Griffins Game #11 * Home Game #6 * AHL Game #168

Season Series: 1-1-0-1 Home Series: 1-0-0-0 Road Series: 0-1-0-1
All-Time Series: 66-34-1-1-8 All-Time Home Series: 36-14-1-1-5 All-Time Road Series: 30-20-0-0-3

Griffins vs. Moose
Fourth of eight meetings overall, second of four at Van Andel Arena…Since the Moose rejoined the AHL in 2015-16, Grand Rapids is 22-10-0-1 against them and has outscored the Moose 102-73…On home ice in that span, the Griffins are 13-4-0-0 with a 58-38 scoring advantage…Grand Rapids has claimed eight of the last 11 meetings at Van Andel Arena…On Friday, the Griffins welcomed Manitoba to West Michigan for the first time since Jan. 11, 2020 when Grand Rapids defeated the Moose 6-2...This is the 111th meeting between the two teams, which is the fourth most encounters by any Grand Rapids opponent...There has been just eight total goals between the two clubs in the opening three games of the series, as each team has earned a shutout...Riley Barber (1-1—2), Taro Hirose (0-2—2) and Ryan Murphy (1-1—2) lead the Griffins against the Moose with two points...Calvin Pickard lives in Winnipeg during the offseason and forward Jon Martin was born there.

Last Time Out
Calvin Pickard posted a 34-save shutout and earned his fourth consecutive victory on Friday when the Griffins blanked Manitoba, 2-0. Grand Rapids’ win is its third straight and fourth in the past five games. Turner Elson bagged the game-winning goal at the 5:12 mark in the first period and Riley Barber gave the Griffins a 2-0 advantage with his tally with 19 seconds left in the second. Barber (4-4—8), Jonatan Berggren (3-3—6) and Taro Hirose (2-6—8) all extended their point streak to five games. The Griffins posted a shutout for the first time since May 11, 2021 when they held Cleveland scoreless in a 2-0 win. Pickard’s shutout was his fourth of his Griffins career, moving him into a tie for 10th place in franchise history with Jani Hurme, Martin Prusek, and Eddie Pasquale. Pickard now has won four straight and has allowed one goal or less in five of his seven starts.

Like Father, Like Son
Grand Rapids defenseman D.J. King is the son of former Griffins player Derek King (1999-01; 2002-04) and when D.J. made his AHL debut on Nov. 6 against Rockford, they joined Chris (2008-09) and Jake (2018-19) Chelios as the second father-son duo to have played for Grand Rapids. D.J. just missed out on playing against his dad, as Derek was promoted to interim head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks the morning of game day against Rockford. Derek is the Griffins’ all-time leading playoff scorer (16-25—41) and ranks fifth in regular season points (73-130—203). Family ties have been a common theme throughout the franchise history, as four 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.

Not Your Average Joe
Center Joe Veleno was reassigned by Detroit on Nov. 7 after skating in four games for the Red Wings last week, totaling two points (1-1—2) and four penalty minutes. The Kirkland, Quebec, native has appeared in six contests with Grand Rapids and registered three goals, including two on the power play which is tied for 17th in the AHL. The former first-round draft choice has suited up for nine games in the NHL and has amassed three points (2-1—3) and eight penalty minutes.

Fit for a King
Former Rockford IceHogs coach Derek King was named interim head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, joining 11 other former Griffins players or coaches currently behind an NHL bench. He is one of four Griffins alumni serving as a head coach in the NHL.

Photo by Mark Newman/Griffins

Mo Appreciation
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for October after recording eight assists in nine games. The 187th Grand Rapids alumnus to play in the NHL, he became the fourth former Griffin to earn the honor, joining Detroit’s Dylan Larkin (November 2015) and Jimmy Howard (March 2010) and Ottawa’s Karel Rechunek (January 2001).

This Date in Griffins History
2001: 6,841 fans, including more than 2,500 high school and elementary students from 39 schools, watch the Griffins defeat Chicago 3-2 in the first non-holiday weekday matinee (noon) in AHL history.

Rarified Air
Brian Lashoff’s 523 games played for the Griffins ranks first among active AHL players who have spent their entire AHL career with the same club and seventh in league history among one-team players. Of the players ahead of him on that list, the most recent – and, coincidentally, the record-holder – last played during the 1970-71 season (Bill Needham of the Cleveland Barons, 981 games played). Lashoff overtook Pete Kapusta (Providence Reds 1946-55) for the No. 7 spot on Oct. 27 against Chicago and is now eight games behind No. 6 Roger DeJordy (Hershey Bears 1962-70). Lashoff is still 132 games away from breaking the Griffins’ all-time games played record, held by Travis Richards with 655 games (1995-2006).

Powerful Play
Following a 2019-20 campaign in which they finished sixth in the AHL’s power play rankings at 20.9%, the Griffins exceeded that mark in 2020-21 with a power play conversion rate of 21.5%, the fifth best on the circuit. This season has been no different through nine games as the power play is converting on 23.5% of its opportunities, which is tied for sixth in the AHL.

Calvin’s University
Goaltender Calvin Pickard is off to a fast start as he has allowed one goal or less in five of his seven appearances and has won four straight games. Pickard recorded his first shutout of the season and fourth as a Griffin on Nov. 12 against Manitoba, moving him into a tie for 10th place in franchise history with Jani Hurme, Martin Prusek, and Eddie Pasquale. The 10-year pro currently ranks third in the AHL with a 1.71 goals against average while his 0.946 save percentage places fifth. Twelve goals allowed through his first seven games is Pickard’s best start since the 2017-18 season when he let in 14 tallies. Pickard played in just nine games in North America a season ago due to being assigned to Detroit’s taxi squad for much of the year. The Moncton, New Brunswick, native also spent some time with Vienna in the ICEHL last season, logging six games and a 1.96 goals against average.

High-Flying Hirose
After leading the Griffins in assists a year ago with 23, Taro Hirose is off to a great start as he has bagged 10 helpers in just as many games, which is a team high and tied for third in the league. Seven assists have come on the power play, which is tied for second in the AHL. Hirose is currently enjoying a five-game point streak (2-6—8) dating back to Oct. 30.

Return of Riley
Riley Barber led the Griffins in goals (20), points (34) and points per game (1.06) a season ago. His scoring pace equaled a 48-goal, 81-point clip in a regular 76-game AHL season. Barber also ranked second in the league for goals, just one shy of Cooper Marody (who played seven more games), and was named a Central Division AHL All-Star. Six game-winning goals tied a career best while his four-game goal streak from Feb. 26 through March 11 also matched a career high. The forward added seven multi-point outings out of 32, including a career-high four points (2-2—4) on May 7 against Chicago. Barber posted a nine-game point streak (8-5—13) from Feb. 5-March 11 that was the longest ever to start a player’s Griffins career as well as the longest from the start of a Griffins season. Although it was a slow start to this year, Barber is now in the midst of a five-game point streak (4-4—8). His 10 points (5-5—10) this season are second on the roster while his four power play goals are tied for first in the league.

Jonny On The Spot
Rookie Jonatan Berggren is currently enjoying a five-game point streak (3-3—6), dating back to Oct. 30. The Uppsala, Sweden, native bagged his first AHL goal and two-point (1-1—2) night on Oct. 30, which began a three-game goal scoring streak for the right winger. The former second-round draft choice is tied for 14th among league rookies with three goals while his seven points (3-4—7) are tied for 14th among first-year players.

AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Calvin Pickard—1.71 goals against average ranks third, 0.946 save percentage is good for fifth
Ryan Murphy—Seven points (2-5—7) are tied for 11th among defensemen, two goals are tied for 11th among blueliners
Riley Barber—Four power play goals are tied for first
Joe Veleno—Two power play goals are tied for 17th
Taro Hirose—12 points (2-10—12) is tied for 11th, 10 assists are tied for fourth, seven power play assists are tied for second
Jonatan Berggren—Three goals are tied for 14th among league rookies, seven points (3-4—7) are tied for 14th among first-year players

Milestones
Defenseman Luke Witkowski appeared in his 400th game as a professional on Friday against Manitoba. Rookie Jonatan Berggren bagged an assist on the game-winning goal against the Moose on Friday, which was his 50th helper as a pro. Other upcoming milestones include:
Turner Elson—Six assists from 100 in the AHL
Brian Lashoff—Three assists from 100 as a pro
Luke Witkowski—Three points from 50 in the AHL, one assist from 50 as a pro
Tyler Spezia—Two assists from 50 as a pro
Jon Martin—Two assists from 50 as a pro

Photo by Mark Newman/Griffins