 5, 2018. Criscuolo was then reassigned to Grand Rapids the following morning.

High-Flying Hirose
After leading the Griffins in assists a year ago with 23, Taro Hirose has picked off right where he left off as he has bagged 13 helpers in the opening 17 games, which is a team high and tied for sixth in the league. Eight assists have come on the power play, which is tied for third in the AHL. Hirose saw his six-game point streak (2-7—9) from Oct. 30-Nov. 13 come to an end on Nov. 17 against Chicago. Hirose’s 17 points (4-13—17) this season pace the Griffins and are tied for ninth on the circuit.

Calvin’s University
Goaltender Calvin Pickard is off to a fast start, as he has allowed two goals or less in seven of his 14 appearances this season. Pickard recorded his first shutout of the season and fourth as a Griffin on Nov. 12 against Manitoba, moving him into a tie for 10th place in franchise history with Jani Hurme, Martin Prusek, and Eddie Pasquale. The 10-year pro currently is tied for 12th in the AHL with a 2.48 goals against average while his 0.926 save percentage places fifth. The netminder made his sixth straight start on Nov. 28 and 10th consecutive appearance, both personal highs as a Griffin. In fact, Pickard has seen action in 14 of the 17 games this season. Pickard played in just nine games in North America a season ago due to being assigned to Detroit’s taxi squad for much of the year. The Moncton, New Brunswick, native also spent some time with Vienna in the ICEHL last season, logging six games and a 1.96 goals against average.

Jonny on the Spot
Rookie Jonatan Berggren saw his six-game point streak (3-4—7 from Oct. 30-Nov. 13) come to a close on Nov. 17 against Chicago. The Uppsala, Sweden, native bagged his first AHL goal and two-point (1-1—2) night on Oct. 30, which began a three-game goal scoring streak for the right winger. The forward recorded his first two-goal night in the AHL on Nov. 20 at Texas. The former second-round draft choice notched his 50th pro assist on Nov. 12 against Manitoba and is tied for eighth among league rookies with six goals while his 12 points (6-6—12) are tied for 10th among first-year players. Berggren’s six goals pace the team as the forward has tallied three goals in the past four contests.

Return of Riley
Although it was a slow start to this year, Riley Barber rattled off a six-game point streak (4-5—9) from Oct. 30-Nov. 13. His 13 points (5-8—13) this season place second on the roster while his four power play goals are tied for first in the AHL. Barber led the Griffins in goals (20), points (34) and points per game (1.06) a season ago. His scoring pace equaled a 48-goal, 81-point clip in a regular 76-game AHL season. Barber also ranked second in the league for goals, just one shy of Cooper Marody (who played seven more games), and was named a Central Division AHL All-Star. Six game-winning goals tied a career best while his four-game goal streak from Feb. 26 through March 11 also matched a career high. The forward added seven multi-point outings out of 32, including a career-high four points (2-2—4) on May 7 against Chicago. Barber posted a nine-game point streak (8-5—13) from Feb. 5-March 11 that was the longest ever to start a player’s Griffins career as well as the longest from the start of a Griffins season.

Rarified Air
Brian Lashoff’s 526 games played for the Griffins ranks first among active AHL players who have spent their entire AHL career with the same club and seventh in league history among one-team players. Of the players ahead of him on that list, the most recent – and, coincidentally, the record-holder – last played during the 1970-71 season (Bill Needham of the Cleveland Barons, 981 games played). Lashoff overtook Pete Kapusta (Providence Reds 1946-55) for the No. 7 spot on Oct. 27 against Chicago and is now five games behind No. 6 Roger DeJordy (Hershey Bears 1962-70). Lashoff is still 129 games away from breaking the Griffins’ all-time games played record, held by Travis Richards with 655 games (1995-2006).

Power Outage
Following a 2019-20 campaign in which they finished sixth in the AHL’s power play rankings at 20.9%, the Griffins exceeded that mark in 2020-21 with a power play conversion rate of 21.5%, the fifth best on the circuit. This season began just like the past years but the power play has stalled as of late, cashing in on just three of its last 32 opportunities (0.09%). Grand Rapids was held scoreless in 17 consecutive power play chances before it broke the drought on Nov. 24 with a goal on the man advantage against Milwaukee. Through 17 games the power play is converting on 16.7% of its opportunities, which ranks 25th in the AHL. The penalty kill has not been any better, placing second to last in the AHL at 73.8%. Through the 17 games this season, the penalty kill has allowed at least one goal in 13 contests.

AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Riley Barber—Four power play goals are tied for first
Jonatan Berggren—Six goals are tied for eighth among league rookies, 12 points (6-6—12) are tied for 10th among first-year players
Taro Hirose—17 points (4-13—17) are tied for ninth, 13 assists are tied for sixth, eight power play assists are tied for third
Ryan Murphy—Three goals are tied for 10th among blueliners
Wyatt Newpower—30 penalty minutes are second among rookies and 11th among league defensemen
Calvin Pickard—2.48 goals against average is tied for 12th, 0.926 save percentage ranks fifth
Dominik Shine—56 penalty minutes places second
Luke Witkowski—39 penalty minutes are third among league blueliners

Upcoming Milestones
Tyler Spezia skated in his 150th game as a pro on Nov. 26 against Chicago. Calvin Pickard appeared in his 50th game as a Griffin and 250th in the AHL on Nov. 28 at Chicago. Kyle Criscuolo recorded his 150th point as a pro on Nov. 28 at the Wolves. Other upcoming milestones include:
Riley Barber—Three points from 50 as a Griffin, one game from 50 as a Griffin
Matt Berry—One game from 250 as a pro
Turner Elson—Four assists from 100 in the AHL, five goals from 50 as a Griffin
Brian Lashoff—Three assists from 100 as a pro
Brett McKenzie—Three goals from 50 as a pro
Ryan Murphy—One game from 250 in the AHL
Donovan Sebrango—Two games from 50 as a Griffin
Luke Witkowski—Three points from 50 in the AHL, one assist from 50 as a pro

Photo by Todd Reicher/IceHogs