Griffins Game #71 * Road Game #35 * AHL Game #1,133

Season Series: 7-4-0-0 Home Series: 3-3-0-0 Road Series: 4-1-0-0
All-Time Series: 74-51-11-11 All-Time Home Series: 41-20-6-5 All-Time Road Series: 31-31-5-6

Griffins at IceHogs
Twelfth of 12 meetings overall, sixth of six at the BMO Center…Grand Rapids has wins in seven of the last nine games against Rockford...In the last three games against the IceHogs, the Griffins have averaged 5.67 goals per game while allowing 3.00...The Griffins are 26-16-4-1 (.606) since the 2020-21 season against Rockford and have a plus-14 scoring margin (136-122). On the road since 2020-21, Grand Rapids is 15-8-0-0 (.652) against Rockford with a plus-seven scoring margin (70-63)...Rockford is Grand Rapids’ third-most frequent opponent, as tonight’s game marks the 148th meeting between the two franchises...The IceHogs are 4-5-0-1 in their last 10 games...Rockford is 17-15-2-1 at home compared to 13-17-4-1 on the road...The Griffins are 4-6-0-0 in their last 10 games...Grand Rapids is 19-13-2-0 on the road compared to 17-15-2-2 at home...Rockford’s power play ranks 19th at 18.0% and its penalty kill ranks 18th at 81.6%...Rockford ranks 22nd with 2.89 goals per game and 17th with 3.06 goals against...The IceHogs’ Cole Guttman leads the team in points (57), goals (23), and assists (34)...Rockford’s goaltender Drew Commesso is tied for sixth in the AHL with four shutouts...Former Griffin Andreas Athanasiou (2013-16) is featured on Rockford’s roster. Athanasiou helped Grand Rapids claim a division title in 2014-15 and totaled 51 points (25-26—51) in 83 regular-season games with the Griffins...Rockford’s Gerry Mayhew has been trouble for the Griffins throughout his career, as he has 29 points (17-12—29) and a plus-nine rating in 32 games against Grand Rapids between Iowa (2017-21) and Rockford (2024-25).  

Last Time Out
The Griffins used two power-play goals and a 28-save performance from Sebastian Cossa to defeat the Rockford IceHogs 2-1 on Wednesday at the BMO Center. Sheldon Dries netted his team-high 24th goal of the season in the outing, his fourth tally in the last six games. Ondrej Becher also found the back of the net for his 10th of the year with assists from Emmitt Finnie and Gabriel Seger. Finnie’s helper marked his fifth point in the last six games (1-4—5) and Seger extended his point streak to three (2-1—3). Amadeus Lombardi added an assist, securing his 11th point in the last seven games (5-6—11). Grand Rapids earned its third straight victory over Rockford with a plus-eight scoring margin (17-9). 

This Date in Griffins History
2009: The Griffins score three third-period goals to rally for a 3-1 road win over Hamilton, taking a 2-0 series lead. Justin Abdelkader scores twice and adds an assist, Ville Leino scores the tying goal on the power play and assists on the game-winner, and Darren Haydar logs two helpers to tie Willie Marshall’s AHL record of 71 career playoff assists. 

Shine Bright
Since returning from the Red Wings on April 4, Dominik Shine has eight points (3-5—8) in six games, collecting three multi-point outings. Through 59 games, the veteran has career-high totals in assists (31), points (45), power-play goals (5), game-winners (4), and multi-point outings (11). He is also three goals from tying his career best of 17 set in 2021-22. Shine ranks among the franchise leaders in games played (481, 3rd), goals (75, T7th), assists (108, 10th), points (183, 9th), penalty minutes (535, 6th), short-handed goals (5, T8th), game-winners (12, T7th), and unassisted goals (10, T1st). With Shine out of the lineup, the Griffins are just 4-7-0-0 (.364). On Jan. 27, Shine signed his first NHL contract, a two-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings. Later that evening, he made his NHL debut against the Los Angeles Kings. Shine, 31, became the oldest skater to make his NHL debut since defenseman Evgeny Medvedev did it with the Philadelphia Flyers at 33 on Oct. 8, 2015, and the oldest Red Wings player to make his NHL debut since center Vaclav Nedomansky did it at 33 on Nov. 18, 1977. Shine later bagged his first NHL point with an assist on Feb. 1 at Calgary and finished the NHL season with one assist and 15 penalty minutes in nine outings. 

Playoff Picture
The Griffins clinched their spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs on March 29. With two games remaining, Grand Rapids is currently two points ahead of Chicago for the final first-round bye position in the Central Division. Grand Rapids will play Rockford and Iowa to finish the regular season while Chicago will face Milwaukee and Rockford. The Griffins can clinch the final bye position tonight with a win at Rockford and a Chicago loss in any fashion to Milwaukee, or an overtime/shootout loss to Rockford and a Chicago regulation loss at Milwaukee. Five teams make the playoffs, with the top three receiving a first-round bye into the Central Division Semifinals. 

Welcome to America 
The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday reassigned forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka from the SHL’s Skelleftea to the Griffins. Brandsegg-Nygard, selected 15th overall by Detroit in 2024, became the first-ever Norwegian to be chosen in the first round of the NHL draft. As a pro between the SHL, Allsvenskan and Eliteserien (Norway’s top pro league), the 19-year-old has 32 points (14-18—32), 76 penalty minutes and a plus-three rating in 102 regular-season games. Brandsegg-Nygard was named a top three player on Team Norway at the 2024 World Junior Championship and later that summer competed for Team Norway at the World Championship. Sandin-Pellikka, the 17th overall pick by Detroit in 2023, set SHL records for most goals in a single season by a U20 defenseman with 12 this year and the record for most SHL goals in a career by a U20 defenseman with 24. The 20-year-old was named the 2024-25 Swedish Junior Hockey Player of the Year when he paced all U20 SHL players in points (29), assists (17), and goals (12). In 2023-24, Sandin-Pellikka won the SHL’s Salming Trophy as the best Swedish-born defenseman as an 18-year-old rookie in addition to winning the SHL title with Skelleftea. At the international level, Sandin-Pellikka has been named the Best Defenseman at the last two World Junior Championships (2025, 2024), serving as captain for Team Sweden in 2025. He was also named the U18 World Junior Championship Best Defenseman in 2023 and garnered a spot on the All-Star Team when he helped Sweden win a silver medal. 

The Lombardi Trophy 
Second-year pro Amadeus Lombardi recorded three straight multi-point games for the first time in his career from April 2-5, securing seven points (5-2—7) in three outings. Lombardi enjoyed a career-high five-game point streak (5-5—10) from April 2-11 and also has six goals in the last nine games (6-6—12). He posted a career-high four-game assist streak from March 8-15 (0-5—5) and now has points in 11 of the last 14 outings (6-11—17). Lombardi was sidelined for 28 games due to rehabbing an upper-body injury from Dec. 6-Feb. 15. Since his return, the Aurora, Ontario, native has 23 points (9-14—23) in 22 outings. Through 42 appearances, Lombardi has a career-high 38 points (18-20—38) after showing 26 points (5-21—26) in 70 games as a rookie last season. Despite his limited games, Lombardi still ranks among the team leaders in points (6th), assists (7th) and goals (4th). 

Damn Daniel, Back At It Again  
Rookie Nate Danielson registered three points in consecutive games against Rockford from April 4-5 (2-4—6). This marked the second and third times this season that the 20-year-old has produced three points in a game (0-3—3 on Dec. 28 at CLE). On April 4 versus Rockford, Danielson bagged his first two-goal game as a pro. He has eight multi-point outings this season, including three assists on April 5 at Rockford and Dec. 28 at Cleveland. Danielson now has seven points (3-4—7) in his last six games since April 4. The ninth overall pick by Detroit in 2023 has 39 points (12-27—39), 33 penalty minutes and a plus-five rating in his rookie campaign. He ranks among the team leaders in points (T4th), assists (2nd), and goals (6th). Danielson also places among the AHL rookie leaders in assists (T8th), points (T12th), and short-handed assists (4, 1st). 

Not Your Average Joe
Joe Snively registered five assists in two games from April 4-5 and tied his single-game career-high three helpers on April 4 against Rockford. The five assists in two games marked a career high for most assists in a two-game span for Snively and the five points also tied his career-best two games (three previous times. MR: Oct. 28-29, 2023: 2-3—5). Snively now has seven points (1-6—7) in his last six games. Snively has 46 points (21-25—46), 24 penalty minutes and a minus-five rating in 70 games with the Griffins. He has already notched a career-high 21 goals, beating his previous best of 15 in 2021-22 with Hershey. The 29-year-old ranks among the team leaders in points (1st), assists (3rd), and goals (2nd). Throughout 290 AHL regular-season contests, Snively has 218 points (79-139—218) and a plus-52 rating, adding 33 points (6-27—33) in 43 playoff outings. Snively is in search of his third straight Calder Cup, which would put him in rare company, as only 11 players in league history have won three consecutive cups in the AHL and no one has reached this feat since the 1978 season. 

Just Keep Shooting 
Among players who have played at least 40 games, Amadeus Lombardi ranks fourth with a shooting percentage of 23.7%, as he has 18 goals on 76 shots. Lombardi’s shooting percentage is also the best in franchise history among players with at least 24 shots in a single season. From April 2-5, Lombardi posted five goals on just seven shots (71.4%). In addition, Gabriel Seger is tied for 10th among players with at least 40 games played with a shooting percentage of 21.7%. Seger has 10 goals on 46 shots, showing two goals in his last three shots (66.7%) since April 11.   

Timmy G 
Veteran Tim Gettinger enjoyed a six-game point streak (3-3—6) from April 2-12, which tied his career high. Prior to this point streak, the 27-year-old had not scored a goal since Jan. 23 and had just one point (0-1—1) in 24 games from Jan. 25-March 26. Gettinger has 16 points (7-9—16) and 17 penalty minutes in 52 games with the Griffins this season, having missed the first 17 contests due to rehabbing a lower-body injury. Throughout 344 AHL appearances, Gettinger has 174 points (81-93—174) and 163 penalty minutes. 

New Faces Producing 
Emmitt Finnie secured his first pro point with an assist on April 4 against Rockford and collected his first pro goal the following night at Rockford. The 19-year-old logged a three-game point streak (1-2—3) from April 4-9 and now has five points (1-4—5) in his last six games. Finnie showed 84 points (37-47—84) in 55 games as captain for the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers this season. Defenseman Anton Johansson registered his first AHL point during a three-assist night on April 5 at Rockford. He later bagged two assists on April 11 against Texas and now has five helpers in his previous five contests. The 20-year-old recently joined the Griffins following the conclusion of his SHL season with Leksands IF where he posted 10 points (5-5—10) in 46 appearances.    

Power Surge
The Griffins exploded for a season-high three power-play goals on March 15 at Rockford and are now 10-for-37 (27.0%) on the man-advantage in their last 11 games, which includes a 6-for-22 mark (27.3%) in the last six outings. The power play has also scored in 10 of the last 21 games (14-for-68, 20.6%). The power play has moved into a tie for 22nd place on the circuit at 17.5% (43-for-246) after being ranked 10th at the beginning of February (18.7%). If you break it down further, Grand Rapids’ home power play is 20-for-113 (17.7%, 21st) and its road power play is 23-for-133 (17.3%, 21st). The Griffins have given up 10 short-handed goals, which is tied for the sixth most. The Griffins’ penalty kill has gone 51-for-63 (81.0%) in its last 21 games and 22-for-28 (78.6%) in the last 11 contests. The team has allowed a power-play goal in five of the last seven games (13-for-18 on PK, 72.2%) and in 17 of the previous 30 games (66-for-87 on PK, 75.9%). The Griffins have the fewest penalty minutes in the AHL this season at 701, 32 minutes less than Hershey (733). The penalty kill ranks 17th at 81.9% after starting the month of February in seventh place at 85.1%. The Griffins are 23-6-2-2 when scoring on the power play and 15-17-2-1 when they allow a power-play goal. 

Batten Down the Hatches 
The Griffins’ defense has allowed 3.30 goals per game in its last 10 games. Grand Rapids allowed 2.90 goals per game in the month of March and has now allowed 3.05 goals since the start of the calendar year. The Griffins have dropped to 10th in the AHL with 2.83 goals allowed after starting February ranked first with 2.43 goals allowed. Sebastian Cossa has shown a 2.44 GAA and .912 save percentage through 40 games, and Jack Campbell has a 3.08 GAA and an .886 save percentage in 13 appearances. Scoring at least three goals has been key for Grand Rapids, as it has a 29-4-0-1 mark (.868) when reaching at least three goals and a 7-24-4-1 (.264) record when it fails to do so. 

Winning Skills 
The Griffins are 7-2 during shootouts this season, as the seven wins are tied for the league lead with Ontario (7-1). The last time Grand Rapids won at least seven games in the skills competition was back in 2006-07 (8-5), and it has not had a winning season in a shootout since 2018-19 (6-4). The Griffins are 125-129 all time during the shootout. Cross Hanas (2-for-2), Ondrej Becher (1-for-2) and Nate Danielson (3-for-6) lead the way for Grand Rapids. In net, Sebastian Cossa is 17-for-22 (77.3%) this season and 31-for-40 (77.5%) all time as a Griffin in the shootout, which ranks fifth in franchise history. 

AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Shai Buium—Tied for sixth among rookie defensemen in assists (23), tied for 11th among rookie defensemen in points (25), tied for sixth among rookie defensemen in power-play goals (2), sixth among rookie defensemen in power-play assists (9), tied for 12th among rookie defensemen in shots (79)
Sebastian Cossa—Eighth in minutes played (2,364:58), tied for ninth in games played (40), 11th in GAA (2.44), tied for ninth in wins (21), 13th in save percentage (.912)
Nate Danielson—Tied for eighth among rookies in assists (27), tied for 12th among rookies in points (39), second in short-handed assists (4), first among rookies in short-handed assists (4)
Josiah Didier—Tied for seventh in short-handed assists (2), tied for third among defensemen in short-handed assists (2)
Alex Doucet—Tied for third among rookies in short-handed goals (2) 
Sheldon Dries—Tied for fourth in game-winners (7)
Dominik Shine—Tied for seventh in short-handed assists (2)
x Austin Watson—Tied for first in major penalties (10), tied for seventh in short-handed goals (3) 

Milestones 
Last Friday, Dominik Shine moved into a tie for seventh place on the franchise’s all-time goals scored list with 75 (Landon Ferraro & Kip Miller). 
Brogan Rafferty—Two points from 50 as a Griffin
Dominik Shine—Three goals from moving into a tie for sixth place on the franchise’s all-time goals scored list (Jamie Tardif 78), one assist from moving into a tie for ninth on the franchise’s all-time assist list (Tomas Tatar 109), one unassisted goal from claiming the franchise record of 11 

Photo by Jenna Spanola/IceHogs