Griffins Game #62 * Road Game #30 * AHL Game #996

Season Series: 3-0-0-1 Home Series: 2-0-0-1 Road Series: 1-0-0-0
All-Time Series: 99-84-2-8-5 All-Time Home Series: 48-38-2-6-4 All-Time Road Series: 51-46-0-2-1

Griffins at Wolves
Fifth of eight meetings overall, second of four at Allstate Arena…Grand Rapids has faced Chicago 198 times in the regular season dating back to their IHL days, the second-most of any Griffins opponent (Milwaukee, 218)…The Griffins are one win away from 100 against Chicago in the all-time series during the regular season...Grand Rapids has points in seven of the last eight meetings (5-1-0-2) against Chicago, dating back to March 12, 2023...The Wolves are 2-4-1-3 in their last 10 games and are on a seven-game winless streak (0-3-1-3)...The Griffins are 5-3-1-1 in their last 10 games and are on a three-game winning streak...On the road, Grand Rapids is 12-12-3-2 and Chicago is 10-14-3-3 at home...Since the 2019-20 season, Grand Rapids is just 15-23-2-2 (.405) against the Wolves and has been outscored 153-114. Also since the 2019-20 season, the Griffins are 9-12-0-0 (.429) against the Wolves in Chicago and have been outscored 82-63...The Wolves ranks second in the AHL with a power-play percentage of 21.5%, while their penalty kill is tied for fifth at 83.8%...Grand Rapids is tied for 24th with a power-play rate of 17.3% and is tied for 12th with a penalty kill at 82.1%...With a 5-3-1-1 record against the Wolves last season, the Griffins finished above the .500 mark against Chicago for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign...Chicago’s Chris Terry skated for the Griffins from 2018-20 and totaled 112 points (50-62—112) in 126 games.

Last Time Out
The Griffins clinched a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs and set a new franchise record for the longest home point streak at 17 consecutive games (12-0-3-2) in a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Monsters at Van Andel Arena on Wednesday. Sebastian Cossa now owns the franchise record for the longest point streak by a goaltender with a point 16 straight games from Jan. 19-March 27 (11-0-5). Grand Rapids' previous longest home point streak came as a 16-game run (13-0-3-0) from Jan. 9, 2004-Feb. 27, 2004. Marc Lamothe most recently held the longest point streak by a goaltender, as he posted a 9-0-4-2 (W-L-T-OTL) record from Oct. 19, 2002-Nov. 30, 2002. Jonatan Berggren extended his point streak (4-6--10) to seven games with two points (1-1--2), which tied the longest point streak this season by a Griffin. Taro Hirose's two points (1-1--2) put him in sole possession of sixth place on the Griffins' all-time scoring list with 198 points.

This Date in Griffins History
2009: Brian Lashoff records an assist in his first professional game, but the Griffins drop a 4-1 decision to the Philadelphia Phantoms at the Wachovia Spectrum. With five games remaining, the Griffins are four points ahead of the Hamilton Bulldogs for second place in the North Division.

Roster Shakeup
- March 11—F Tim Gettinger re-signed to a one-year contract extension by Detroit
- March 14—F Austin Czarnik recalled by Detroit; F Trenton Bliss recalled from Toledo (ECHL) by Grand Rapids
- March 15—D Jared McIsaac reassigned from HC Ambri-Piotta (Swiss) to Providence (AHL) by Detroit; F Curtis Hall reassigned from Providence to Grand Rapids by Boston
- March 17—F Trenton Bliss reassigned to Toledo (ECHL) by Grand Rapids
- March 19—D Simon Edvinsson recalled by Detroit; G Carter Gylander signed to an ATO by Grand Rapids
- March 25—F Jonatan Berggren reassigned by Detroit
- March 26—F Emmitt Finnie signed to an ATO by Grand Rapids
- March 28—F Riley Sawchuk recalled from Toledo (ECHL) by Grand Rapids

The Promised Land
On Wednesday, the Griffins clinched their 18th playoff berth in 28 seasons with a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Monsters at Van Andel Arena. The Griffins return to the Calder Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2019, ending a drought that included two postseasons (2020 and 2021) that were canceled due to COVID-19. This marks the team’s earliest clinching date since 2017, when the AHL’s eventual Calder Cup champions secured their spot on March 26. Clinching a spot with 25 days remaining in the regular season also marked the earliest the Griffins have clinched relative to the date of their finale since 2006, when the AHL’s regular-season champions locked up their berth with 34 days to play. Exactly three months prior to clinching, the sixth-place Griffins were tied for the fourth-lowest points percentage in the AHL, bringing a 9-13-3-1 record (.423) into their first game after the Christmas break. They’ve since posted a 23-5-4-3 mark (.757), solidifying their hold on second place in the Central Division and becoming the fourth team to secure a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Back to Our Old Self
After enduring a season-high five-game winless skid from March 2-12 (0-2-2-1), the Griffins have returned to form with wins in three straight games and in five of their last six contests. The Griffins saw their 18-game point streak (13-0-3-2 from Jan. 13-March 2) come to an end on March 4 in Cleveland, which was one game shy of tying the franchise record of 19 contests (Feb. 4-March 20, 2015 15-0-3-1) and is the second-longest run in the AHL this season. The Griffins’ active 17-game home point streak (12-0-3-2) is a new franchise record, beating out the previous mark of 16 games that was established from Jan. 9-Feb. 27, 2004 and is also longest run in the AHL this season. Grand Rapids’ nine-game road point streak (8-0-0-1) from Dec. 27-Feb. 17 was their longest since an 11-game run (9-0-1-1) from Jan. 29-March 12, 2015 and is tied for the second longest in the AHL this season. The Griffins have secured at least a point in 32 of their last 38 contests (24-6-5-3). The Griffins are 23-5-4-3 (.757) since Christmas and have had a trio of winning streaks of five or more games in the same season for the first time since 2013-14. Grand Rapids has points in 23 of its last 27 games (18-4-3-2) inside Van Andel Arena and has points in 13 of its past 17 road appearances (10-4-2-1). The Griffins have been solid at home with a 20-6-4-2 mark, outscoring their opponents 101-73. Grand Rapids has battled on the road this season, earning points in 12 of its last 15 games to move to 12-12-3-2 away from home.

Records are Meant to be Broken
The Griffins have rewritten the record book in multiple categories this season. Most recently on Wednesday, Grand Rapids set a new franchise record with a point in its 17th straight home game, breaking a 16-game record that was established more than 20 years ago, from Jan. 9-Feb. 27, 2004. The home point run is the second franchise-record streak that the Griffins have tied in the last two months, piggybacking their seven-game road winning streak from Dec. 27, 2023-Feb. 2, 2024. The Griffins also rattled off an 18-game point streak from Jan. 13-March 2 (13-0-3-2), which was one game shy of tying the franchise record of 19 contests (Feb. 4-March 20, 2015 15-0-3-1). Now 11-0-5 since Jan. 19, Sebastian Cossa holds the franchise record for the longest point streak by a goaltender at 16 outings, beating Marc Lamothe’s previous record of 15 games (9-0-4-2 (W-L-T-OTL)) set from Oct. 19-Nov. 30, 2002. Finally, the Griffins have had a trio of winning streaks of five or more games in the same season for the first time since 2013-14.

Black Magic
As the regular season inches closer to its completion, the Griffins have clinched a playoff berth and a winning record, and are in second place in the Central Division with a 32-18-7-4 record and 75 points with just 11 games remaining.

Sea Bass Fishing
Sebastian Cossa is on a franchise-record 16-game point streak from Jan. 19-March 27 (11-0-5), beating Marc Lamothe’s previous record of 15-games (9-0-4-2 (W-L-T-OTL)) set from Oct. 19-Nov. 30, 2002. Since returning from the holiday break on Dec. 27, Cossa has a 13-1-5 ledger with a 2.08 goals against average and a .923 save percentage. The former 15^th overall pick by the Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft has allowed more than two goals just six times in his past 19 games. Through 32 contests, Cossa is 17-7-8 with one shutout to go along with a 2.53 goals against average and a .912 save percentage. Cossa ranks fifth among rookie goaltenders in both goals against average and save percentage. Cossa named the Howies Hockey Tape/AHL Player of the Week on Feb. 26 when he posted a 2-0-0 record with one shutout to go along with a 1.00 GAA and a .970 save percentage from Feb. 21-25. On Feb. 21, the 21-year-old collected his first AHL shutout with 28 saves in a 1-0 victory over the Texas Stars, lifting Grand Rapids past Texas into second place in the Central Division and becoming just the third Griffins rookie to record a shutout over the last nine seasons. Cossa went on to stop 37 shots on Feb. 25, including 14 in the third period, to help the Griffins snap Milwaukee’s 19-game winning streak and extend Grand Rapids’ point streak to 15 games (11-0-2-2).

Kasper the Friendly Ghost
Last weekend, rookie Marco Kasper enjoyed three points (1-2—3) in two games and now has five points (2-3—5) in his last five outings. The 2022 eighth overall pick by the Red Wings also has nine points (5-4—9) in his last 13 games and is tied for fourth on the roster with 31 points (12-19—31) in 60 contests. The 19-year-old was named the Howies Hockey Tape/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending on Jan. 21 when he totaled five points (3-2—5) in two games at Manitoba. The Klagenfurt, Austria, native made his NHL debut with the Red Wings as an 18-year-old on April 2, 2023 at the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Tower of Terror
Elmer Soderblom, standing at 6-foot-8, enjoyed a three-game point streak (2-1—3) from March 16-20. The tallest player to ever compete for the Griffins also has five points (4-1—5) in his last seven outings and seven points (5-2—7) in his last 12 appearances. In 56 games this season, the Gothenburg, Sweden, native has 27 points (12-15—27), eight penalty minutes and a plus-three rating. Last campaign, the 22-year-old posted eight points (5-3—8) in 20 games with the Griffins on top of producing eight points (5-3—8) in 21 games with the Detroit Red Wings. Soderblom was selected with the 159th overall pick by Detroit in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

Johnny Bravo
Jonatan Berggren, reassigned to Grand Rapids by Detroit on Monday, is on an active seven-game point streak (4-6—10) from Feb. 24-March 27 and has 24 points (12-12—24) in his last 20 games from Jan. 13-March 27. Berggren also has 30 points (13-17—30) in his last 25 outings and 33 points (15-18—33) in his last 28 contests from Dec. 15- March 27. The 23-year-old leads the roster in points (20-28—48), assists (28) and goals (20) through 44 appearances this season. The Enkoping, Sweden, product became the seventh-fastest player to reach 100 points as a Griffin, doing so in just his 106th game on Jan. 26 against Belleville. Berggren has a combined 119 points (45-74—119) in 121 career AHL appearances from 2021-24, collecting an assist during his 100th game as a Griffin on Jan. 10 against Milwaukee. During his rookie season with the Griffins in 2021-22, Berggren broke Grand Rapids’ rookie single-season scoring record with 64 points (21-43—64) in 70 games, five more points than the previous record held by Teemu Pulkkinen (2013-14).

It’s Taco Time
Taro Hirose enjoyed a three-game assist streak from March 12-16 (0-4—4), which was one game shy of tying his season-high assist mark set from Nov. 17-27 (0-5—5). Hirose, who is in his fifth season as a Griffin, has nine points (2-7—9) in his last 10 outings. The Calgary, Alberta, native has logged a total of 33 points (8-25—33) in 45 appearances this season, after having missed 12 straight games from Dec. 29-Jan. 27 due to rehabbing an injury. On Wednesday, the 27-year-old passed Tomas Tatar for sixth place on the Griffins’ all-time points list with 198 and his 149 assists rank third in franchise history.

Age is Wisdom
Veteran forwards Zach Aston-Reese, Joel L’Esperance and Dominik Shine have found a groove as of late. Aston-Reese is on a three-game goal streak from March 20-27 and now has 10 points (6-4—10) in his last 14 games. L’Esperance tallied an assist in both games last weekend and has eight points (3-5—8) in his last 13 appearances. Finally, Shine is on a season-high six-game point streak (2-6—8), a team-best five-game assist run and has nine points (3-6—9) in his last 10 outings. Shine has set a new career high with 33 points, while also setting a new career best with 23 assists. Combined, the trio has amassed 422 points (212-210—422) in 835 AHL games over 18 campaigns.

Matty Ice
On Feb. 21, Matt Luff made his season debut after rehabbing an injury suffered in training camp that kept him sidelined for the first 45 games of the season. Luff is on an active six-game point streak from March 15-27 (3-5—8), and now has 12 points (5-7—12) in his last 11 contests. Last season, the 26-year-old posted 25 points (8-17—25) and six penalty minutes in 28 games with the Griffins on top of producing four points (2-2—4) in 19 outings with the Detroit Red Wings. The Windsor, Ontario, native has 157 points (62-95—157) in 213 career AHL outings from 2016-24.

Clutch Hutch
Veteran goaltender Michael Hutchinson has been solid for the Griffins this year, posting a 14-11-3 mark with two shutouts in 29 games to go along with a 2.77 goals against average and an .896 save percentage. The 33-year-old enjoyed a seven-game point streak from Jan. 13-March 1 (5-0-2). Since returning from the holiday break on Dec. 27, Hutchinson has accumulated a 9-4-2 record with one shutout, an .898 save percentage and a 2.60 goals against average. The Barrie, Ontario, native has an all-time AHL record of 120-82-23 with a 2.60 goals against average and a .914 save percentage. Hutchinson has also appeared in 154 NHL contests, showing a 2.94 goals against average and a .902 save percentage.

Thou Shall Not Pass
The Griffins’ defense has been much improved since the holiday break, allowing an average of 2.46 goals per game from Dec. 27-March 27. Prior to the holiday break, Grand Rapids allowed 3.31 goals per game from Oct. 13-Dec. 20. The Griffins have allowed a total of 172 goals through 61 games this season, which ranks second in the Central Division and seventh in the AHL. Grand Rapids is also ninth on the circuit with 2.82 goals against per game, which is second in the division trailing only Milwaukee (2.62, 4th). Netminders Sebastian Cossa (2.53) and Michael Hutchinson (2.77) each possess a goals against average below 3.00. Defensemen Albert Johansson (+10), Wyatt Newpower (+9), Antti Tuomisto (+7), Simon Edvinsson (+5), Radim Simek (+4), Eemil Viro (+4), Brogan Rafferty (+3), Josiah Didier (+2) and William Wallinder (+1) and all have a positive plus-minus rating.

No Need for Extra Bodies
Last season, the Griffins used a franchise-record 49 players, which included a franchise-record eight goaltenders. The 49 players last campaign beat out the previous record of 48 set during the 2021-22 season. However, it has been much different this season, as the Griffins have not had a single skater compete on a professional tryout. Grand Rapids has used just four goaltenders this season, with two of them suiting up for just one game (John Lethemon & Ville Husso). The team has also used just 30 skaters throughout the season, a drastic change from the 49 and 48 players used in the past two seasons, respectively.

Like Father, Like Son
Recently acquired center Curtis Hall is the son of former Griffins center Mike Hall, who played seven games for Grand Rapids during the 2000-01 campaign, scoring one goal. They are the third father-son duo to have played for the Griffins, joining Chris (2008-09) and Jake (2018-19) Chelios, and Derek (1999-01; 2002-04) and D.J. (2021-22) King. Family ties have been a common theme throughout the franchise’s history, as five sets of brothers have suited up for the Griffins: Sheldon (2001-03) and Wade (2001-02) Brookbank; Valtteri (2005-07) and Ilari (2010-11) Filppula; Kevin (1999-00; 03-04), Kelly (1999-00) and Kip (2000-02; 04-05; 06-07) Miller, along with cousin Drew (2016-17); Todd (1996-98; 99-00; 01-02) and Jeff (1996-97; 03-04; 05-06) Nelson; and Givani (2016-17; 18-21; 22-23) and Gemel (2021-22) Smith.

Crunch Time
The Griffins have excelled during the third period of games this season, as they have outscored their opponents 76-49 in the final frame and outshot their opponents 571-541. Grand Rapids has six wins when trailing after the second period, which is tied for fourth in the AHL. The Griffins also have a 35-24 shot advantage in overtime this campaign. However, Grand Rapids is just 5-11 in games decided past regulation (3-7 in OT, 2-4 in SO). The Griffins’ 18 losses in regulation this season are tied for the third fewest in the AHL, while their seven overtime defeats and four shootout losses are both tied for the fifth most.

Oh, It’s You Again
The Griffins are in second place in the Central Division with a 32-18-7-4 record and 75 points, and have clinched a playoff berth for the 18th time in 28 seasons. All of Grand Rapids’ remaining 11 games will be against the Central Division. The Griffins have done well against their division rivals, as they are 25-11-3-2 (.671) with a plus-21 scoring margin against the Central Division. Grand Rapids is undefeated this season against Iowa (6-0-0-0). Chicago and Rockford will be the Griffins’ most frequent opponents down the stretch, as there are still four meetings remaining against each franchise.

Pucks on Net
The Griffins have done well when outshooting their opponents this season with a 17-3-4-4 (.750) record compared to a 14-14-3-0 (.500) mark when they are being outshot. Grand Rapids is 19-5-3-4 (.726) when producing at least 30 shots and 23-9-5-2 (.679) when it keeps its opponents under 29 shots. The Griffins rank 17th in the AHL with 29.5 shots per game, while they concede the seventh fewest in the league at 28.1. The Griffins are averaging 28.9 shots per game in their last 10 outings, while giving up an average of 26.2.

Under Three is Key
Unsurprisingly, the Griffins have done well in games where they have scored four or more goals, going 23-1-2-0 (.923). Although, when scoring three goals or less the team is just 9-17-5-4 (.386). Grand Rapids has reached the four-goal mark in eight of its last 15 outings. On the flip side, Grand Rapids is just 8-15-7-3 (.394) when allowing at least three goals, compared to a 24-3-0-1 mark (.875) when allowing two goals or less. In their last 15 appearances, the Griffins have allowed three or more goals seven times.

AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Sebastian Cossa—2.53 GAA places fifth among rookie netminders, .912 save percentage ranks fifth among rookie goaltenders
Simon Edvinsson—Eight goals are tied for 15th among defensemen, three game-winners are tied for fourth among defensemen
Carter Mazur—Six power-play goals are tied for seventh among rookies, 15 goals are tied for 14th among rookies
Antti Tuomisto—Five goals are tied for eighth among rookie defensemen, one power-play goal is tied for ninth among rookie defensemen, two game-winners are tied for second among rookie defensemen, plus-seven rating is tied for 11th among rookie defensemen
William Wallinder—Three goals are tied for 16th among rookie defensemen

Milestones
On Wednesday, Taro Hirose passed Tomas Tatar (196) for sixth place on the Griffins’ all-time points list with his 197th and 198th points as a Griffin.
Jonatan Berggren—One game from 300 as a pro
Curtis Hall—Two games from 150 as a pro
Taro Hirose—One goal from 50 as a Griffin, one assist from 150 as a Griffin, two points from 200 as a Griffin, one game from 300 as a pro
Marco Kasper—One assist from 50 as a pro
Brogan Rafferty—Two games form 250 in the AHL

Photo by Mark Newman/Griffins