Griffins Game #4 * Road Game #3 * AHL Game #69

Season Series: 0-0-0-0 Home Series: 0-0-0-0 Road Series: 0-0-0-0
All-Time Series: 30-15-2-3 All-Time Home Series: 16-6-0-3 All-Time Road Series: 14-9-2-0

Griffins at Stars
First of eight meetings overall, first of four at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park…In 2018-19, the Griffins finished 2-2 against the Stars at the H-E-B Center and 5-3 overall, outscoring Texas 30-28…Grand Rapids claimed five of the last six meetings between the teams last season…Chris Terry led the Griffins in the 2018-19 season series with 13 points (6-7—13) in eight games, including a career-high five-point effort (2-3—5) last March 6…While with Grand Rapids on a conditioning assignment by Detroit, Michael Rasmussen made his AHL debut on Jan. 31, 2019 at Texas and netted a pair of goals...Grand Rapids is 9-4-1-0 at Texas since Jan. 25, 2014.

Last Time Out (Saturday): Griffins 4 at IceHogs 2 - Recap
Grand Rapids started 2-0 on the road for the ninth time in team history and the first since 2016-17…In his pro debut, goaltender Filip Larsson recorded 24 saves to earn the victory…Rookie Jarid Lukosevicius scored his first pro goal at 14:46 of the first period…Michael Rasmussen and Chris Terry both extended their season-opening point streaks to three games…Filip Zadina and Dominik Shine netted their first goals of the season…Grand Rapids finished 1-for-4 on the power play and has at least one PPG in all three games to open the year.

24th Season Underway
The Griffins have won two of their first three games to open the 2019-20 campaign. Grand Rapids is 2-0 away from Van Andel Arena and will conclude its three-game road trip this weekend with games at Texas tonight and tomorrow. The Griffins will then wrap up October with four consecutive home contests.

Suite Life
Grand Rapids is 2-0 on the road to open a season for the ninth time in franchise history (2016-17, 2014-15, 2007-08, 2005-06, 2004-05, 2002-03, 2001-02, 2000-01) and is seeking its eighth 3-0 road start (2014-15, 2007-08, 2005-06, 2004-05, 2002-03, 2001-02, 2000-01).

Lighting It Up
It’s only been three games, but the Griffins pace the AHL in power play efficiency at 35.7% (5-for-14) and have scored in every contest. In comparison, Grand Rapids recorded one power play streak of three games or more last season (3, Dec. 11-15). Chris Terry and Michael Rasmussen pace the team with three power play points each (1-2—3).

Back Up, Terr
The Griffins’ leading scorer a season ago with 61 points (29-32—61) in 69 games, Chris Terry has picked up where he left off by recording a three-game point streak and a team-high six points (2-4—6) to begin the new year.

All That Ras
Second-year pro Michael Rasmussen is averaging better than a point per game in his Griffins career, showing seven (4-3—7) in six. Appearing in three games with Grand Rapids last season while on a conditioning stint, he tallied two goals. The ninth overall selection in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by Detroit, Rasmussen is on a three-game point streak to open the season and places second on the team with five points (2-3—5).

Rookie, Rookie, Rookie, Rookie, Rockin’ Everywhere
Through three games this season, seven rookies have played for the Griffins – Ryan Kuffner, Filip Larsson, Gustav Lindstrom, Jarid Lukosevicius, Gregor MacLeod, Moritz Seider and Joe Veleno. Dressing seven rookies ties for the most in the franchise’s last 12 seasons through three games, equaling the seven from last year’s club (Marcus Crawford, Trevor Hamilton, David Pope, Givani Smith, Mackenze Stewart, Trevor Yates, Filip Zadina) and the 2011-12 team (Louis-Marc Aubry, Mitch Callahan, Adam Estoclet, Landon Ferraro, Andrej Nestrasil, Gustav Nyquist, Trevor Parks).

Living Lars
Filip Larsson became the fifth Griffins rookie goalie in the team’s AHL era (since 2001-02) to pick up the win in his AHL debut after his 24-save performance last Saturday at Rockford, joining Petr Mrazek (Nov. 3, 2012 at Texas), Tom McCollum (Oct. 3, 2009 at Peoria), Jimmy Howard (Oct. 28, 2005 vs. Iowa) and Simon Lajeunesse (Dec. 12, 2001 at Utah). The 21-year-old Larsson was selected in the sixth round by the Red Wings in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

First Things First
Grand Rapids’ roster currently features five recent Detroit first-round draft picks (Moritz Seider 2019, Filip Zadina 2018, Joe Veleno 2018, Michael Rasmussen 2017, Evgeny Svechnikov 2015). Five of the Red Wings’ last six first rounders are on the west side of the state, with the exception being Dennis Cholowski (2016), who made Detroit’s roster following training camp. From 2002-15, the Griffins had only seven Detroit first rounders total suit up for them: Jakub Kindl (2005-11; 14-15), Niklas Kronwall (2003-06), Dylan Larkin (2015 playoffs only), Anthony Mantha (2014-15), Tom McCollum (2009-15), Riley Sheahan (2011-14) and Brendan Smith (2010-13). The Griffins’ opening night lineup had five Detroit first rounders in it, far surpassing the previous record of two. The Griffins had never seen more than three Red Wings first rounders suit up for the club at any point in the same season until this year. Adding in Matt Puempel (24th overall by Ottawa in 2011) and Dylan McIlrath (10th overall by the New York Rangers in 2010), Grand Rapids’ roster boasts seven former first-round draft selections.

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 967-657-27-58-112 (0.585) 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’ 307 regular season wins since the 2012-13 campaign rank second behind only Toronto’s 321 and the Griffins’ 665 points in that span are third, trailing Toronto (695) and Providence (667)…Since the affiliation began in 2002-03, 89 Griffins have gone on to play for the Red Wings…In fact, 27 Griffins alumni wore the Winged Wheel during the 2018-19 season.

This Date in Griffins History
2002: The Griffins find themselves at 0-2 for the first time in franchise history following a 4-2 loss to Houston at Van Andel Arena. The Aeros are awarded 13 power plays on the night, the most ever for a Griffins opponent.
2003: Before their eighth consecutive opening night sellout crowd (10,834), the Griffins defeat defending Calder Cup champion Houston, 4-2.
2005: Two-time Stanley Cup champion goaltender Chris Osgood is assigned to the Griffins by the Detroit Red Wings for conditioning.
2009: With a 7-2 loss at San Antonio, Grand Rapids (1-4-0-0) closes out a record five straight road games to start the season.
2011: Record-setting nights by Chris Conner and Joey MacDonald power the Griffins to a 3-0 victory at Hamilton. Conner figures in all three tallies and becomes just the fourth player in Griffins history to score two shorthanded goals in one game. MacDonald makes 31 saves and extends his franchise records with his 100th win and 18th shutout, while also breaking a tie with Jimmy Howard for most games played by a Grand Rapids goalie with his 187th appearance.
2013: The Griffins celebrate their 2013 Calder Cup championship with a pre-game banner-raising before their 18th consecutive home-opening sellout, but Milwaukee eventually puts a damper on the party by taking a 3-2 win.
2016: Anthony Mantha becomes just the fourth player in Griffins history to score three power play goals in one game before Kyle Criscuolo nets the game-winner with 3:58 left, as the Griffins overcome a two-goal deficit to claim a 4-3 win at Iowa.

Photo by Sam Iannamico/Griffins