Griffins vs. Monsters
First of four meetings overall, first of two at Van Andel Arena...The Griffins finished 2-1-1-0 in the 2018-19 season series and were led in scoring by Chris Terry, who had six points (2-4—6) in four games…Grand Rapids has points in 11 of the last 13 meetings (8-2-1-2)…At Van Andel Arena, the Griffins have points in nine of the last 12 matchups (8-3-0-1)…Head coach Ben Simon is a native of Shaker Heights, a Cleveland suburb…Captain Matthew Ford spent most of his first three pro seasons (2008-11) with the Monsters, totaling 69 points (39-30—69) in 126 appearances...Monsters first-year head coach Mike Eaves was Ford’s college coach at Wisconsin and they won the 2006 NCAA Championship together…Calvin Pickard began his pro career with the Monsters, appearing in 142 games from 2011-15 and posting a 60-54-21 record to go along with a 2.63 GAA, a 0.913 save percentage and 10 shutouts…Pickard is the Monsters’ all-time leader in goalie wins.

Last Game (Sunday): Griffins 4 at Moose 7 - Recap
Grand Rapids rallied from being down 4-1 at the 7:28 mark in the second period but Manitoba scored three unanswered goals to close the game…Chris Terry logged his second consecutive three-point game (2-1—3), including posting his 300th AHL assist…Terry and Matt Puempel both extended their point streaks to six games…Grand Rapids dropped back-to-back games at Manitoba for the first time since Jan. 5, 2016 and April 4, 2017…Rookie defenseman Moritz Seider tallied a season-high two assists and has helpers in four straight outings.

Status Update
The Griffins will look to halt a three-game winless streak (0-2-1-0) this week when they return to Van Andel Arena for a trio of contests. Grand Rapids hosts the Cleveland Monsters in its annual school day game today before welcoming in the Toronto Marlies on Friday and Saturday. The Griffins are playing their first home game today since the passing of long-time video coach Bill LeRoy last Friday.

Lighting It Up
The Griffins rank second in the AHL in power play efficiency at 28.9% (13-for-45) and have scored in eight of 11 games, including four multi-goal outings. In comparison, there were eight instances last season when Grand Rapids netted two or more PPGs in a game. Chris Terry (4-4—8) leads the way in power play points.

Back Up, Terr
Chris Terry paces the team in points (18), goals (7), assists (11) and multi-point games (6). Terry’s 18 points through a season’s first 11 games are the most by a Griffin since Jiri Hudler accumulated 24 (12-12—24) in 2005-06, while his 11 assists are the most since Chad Billins’ 11 in 2012-13 and seven goals are the most since Anthony Mantha potted eight in 2016-17. Terry has found the scoresheet in nine of 11 outings. During his current six-game point streak, which includes back-to-back three-point outings, he is averaging two points per game (5-7—12). In his 11th-year pro, Terry led the Griffins with 61 points last season and the most recent player to lead the Griffins in scoring in back-to-back seasons was Andy Miele in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Two to Tango
Chris Terry (7-11—18) and Matt Puempel (6-6—12) are the first Griffins teammates with a double-digit point total each through a season’s first 11 games since Anthony Mantha and Matt Lorito both netted 10 points to open 2016-17.

Back to School, Back to School…
When Cleveland comes to town today, it will mark Grand Rapids’ 19th annual school day game, as the Griffins have hosted a weekday game with an early start time every year since the 2001-02 season. Grand Rapids owns a 12-5-0-1 record (0.694) in home matinee games and has won each of its last three by averaging 5.67 goals per game. In last season’s rendition, Filip Zadina scored twice and Patrik Rybar made 29 saves to help the Griffins to a 3-1 victory over Rockford.

Puemped Up
In his seventh year as a pro and third season as a Griffin, Matt Puempel is the team’s active goal scoring leader with 52 and has amassed nine points (5-4—9) during his season-high six-game point streak.

Apple Seider
Moritz Seider ties for sixth among AHL rookie defensemen in scoring with six points (0-6—6) and is on a season-high four-game assist streak. With Joe Hicketts still on recall with the Red Wings, Seider is the club’s top point-producing blueliner.

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 exceptions 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), Grand Rapids’ roster boasts six 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 970-660-27-59-113 (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’ 310 regular season wins since the 2012-13 campaign are second behind Toronto’s 324 and the Griffins’ 673 points in that span are third, trailing Providence (676) and Toronto (704)...Since the affiliation began in 2002-03, 90 Griffins have gone on to play for the Red Wings.

This Date in Griffins History
2005: The Griffins log their 400th regular season victory, a 3-1 decision at Hamilton. Jiri Hudler extends his point streak to 12 games, tying his 2003-04 run as the second-longest scoring streak in franchise history, while Grand Rapids equals a club mark by recording a power play goal for the ninth consecutive game. The league-leader with 13 goals and 25 points, Hudler reaches the quarter-century points mark six games faster than any other Griffin, and his 25 points are nine more than anyone else has totaled through the first 12 games of a season.
2013: Six was much more than just the date of Grand Rapids’ 13th annual matinee game, as a 6-2 win over Rockford gives the Griffins their sixth straight victory and improves Tom McCollum’s record to 6-0. McCollum joins teammate Petr Mrazek (2012-13) as the only two netminders in Griffins history to start a season with six straight wins.

Game presented by Michigan Education Trust and Michigan Education Savings Program

Time: 11 a.m. at Van Andel Arena (doors open at 10 a.m.).

19th Annual School Day Game presented by Michigan Education Trust and Michigan Education Savings Program: The Griffins’ annual School Day Game has become a major educational event for West Michigan schools. Thousands of students and teachers will head to Van Andel Arena for this unique and fun learning experience that features interactive exhibits and educational displays throughout the concourse and during the game. The educational portion will have a STEM focus, as well as a variety of information on health and wellness. All students will receive an interactive workbook to learn about how hockey relates to everyday classroom subjects. For more information, click here.

Winning Wednesday: Every time the Griffins win at home on Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday game. To redeem a Winning Wednesday ticket, please visit the box office following the Winning Wednesday game, The Zone during normal business hours, or the Van Andel Arena box office prior to the next Wednesday game beginning at 5:30 p.m. Fans who exchange their Winning Wednesday ticket at The Zone on a non-game day will receive 20% off the purchase of one item (excluding jerseys). One discount per person present.

Library Nights: For all Wednesday and Sunday games, fans can present their Grand Rapids Public Library card or Kent District Library card at the Van Andel Arena box office on the night of the game or at The Zone anytime during the store’s regular business hours to purchase either an Upper Level Faceoff ticket for $14 (regularly $16 advance and $19 day of game), an Upper Level Center Ice ticket for $17 (regularly $19 advance and $22 day of game) or a Lower Level Faceoff ticket for $20 (regularly $22 advance and $25 day of game). Limit four tickets per card per person, subject to availability.

Photo by Sam Iannamico/Griffins