Griffins Game #61 * Home Game #32 * AHL Game #969

Season Series: 2-4-0-0 Home Series: 1-1-0-0 Road Series: 1-3-0-0
All-Time Series: 109-78-7-8-8 All-Time Home Series: 58-36-2-3-3 All-Time Road Series: 51-42-5-5-5

Admirals at Griffins
Seventh of eight meetings overall, third of four at Van Andel Arena…Grand Rapids is 17-17-1-1 (0.500) against Milwaukee since the 2017-18 campaign...Dating back to the 2017-18 season, the Griffins are 10-9-2-1 (0.523) against Milwaukee at Van Andel Arena with a minus-two scoring margin (56-54)...Grand Rapids has scored just two goals or less in each of its last four games against the Admirals and is averaging just 1.67 goals against Milwaukee this season…Milwaukee’s penalty kill is tied for first at 84.7% while its power play places seventh at 22.2%...Milwaukee is 4-5-1-0 in its last 10 outings and have a 16-9-2-1 road ledger...The Griffins are 4-4-1-1 in their last 10...Grand Rapids is 11-14-4-2 at home...Grand Rapids has faced Milwaukee more than any other opponent in the regular season – 211th meeting tonight – and the Griffins’ 109 victories against the Admirals are the most against any foe…Head coach Ben Simon skated in 18 games with the Admirals during the 2003-04 campaign and finished with four points (1-3—4)...Matt Luff skated with Milwaukee last season and compiled 31 points (14-17—31) in 30 appearances.

Last Time Out
Devin Cooley robbed the Griffins with a number of stellar saves to secure a 2-1 win for the Milwaukee Admirals on Saturday at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. Cooley made several impressive saves and 27 total in the contest, including a gloving down Jasper Weatherby’s shot with 13 seconds left while the Griffins had a six-on-four chance. Pontus Andreasson was the lone Griffin to light the lamp, scoring his 10th goal of the season. Matt Luff added his 17th assist of the year on Andreasson’s goal while Brian Lashoff recorded his third helper.

Roster Shake Up
- March 12—G John Lethemon reassigned to Grand Rapids by Detroit from Toledo (ECHL)
- March 13—F Matt Luff recalled by Detroit
- March 15—F Austin Czarnik and F Matt Luff reassigned by Detroit; G Jan Bednar signed to a two-year contract by Grand Rapids and assigned to Toledo (ECHL)
- March 17—F Austin Czarnik and D Simon Edvinsson recalled by Detroit

This Date in Griffins History
2011: The Griffins ride a dominant first period and stellar goaltending by Jordan Pearce to a 3-1 win over the Rochester Americans at Van Andel Arena, moving back into a tie for fourth place in the North Division with their eighth win in the last 10 games.

Win Some, Lose Some
After enduring a season-high four-game winless streak from March 1-7, the Griffins battled back and enjoyed a four-game point streak (3-0-0-1) from March 10-16. Grand Rapids has points in five of their last seven games (3-2-1-1). Grand Rapids is now tied for sixth in the Central Division and is 10 points out of a playoff spot with 12 games remaining. Grand Rapids has points in 17 of its last 27 contests (12-10-3-2, 0.537). Since the new year, the Griffins have lost in regulation just 11 times through 31 games (14-11-3-3, 0.548).

Power Surge
The Griffins have had an up-and-down season when it comes to their special teams. Grand Rapids had a six-game streak of scoring on the power play from March 4-16, which set a new season high. In their last seven games, the Griffins are 8-for-29 (27.6%) on the man-advantage. The penalty kill has been improved as well, going 21-for-25 (84.0%) in its last eight contests. The Griffins are tied for 23rd in the AHL with a power-play rate of 18.0%, while their penalty kill places 27th at 77.6%.

Matty Ice
Matt Luff has been a welcomed addition to the roster since returning from injury on Jan. 28. Since his return, Luff has 16 points in 22 games (4-12—16) and enjoyed a five-game point streak (2-4—6) from March 4-12, which was one game shy of tying his career high. Through 27 games with the Griffins, the Windsor, Ontario, native has 24 points (7-17—24) and six penalty minutes. Luff also appeared in seven games with Detroit this season, scoring one goal.

Rewrite the Record Book
Taro Hirose has been known for his passing abilities throughout four seasons with the Griffins. The former Michigan State Spartan has continued to climb the Griffins’ all-time assist leaderboard, and with 119 assists he now ranks seventh in franchise history, passing Jiri Hudler (114). Hirose is now three assists from tying Nathan Paetsch for sixth all time. Hirose is as consistent as they come, as he has had at least 22 assists in each AHL campaign in his career. The Calgary, Alberta, native has totaled a team-leading 36 helpers in 60 games this year. In addition, his 19 power-play assists this season are tied for seventh in the AHL. Hirose also leads the roster with 50 points (14-36—50) in 60 appearances.

Danny Boy
Danny O’Regan is starting to find a rhythm with the Griffins after joining the team on Dec. 19. After exploding for three points (2-1—3) in his Griffins debut, O’Regan had just three points in his next 12 games from Dec. 28-Feb. 15. However, the German-born forward enjoyed a five-game point streak (2-5—7) from Feb. 24-March 4 and now has five points (2-3—5) in his last five outings. O’Regan also has 15 points in his last 14 games (6-9—15).

Just Keep it Close
The Griffins have had their ups and downs this season, but they have excelled at winning close games. In fact, Grand Rapids is 14-2-4-3 (0.761) in games decided by one goal and 6-0-4-0 in overtime contests. In comparison, the Griffins are just 11-26-0-0 (0.297) in games decided by two or more tallies. In the 2021-22 season, the Griffins finished with a 13-7-6-2 (0.607) mark in games decided by one goal.

AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Austin Czarnik—Five game-winning goals are tied for eighth, three short-handed goals are tied for first
Simon Edvinsson—22 assists are tied for fifth among rookie defensemen, 27 points are tied for sixth among rookie defensemen, five goals are tied for ninth among rookie defensemen
Taro Hirose—19 power-play assists are tied for seventh, 36 assists are tied for 15th
Albert Johansson—Five goals are tied for ninth among rookie defensemen
Joel L’Esperance—12 power-play goals are tied for third, 198 shots rank fourth
Alex Nedeljkovic—0.913 save percentage is tied for 12th

Milestones
Danny O’Regan notched his 300th pro point with a goal on March 16 at Cleveland, while Dominik Shine scored his 50th pro goal with the game-winner, which was also his 100th pro point. Alex Nedeljkovic collected his 100th AHL victory in a 3-1 win at Chicago on March 12. Wyatt Newpower appeared in his 100th game as a Griffin on March 12 and Donovan Sebrango suited up in his 150th pro game.
Austin Czarnik—Two assists from 200 as a pro
Simon Edvinsson—One assist from 50 as a pro
Albert Johansson—One game from 200 as a pro
Matt Luff—Two assists from 100 as a pro
Chase Pearson—Two assists from 50 as a pro, in the AHL and as a Griffin
Elmer Soderblom—Two games from 150 as a pro

Photo by Milwaukee Admirals