Griffins Game #49 * Home Game #26 * AHL Game #758

Season Series: 0-1-0-0 Home Series: 0-1-0-0 Road Series: 0-0-0-0
All-Time Series: 1-4-0-0 All-Time Home Series: 0-2-0-0 All-Time Road Series: 1-2-0-0

Griffins vs. Condors
Second of four meetings overall, second of two at Van Andel Arena…Last night’s contest was the first home meeting against the Condors since April 16, 2016, as two games scheduled at Van Andel Arena for March 13-14, 2020 were the first casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic...Bakersfield has earned points in all five matchups in the all-time series (4-0-1-0)...The Griffins hold a 12-15-1-3 record (0.452) against current teams in the Pacific Division, including a 7-8-0-1 (0.469) mark at home...Grand Rapids will play eight games against the Pacific Division this season and are 1-2-0-0 so far...Bakersfield comes into the contest with a 6-3-0-1 ledger in its past 10 games...Grand Rapids is 6-4-0-0 in its last 10 outings...The Condors are 10-7-3-2 on the road this season while the Griffins are 10-10-4-1 at home...In the power play rankings, Bakersfield is tied for 16th at 19.3% while it ranks 24th in the penalty kill at 78.8%...The season series between the teams will conclude March 25-26 in California...Bakersfield’s interim head coach Colin Chaulk skated with the Griffins in the 2001-02 season, totaling four points (3-1—4) in 13 games...Condors’ center Luke Esposito played his rookie season with Grand Rapids, registering eight points (1-7—8) in 31 outings.

Last Time Out
The Bakersfield Condors shut out the Grand Rapids Griffins 2-0 on Friday in their first meeting at Van Andel Arena since April 16, 2016. Grand Rapids was held scoreless for the sixth time this season. Calvin Pickard recorded 35 saves in the defeat. The Griffins remain winless against Bakersfield at Van Andel with a 0-2-0-0 record and drop to 1-4-0-0 all-time against the Condors. Grand Rapids’ win streak came to a halt at three games, just one shy of tying the season-high streak. Against current Pacific Division teams, the Griffins are now 12-15-1-3 (0.452) overall and 7-8-0-1 (0.469) at home. Kyle Criscuolo appeared in his 300th game as a pro.

Roster Shake Up
- Feb. 18, 2022—F Erik Bradford released from PTO; F Joe Veleno reassigned by Detroit
- Feb. 19, 2022—D Gordi Myer released from PTO
- Feb. 23, 2022—F Taro Hirose and F Joe Veleno recalled by Detroit; F Taro Hirose reassigned by Detroit

Huffin’ and Puffin’
So far this season, the Griffins are 2-10-1-2 (0.233) against the Central Division-leading Chicago Wolves and the second-place Manitoba Moose. However, Grand Rapids is 19-10-4-0 (0.636) against the rest of the AHL.

California Dreamin’
The Griffins have not fared well against current teams in the Pacific Division, as the team holds a 12-15-1-3 (0.452) overall record against them and a 7-8-0-1 (0.469) ledger at home. Narrowing it down even more, Grand Rapids is 10-13-1-3 (0.444) all-time against AHL teams from California, including a 1-2-0-0 record this year.

Not Your Average Joe
Joe Veleno has appeared in four games for the Griffins since Feb. 4 and has made the most of his time in the AHL. The former first-round draft pick has logged a season-high point streak in those four outings, registering three goals and four assists. From Feb. 4-25, the Griffins averaged 4.25 goals per game with Veleno in the lineup and 2.20 goals per contest without Veleno. Through 11 games with Grand Rapids this season, Veleno has 10 points (6-4—10) and four penalty minutes. The Kirkland, Quebec, native has spent much of the season in the NHL with Detroit, where he has totaled seven points (4-3—7) in 35 games with the Red Wings.

Immortalized Forever
On Feb. 19 during a first-intermission ceremony, the Griffins retired Michel Picard’s #7 jersey and raised it to the Van Andel Arena rafters. Picard joined longtime teammate Travis Richards (No. 24) as the only Griffins players to have their numbers retired in franchise history, with esteemed former captain Jeff Hoggan’s No. 10 set to join them on Saturday, April 2. Picard played 363 games over six seasons with Grand Rapids (1996-99; 02-04) and still ranks as the Griffins’ all-time leader with 158 goals, 222 assists, 380 points, 40 power play goals and 26 game-winning tallies.

Work in Progress
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. The Griffins’ special teams have struggled this season after opening the campaign with high numbers. Despite converting on a power play in six of its last 10 games, Grand Rapids is still tied for 30th in the league at 13.2%. However, the power play has been much improved in the second half of the season, as the team has scored on 15.6% of its power plays (5-for-32). The penalty kill for the Griffins has also struggled a bit this season, killing off 77.4% of their penalties, which places 27th in the AHL.

This Date in Griffins History
2006: Niklas Kronwall scores a goal in the second period of the gold medal game, helping Sweden to a 3-2 victory over Finland in Turin, Italy, and becoming the first Griffins’ alumnus to win an Olympic medal.

Bringing Home the Medals
The 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, which saw a record 15 former Grand Rapids Griffins represent eight different countries, marked the fifth consecutive Olympics in which at least one Griffins alum stood on the medal podium. Goaltenders Harri Sateri of Finland and Patrik Rybar of Slovakia, teammates on Grand Rapids’ 2018-19 squad, led their countries to historic results at the Winter Games. Sateri made 16 saves in a 2-1 win over ROC, backstopping Finland to its first-ever Olympic men’s hockey gold medal. Finnish captain Valtteri Filppula joined Niklas Kronwall as the only former Griffins to earn two Olympic medals, adding to the bronze medal he claimed in 2010 in Vancouver. Rybar, meanwhile, was named to the tournament’s all-star team following Saturday’s 28-save, 4-0 shutout of Sweden in the bronze medal game that secured Slovakia’s first Olympic medal in men’s hockey. Teammate Tomas Jurco joined the celebration while playing in his second Olympics (2014 Sochi), becoming the first player to medal after winning a Calder Cup with the Griffins (2013).

Murphy’s Law
Reigning AHL defenseman of the year Ryan Murphy has started to find a rhythm offensively for the Griffins. The nine-year pro is tied for fifth on the roster and leads all Grand Rapids’ blueliners with 23 points (10-13—23) in 44 outings. Murphy completed a season-high four-game point streak (3-2—5) from Feb. 11-19 and has climbed up the defensemen leaderboard in the AHL, as his 10 goals rank first. The Aurora, Ontario, native signed a one-year contract with Detroit on July 28, 2021 and is the midst of his inaugural season with the Griffins.

Jonny Apple Seed
Rookie Jonatan Berggren registered a career-high four assists on Jan. 18 at Cleveland, which set a new single-game high for any Griffin this season. Berggren’s four helpers were one shy of tying the Griffins’ rookie single-game record of five assists set by Chris Bala (1/10/02). Berggren’s 35 points (13-22—35) are tied for sixth among first-year players on the circuit and rank second on the Griffins’ roster. His 22 assists ranks ninth among league rookies while his 13 goals are tied for ninth. Berggren is also tied for fourth in the league with five game-winning goals, which also places second among rookies.

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 28 helpers in the opening 47 games, which is a team high and tied for ninth in the league. Thirteen assists have come on the power play, which is tied for 11th in the AHL. Hirose logged his second three-point night (2-1—3) of the season on Jan. 1 against Milwaukee, which tied a career-high for the forward. In that same game, he also tied a career-best two goals. The former Michigan State Spartan enjoyed a four-game point streak (3-3—6) from Jan. 1-8. Hirose’s 40 points (12-28—40) this season pace the Griffins and are tied for 17th on the circuit. He was recalled by Detroit on Dec. 15 and made his NHL season debut on Dec. 18 against the Devils.

Rarified Air
Brian Lashoff’s 552 games played for the Griffins ranks first among active AHL players who have spent their entire AHL career with the same club and fifth 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 Backor (Pittsburgh Hornets 1945-54) for the No. 5 spot on Jan. 14 against Manitoba and is now 18 games behind No. 4 Paul Larivee (Providence Reds 1952-62). Lashoff is still 103 games away from breaking the Griffins’ all-time games played record, held by Travis Richards with 655 games (1995-2006).

Going with the Flow
It has been a busy season thus far for head coach Ben Simon and Griffins general managers, as players on professional tryouts have been plentiful for the team this year. Ten PTO skaters have seen action so far this season and have totaled 115 games played; both numbers surpass any full season since Simon joined the team as an assistant coach in 2015-16. On average, 12% of Grand Rapids’ lineup has been tryout players.

AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Jonatan Berggren—35 points (13-22—35) are tied for sixth among first-year players, 22 assists ranks ninth among rookies and 13 goals are tied for ninth among rookies, five game-winning goals are tied for fourth in the league and place second among rookies
Taro Hirose—28 assists are tied for ninth, 13 power play assists are tied for 11th, 40 points (12-28—40) are tied for 17th
Ryan Murphy—10 goals ranks first among blueliners
Wyatt Newpower—48 penalty minutes places ninth among rookies
Calvin Pickard—2.42 goals against average ranks eighth, 0.924 save percentage places fifth, 17 wins are tied for fourth, 2079:40 minutes played ranks second
Dominik Shine—100 penalty minutes rank third

Milestones
Kyle Criscuolo appeared in his 300th game as a pro on Feb. 25 against Bakersfield. Tyler Spezia notched his 100th point as a pro on Feb. 20 at Rockford. Other upcoming milestones include:
Jonatan Berggren—Five points from 100 as a pro
Kyle Criscuolo—One assist from 100 as a pro and 50 as a Griffin, two assists from 100 in the AHL
Taro Hirose—Five points from 100 as a Griffin and in the AHL
Jon Martin—Two points from 100 as a pro
Brett McKenzie—Two goals from 50 as a pro
Luke Witkowski—One game from 300 in the AHL

Photo by Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins