GRIFFINS (3-5-0-0) vs. Iowa Wild (5-2-0-0)

Griffins Game #9 * Home Game #4 * AHL Game #143

Season Series: 0-0-0-0 Home Series: 0-0-0-0 Road Series: 0-0-0-0
All-Time Series: 29-10-0-1 All-Time Home Series: 14-5-0-1 All-Time Road Series: 15-5-0-0

Griffins vs. Wild
First of six meetings overall, first of three at Van Andel Arena...Grand Rapids finished 6-4 against Iowa in 2017-18 and seven of those games were decided by one goal, including four in a shootout…13 of the last 18 meetings have been decided by one goal…The Griffins won 20 of the first 24 all-time meetings against the Wild, but are 9-6-0-1 since…Tim Army is in his first season as Iowa’s head coach, taking over from Derek Lalonde, who was named an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning over the summer…Wild forward Landon Ferraro was a second-round draft selection by Detroit in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft…Ferraro tallied 140 points (75-65—140) in 270 games with the Griffins over parts of five seasons (2009-10; 2011-15) and helped the team win the 2013 Calder Cup...Ferraro became the 142nd Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL when he debuted with the Red Wings on March 18, 2014 vs. Toronto…Gerald Mayhew, in his second full pro season with Iowa, is a Wyandotte, Mich., native and skated four seasons with the Ferris State Bulldogs (WCHA) and tallied 119 points (52-67—119) in 150 games from 2013-17.

Last Game (Saturday): Griffins 3 at Senators 1
Grand Rapids picked up its first road win of the season…In his second AHL start, goaltender Patrik Rybar made 21 saves to earn his first victory…Dominic Turgeon was unsuccessful in his penalty shot attempt at 13:51 of the second period…The Griffins have had two penalty shots attempts in eight games…Chris Terry scored his third goal of the season, which also marked the game-winner…Matt Puempel produced his team-leading fourth goal…Wade Megan registered his first multi-point game as a Griffin…Due to the AHL’s veteran rule, defenseman Dylan McIlrath did not dress, which snapped his streak of 103 straight games played since joining the Griffins (includes playoffs).

Status Update
The Griffins are 3-5-0-0 and place seventh in the Central Division. Grand Rapids split its two games at Belleville last weekend, its third straight 0.500 week after dropping a pair of contests in Texas during opening weekend. The Griffins play their first three-in-three of the season this week, beginning tonight and tomorrow at home against Iowa and Milwaukee, respectively, before heading to Cleveland on Sunday.

Friendly Confines
The Griffins have won two of their first three home games and are averaging 4.67 goals at Van Andel Arena, compared to 1.60 on foreign ice.

Megan Becomes No. 172
Recalled by the Red Wings on Wednesday, center Wade Megan became the 172nd Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL when he made his debut with Detroit during the team’s 4-3 win last night vs. New Jersey. In 7:24 of ice time, Megan tallied three shots. Signed as a free agent by Detroit on July 1, Megan shows four points (2-2—4) in eight games with the Griffins this season.

Homer Run
Third-year Griffin Axel Holmstrom has collected points in a career-high five consecutive games, which is also the longest by a Grand Rapids skater this season. The 196th overall selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by Detroit, Holmstrom ties for fourth on the team in scoring with five points (2-3—5).

This Date in Griffins History
1999: Longtime Griffin Danton Cole retires from a distinguished playing career to become an assistant coach for the team.
2007: The Griffins lose their first road game of the season by a 5-3 count in Rochester after starting the campaign 5-0 away from Van Andel Arena. Grand Rapids’ 5-1 record in foreign territory ties its third-best road start in team history.
2011: Joey MacDonald denies all 27 shots he faces to record his 19th shutout as a Griffin, a 3-0 triumph over Lake Erie at Van Andel Arena.

No Shots For You
Grand Rapids has given up more than 30 shots just once (32 on Oct. 17 vs. Texas) and ranks third in the AHL in shots against (25.63). The Griffins have outshot six of eight opponents so far.

Puemped Up
After tallying an insurance goal in last Saturday’s win, Matt Puempel leads the team in goals (4) and ties for the team lead in points (6). The sixth-year pro has points in four of eight games so far.

Saari, Not Saari
Second-year defenseman Vili Saarijarvi had his career-high four-game point streak come to a close in last Saturday’s victory. A third-round selection by Detroit in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Saarijarvi ties with Jake Chelios for most points by a team blueliner (1-3—4).

Z-Score
The sixth overall selection in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by Detroit, Filip Zadina ties for third on the team in goals (2) and sixth in points (4). The 18-year-old is the highest Red Wings draft pick ever to suit up for the Griffins. Only three players in Griffins history were drafted higher than No. 6: Jason Spezza (No. 2 by Ottawa in 2001), Darrin Shannon (No. 4 by Pittsburgh in 1988) and Stephen Weiss (No. 4 by Florida in 2001). Dylan Larkin (selected 15th overall in the 2014 Draft) was the previous highest Red Wings draft selection to play for Grand Rapids.

Wealth Distribution
Through eight games, the Griffins show nine players with four or more points, seven with two or more goals, and five with three or more assists.

Add Rybar for Support
Goaltender Patrik Rybar (pronounced REE-bar) picked up his first victory on North American soil in his second career start last Saturday in Belleville after stopping 21 of 22 shots. The 24-year-old led the Czech Extraliga in both goals against average (1.73) and shutouts (7) in 36 games with Hradec Kralove last season.

Happy Camper
First-year Griffin Carter Camper shows four assists in his last three games and paces the club with five assists.

Old Familiar Faces
Forward Dylan Sadowy and defenseman Joe Hicketts are back in Grand Rapids. Reassigned by Detroit from Toledo on Sunday, Sadowy has appeared in 51 career games with the Griffins since 2016-17, totaling six points (4-2—6). At the time of his reassignment, Sadowy’s team-high six goals tied for fourth in the ECHL. Assigned by Detroit on Wednesday, Hicketts has logged 140 regular season games with Grand Rapids since 2016-17, tallying 46 points (10-36—46). He has played in eight games with the Red Wings this season and recorded nine shots while averaging 17:05 of ice time. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound blueliner became the 168th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL when he debuted with Detroit on Jan. 22, 2018 at New Jersey. Hicketts has skated in 13 career games with the Red Wings, showing three points (0-3—3) and two PIM.

PROMOTIONS

Cancer Awareness Night presented by Michigan First Credit Union: Through this special offer, proceeds from each ticket purchased will benefit the American Cancer Society. Fans who have already purchased tickets but would still like to contribute to the cause can donate additional tickets that will allow local patients and families from Gilda’s Club and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital to attend the game. Fans will have the opportunity to personalize “I Fight For” cards on the concourse through the first intermission and participate in a moment of recognition during the second period. The team will wear special jerseys during warmups, which will then be auctioned off post-game. More information can be found here.

Post-Game Jersey Auction: After the game, fans can bid on the jerseys that will be worn by the Griffins during warmups, with proceeds to benefit the American Cancer Society. The jersey auction will take place off the Griffins’ bench in sections 121 and 122. Select players will also be in attendance. View the jersey here.

$2 Beers and $2 Hot Dogs: Fans can enjoy $2 domestic drafts and $2 hot dogs from 6-8 p.m., while supplies last.

Get in the D-ZONE presented by Coppercraft Distillery: Every Friday night is a Griffins D-Zone night. Avoid the concession lines and get your $2 beers and $2 hot dogs served to you in your seats. Call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com/dzone today to purchase a package of four or more D-Zone tickets for any Friday night game.

Free Ride Friday on the Rapid: Ride the Rapid to and from any Friday game and enjoy complimentary fare by showing your ticket to the game. Visit ridetherapid.org for schedule information, routes and maps.

College Night presented by Michigan First Credit Union: College students can show their ID at every Friday game to purchase an Upper Level Faceoff ticket for $13 (or $12 in advance at The Zone) or an Upper Level Center Ice ticket for $16 (or $15 in advance at The Zone). Limit one ticket per ID.