Game Notes: Griffins vs. Milwaukee - Nov. 3, 2018
game time: 7 p.m. at van andel arena
Game Day Preview - November 3 vs Milwaukee Admirals
**Note tonight's radio broadcast will be joined in progress following the conclusion of Michigan/Penn State football**
GRIFFINS (3-5-0-1) vs. Milwaukee Admirals (8-1-3-0)
Griffins Game #10 * Home Game #5 * AHL Game #157
Season Series: 0-0-0-0 Home Series: 0-0-0-0 Road Series: 0-0-0-0
All-Time Series: 92-61-7-7-7 All-Time Home Series: 50-29-2-2-2 All-Time Road Series: 42-32-5-5-5
Griffins vs. Admirals
First of 10 meetings overall, first of five at Van Andel Arena...Milwaukee leads the division by six points over Chicago and has points in six straight outings (4-0-2-0)…With a rivalry dating back to the International Hockey League days, the Griffins have faced the Admirals more than any other opponent in team history as the two clubs will meet up for the 175th time tonight…Grand Rapids posts a 33-15-2-0 (0.680) regular season mark against the Admirals since 2013-14, including a 17-7-1-0 (0.700) record in 25 games at Van Andel Arena…The Griffins are 9-3-1-0 in their last 13 regular season meetings against Milwaukee…Karl Taylor is in his first campaign behind Milwaukee’s bench after serving the last four seasons as an assistant with the Texas Stars...Griffins first-year head coach Ben Simon appeared in 18 games with the Admirals during the 2003-04 season and finished with four points (1-3—4).
Tommy Mac is Back (in different colors)
Goaltender Tom McCollum, who played with the Griffins from 2009-16 and 2017-18, returns to Van Andel Arena tonight as a member of the Admirals. Selected 30th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, McCollum is Grand Rapids’ all-time goaltending leader in wins (123), games played (263), minutes (14900:25) and saves (6640). He helped Grand Rapids win the 2013 Calder Cup and is the team’s only four-time AHL Man of the Year nominee. McCollum also appeared in three career games with the Red Wings, showing a 1-0-0 record, a 2.98 GAA and a 0.879 save percentage. He became the 117th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL when he debuted on March 30, 2011 vs. St. Louis. In his career facing Grand Rapids, McCollum is 0-0-2 with a 1.90 GAA and a 0.952 save percentage. His two appearances vs. the Griffins came on April 12 and 14, 2017, at Van Andel Arena as a member of the Charlotte Checkers.
Last Game (Friday): Wild 3 at Griffins 2 SO
Patrik Rybar made his first start on home ice and stopped 20 of 22 shots...Grand Rapids had its first game decided in a shootout since March 30, 2018 (3-2 SOW vs. SJ)...The Griffins recorded a season-high 36 shots, including 18 in the first period that established a season best for a single period...Chris Terry scored the game-tying goal, his second consecutive contest lighting the lamp...Fourteen of the last 19 meetings between these teams have been decided by a single goal...Joe Hicketts and Dylan Sadowy made their season debuts with the Griffins.
Status Update
The Griffins are 3-5-0-1 and place seventh in the Central Division. Grand Rapids continues its first three-in-three of the season tonight at home against Milwaukee before rounding out the weekend at Cleveland tomorrow.
Homer Run
Third-year Griffin Axel Holmstrom has collected points in a career-high six 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 second on the team in scoring with six points (3-3—6).
Last One
Last night’s shootout defeat marked Grand Rapids’ first game this season where the final difference was one goal. In fact, the Griffins were the last AHL team to be involved in a single-tally game. This was the longest the Griffins opened a campaign without any one-goal decisions since 2001-02, when the first one-goal contest did not happen until game no. 12.
Happy Camper
First-year Griffin Carter Camper is on a team-high four-game assist streak, collecting five helpers in that span, and leads the club in both assists (6) and points (7). The four-game assist streak is his longest since a four-game run on March 9-16, 2018, with Tucson.
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 (25.33). The Griffins have outshot seven of nine opponents so far.
Terr-ing It Up
First-year Griffin Chris Terry has goals in back-to-back contests, his second two-game goal streak of the season. His four goals tie with Matt Puempel for team leadership.
Add Rybar for Support
Goaltender Patrik Rybar (pronounced REE-bar) has points in his last two starts (1-0-1), showing a 1.44 GAA and a 0.932 save percentage in that span. He picked up his first victory on North American soil in his second career start on Oct. 27 in Belleville after stopping 21 of 22 shots. The 24-year-old led the Czech Extraliga in both GAA (1.73) and shutouts (7) in 36 games with Hradec Kralove last season.
Friendly Confines
The Griffins have points in three of their first four home games and are averaging 4.0 goals at Van Andel Arena, compared to 1.6 on foreign ice.
Saari, Not Saari
Second-year defenseman Vili Saarijarvi has points in four of his last six outings and 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 fourth 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.
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 on Thursday night vs. New Jersey. In 7:24 of ice time, Megan tallied three shots. The Wings host Edmonton tonight. 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.
This Date in Griffins History
2001: Petr Schastlivy scores twice in a 7-1 win over Manitoba, setting a Griffins record for fastest start with nine goals in the season's first 10 games.
2012: In his AHL debut, Petr Mrazek records 29 saves to help Grand Rapids defeat Texas 4-2 at the Cedar Park Center.
PROMOTIONS
Tumbler Giveaway presented by Centennial Securities: The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a Griffins tumbler. View the tumbler here.
Post-Game Open Skate: Bring your skates to the rink and take to the ice for the post-game open skate.
Friends & Family 4-Packs presented by Big E's Sports Grill: Available
for all Saturday games, each pack incudes four or more tickets and $12
in concession cash for a great low price, plus a coupon for one FREE
large, one-topping pizza at Big E's Sports Grill. Visit griffinshockey.com/f4p
or call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2.