Griffins Game #29 * Road Game #15 * AHL Game #427

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

Griffins at Gulls
Second of four meetings overall, second of two at Pechanga Arena…The Gulls will make the return trip to Van Andel Arena Jan. 24-25...In the first meeting of the season last Wednesday, Matt Ford scored the game-winner with 1:27 remaining in regulation as the Griffins tallied the game’s final three goals to rally from a two-goal deficit and claim a 4-3 victory…Rookie defenseman Alec McCrea, a native San Diegan, picked up an assist during the initial matchup...Last Wednesday was the first overall meeting between the teams since Nov. 20, 2015 at Van Andel Arena (7-4 W) and at San Diego for the first time since Oct. 10, 2015 (2-4 L)...Grand Rapids holds a 26-11-2-0-0 all-time record (0.692) against Anaheim’s AHL affiliates, including 22-10-2-0-0 against the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, 2-0-0-0 against the Iowa Chops and 2-1-0-0 against San Diego…Eric Tangradi was selected in the second round, 42nd overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by Anaheim but did not suit up for any clubs in the organization…The Griffins hold a 9-12-1-3 record (0.440) against current teams in the Pacific Division, including a 4-7-1-2 mark (0.393) on the road.

Last Time Out (Saturday): Griffins 1 at Condors 2 - Recap
All three goals were scored in the opening 13:16…Grand Rapids and Bakersfield split the two meetings in California and will rematch in West Michigan March 13-14...Tyler Spezia tallied his first goal of the season and second in the AHL...Pat Nagle stopped 28 of 30 shots in his third AHL appearance of the year...Grand Rapids was outshot 30-21, finished 0-for-1 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.

Status Update
The Griffins have points in three of the last four games (2-1-0-1) and are 2-1 in their season-high six-game road swing, which continues tonight as Grand Rapids makes its final visit of the season to San Diego. After today, Grand Rapids heads to Iowa for a two-game set against the Wild that will put a bow on the road trip and begin a stretch of 13 consecutive games the Griffins will play against Central Division opponents.

Road Trippin’
The Griffins are 2-1 so far in their six-game road trip. The trip that spans 14 days and covers 4,243 miles started last Wednesday at San Diego, traversed through Bakersfield last weekend, heads back to San Diego tonight and concludes this Friday and Saturday at Iowa. Givani Smith leads the team in scoring during the road trip with five points (1-4—5), followed by four players tied with three. Grand Rapids has posted a 0.500 record or better during each of its last six road trips lasting six games or longer: 5-1-0-0 in 2018-19 (March 16-26), 3-2-0-2 in 2016-17 (Feb. 28-March 12), 4-2-0-1 in 2013-14 (March 13-28), 4-2-0-1 in 2012-13 (March 23-April 6), 3-3-0-0 in 2010-11 (Jan. 6-18), 4-1-0-1 in 2009-10 (March 12-25).

Rally Griffs
The Griffins have led for 2:42 so far in the road trip but still post a 2-1 mark. All 2:42 came during last Wednesday’s come-from-behind win at San Diego and the Griffins did not lead at Bakersfield last Friday until Taro Hirose scored the game-winner with 12 seconds remaining in overtime. All three contests have been decided by one, and Grand Rapids has overcome a two-goal deficit in its two victories.

Rotating Roster
Including three goalies, the Griffins have used 35 players already before the halfway mark this season. Here is how the current usage stacks up to the final player counts in recent seasons: 2018-19 – 41 players, 2017-18 – 32, 2016-17 – 39, 2015-16 – 37 and 2014-15 – 39. Since the AHL’s season began on Oct. 4, the Red Wings have recalled or assigned a player from or to Grand Rapids a total of 51 times.

Lights Out
Since the third period at Chicago on Nov. 27, Grand Rapids’ penalty killers have gone 27 for its last 28 (96.4%), which includes warding off 16 consecutive penalties.

Goalvani
Givani Smith shows 13 points (4-9—13) in 17 AHL games this season and has already equaled his scoring production from his rookie campaign when he appeared in 64 contests (6-7—13).

Hicks Mix
Behind four points in the last five games (1-3—4), Joe Hicketts ranks third overall on the Griffins in scoring while leading all team defensemen with 15 points (1-14—15). He ranks among the AHL’s defenseman leaders in assists (T10th) and points (T17th).

Time to Tango
Signed to a one-year contract by Grand Rapids 90 minutes prior to the opening faceoff against Rockford on Dec. 6, Eric Tangradi has points in three of his first four outings in his return to a Griffins uniform, including a season-high two points last Friday. A 2017 Calder Cup champion with Grand Rapids, Tangradi ranks among the team’s all-time leaders with 168 points (9th), 78 goals (T5th), 21 PPG (10th), 14 GWG (4th), three OT goals (T3rd) and eight unassisted goals (T3rd) in 204 games since 2015-16. Tangradi posted nine points (5-4—9) in 22 games for Astana Barys of the KHL this season and spent the 2018-19 campaign in the New Jersey organization.

Back Up, Terr
Despite missing the last two games, Chris Terry still ties for fifth in the AHL in points (28) while pacing the Griffins in goals (12), assists (16), multi-point games (9) and power play goals (8). In his 11th-year pro, Terry led the Griffins with 61 points last season and the most recent player to lead GR in scoring in back-to-back seasons was Andy Miele in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

This Date in Griffins History
1996: Michel Picard tallies the first hat trick in Griffins history, scoring three goals on just four shots, but Grand Rapids falls 6-4 at Milwaukee.
2003: Nathan Robinson scores his first pro hat trick in a span of just 9:19 and Michel Picard becomes the 38th player in AHL history to reach 600 points, as the Griffins beat San Antonio, 4-1.
2016: Grand Rapids scores four times in the opening period of a 6-1 rout at Charlotte, as three-point performances by Martin Frk and Matt Lorito help the Griffins earn points for the 10th time in their last 11 contests (7-1-1-2).

Griffins in General
Grand Rapids is in the franchise’s 24th overall season of play, 19th as a member of the American Hockey League and 18th as the primary affiliate of the 11-time Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings…Grand Rapids is 976-670-27-59-114 (0.583) in the regular season since 1996-97 to go along with 17 playoff appearances, seven division titles and two Calder Cups (2017, 2013)…The Griffins have earned 40 or more wins and accumulated 90 or more points in six of the last seven seasons…Grand Rapids has qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs in a franchise-record seven consecutive seasons and advanced to at least the second round on five occasions…The Griffins’ 8-5 season-opening win at Chicago on Oct. 5 marked the club’s 750th win in the AHL…Grand Rapids’ 316 regular season wins since the 2012-13 campaign tie Providence for third, behind Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s 318 and Toronto’s 334 while the Griffins’ 686 points in that span are fourth, trailing Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (689), Providence (699) and Toronto (724)…Since the affiliation began in 2002-03, 92 Griffins have gone on to play for the Red Wings.

We’re Going Going, Back Back, to Cali Cali
Tonight marks game No. 20 all time for Grand Rapids in the Golden State, including playoffs. The Griffins are 6-10-1-2 (0.395), which includes 1-1 in the postseason.

Photo by San Diego Gulls