Griffins Game #44 * Home Game #21 * AHL Game #716

Season Series: 1-1-0-0 Home Series: 1-1-0-0 Road Series: 0-0-0-0
All-Time Series: 68-38-1-1-9 All-Time Home Series: 38-16-1-1-6 All-Time Road Series: 30-22-0-0-3

Moose at Griffins
Third of eight meetings overall, third of four at Van Andel Arena…Since the Moose rejoined the AHL in 2015-16, Grand Rapids is 24-14-0-2 (0.625) against them, including a 16-6-0-1 (0.717) ledger in Grand Rapids…Grand Rapids has points in seven of the past 10 meetings against the Moose at Van Andel Arena, dating back to the 2019-20 season...This is the 118th meeting between the two teams, which is the fifth-most encounters by any Grand Rapids opponent...Manitoba is 5-3-1-1 in its last 10 games while the Griffins are 6-2-1-1...On foreign ice this season, the Moose are 11-8-2-1 and the Griffins bolster an 8-9-2-1 ledger in West Michigan...The Griffins are on a season-high four-game win streak...The Moose are tied for second in the AHL with a power play percentage of 24.1% and their road power play ranks third at 28.0%...Manitoba’s penalty kill is also one of the best on the circuit, as it sits at seventh at 83.6%...Moose rookie goaltender Arvid Holm ranks ninth among first-year netminders with a 2.84 goals against average and tied for fourth with a 0.913 save percentage.

Last Time Out
The Griffins won their 500th road game in franchise history (500-412-12-34-60) and finished its five-game road stand with a 4-1-0-0 record, courtesy of a 4-3 shootout victory over the Stars at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park last Saturday. Elmer Soderblom buried the shootout-winner in the third round to keep Grand Rapids unbeaten in its last four contests and to complete the weekend sweep of the division-leading Stars. Soderblom is currently riding a four-game point streak (4-2–6). Jakub Vrana extended his point spell to four outings (4-2–6) with a pair of goals. In his last seven games, Vrana has eight points (6-2–8) and has rocketed into a tie for seventh place with Danny O’Regan in goals scored by a Griffin this season in just 15 fixtures. Filip Zadina’s third-period score sent the game to overtime, his first tally in the AHL since Jan. 24, 2020 and the first of his conditioning stint. Alex Nedeljkovic bagged 34 saves and is on a three-game win streak (Jan. 31-Feb. 4).

Roster Shakeup
- Feb. 1—G Jussi Olkinuora recalled by Detroit for the purpose of mutually terminating his contract
- Feb. 2—F Filip Zadina assigned by Detroit on a conditioning loan
- Feb. 3—F Alex Chiasson re-signed to a PTO by Grand Rapids
- Feb. 5—F Filip Zadina and F Jonatan Berggren recalled by Detroit; F Adam Erne assigned by Detroit
- Feb. 9—D Seth Barton reassigned to Toledo (ECHL) from Grand Rapids by Detroit; D Donovan Sebrango reassigned from Toledo to Grand Rapids by Detroit

This Date in Griffins History
2005: Griffins promote Greg Ireland from assistant coach to head coach, replacing Danton Cole. Ireland becomes the sixth head coach in franchise history.

I Think I got my Swagger Back
The Griffins are starting to find themselves and are currently on a season-high four-game win streak from Jan. 29-Feb. 4. Grand Rapids also enjoyed a four-game point streak (2-0-1-1) from Jan. 14-21. The last time the Griffins had a four-game win streak was from Dec. 31, 2021-Jan. 7, 2022. Grand Rapids also has points in eight of its last nine contests (6-1-1-1). Since the new year, Grand Rapids has lost in regulation just three times through 14 games (8-3-1-2, 0.679). The Griffins jumped into sixth in the Central Division but are still seven points out of a playoff spot with 29 games left.

Tower of Terror
The 6-foot-8 Elmer Soderblom was held off the scoresheet in his first six AHL games but has exploded for six points (4-2—6) in his previous four appearances from Jan. 29-Feb. 4. The Gothenburg, Sweden, native had a three-game goal streak from Jan. 29-Feb. 3, which tied for the longest run on the team this season. The rookie has also skated in 21 games with the Red Wings this season, compiling eight points (5-3—8) and eight penalty minutes.

Vroom Vroom
After being held off the scoresheet in the first four games of his Griffins career, Jakub Vrana is starting to find the back of the net. Vrana is currently riding a four-game point streak (4-2—6) from Jan. 29-Feb. 4. He recorded a season-high two goals in his last outing on Feb. 4 at the Texas Stars. The veteran also has points in six of his last seven appearances (6-2—8). Since being assigned to the Griffins on Dec. 28, Vrana has nine points (6-3—9) in 15 games.

Starting to Find a Groove
After going 0-for-21 on the power play from Jan. 7-21, the Griffins are starting to find a rhythm on the man-advantage. Grand Rapids has recorded a power-play goal in each of its previous three games (4-for-8, 50.0%), which is the first three-game stretch of goals since Nov. 16-19. Since Jan. 28, the Griffins are 5-for-13 (38.5%) on the power play and are now tied for 23rd in the AHL with a conversion rate of 18.1%. The penalty kill has also been much improved, killing off nine straight penalties in three games. The Griffins are 25-for-29 (86.2%) on the PK since Jan. 14 and place 24th on the circuit at 77.9%.

Alexander The Great
Netminder Alex Nedeljkovic has been a welcomed addition to the Griffins roster, as the goaltender was assigned by Detroit on Jan. 4. Nedeljkovic is on a three-game win streak, which is tied for the longest run by a Griffins goaltender this campaign. Through 12 outings, Nedeljkovic has a 7-3-2 record with one shutout along with a 2.40 goals against average and a 0.921 save percentage. On Jan. 14, Nedeljkovic posted a 27-save shutout against the Chicago Wolves, his first in the AHL since Feb. 7, 2020 against Hartford (17 saves). On Jan. 11, Nedeljkovic recorded his fourth assist and fifth point of his AHL career, which was his first AHL point since Jan. 19, 2020.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity, Jig
The Griffins concluded their five-game road trip last week with a 4-1-0-0 (0.800) record, which included their 500th road win in franchise history on Feb. 4 at the Texas Stars (500-412-12-34-60). Grand Rapids also finished a stretch of seven out of eight games on the road from Jan. 16-Feb. 4 with a 5-1-1-1 (0.750) mark. The Griffins are now on a four-game home stand and will also play nine of their next 11 contests in friendly confines from Feb. 10-March 4. Grand Rapids is 8-9-2-1 (0.475) at home this season and 11-11-0-1 (0.500) on the road.

Back with Authority
Matt Luff returned to the lineup on Jan. 28 for Grand Rapids, tallying an assist at Milwaukee in his first game since sustaining an injury with the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 8 and his first contest with the Griffins since Oct. 23. Luff has yet to record a goal since his return but has five assists in five games. The Windsor, Ontario, native has been held off the scoresheet just twice with the Griffins and has 12 points (3-9—12) in 10 appearances this season.

Just Keep it Close
The Griffins have had an up-and-down start to the season, but they have excelled at winning close games. In fact, Grand Rapids is 10-0-2-2 (0.857) in games decided by one goal and 4-0-2-0 (0.833) in overtime contests. In comparison, the Griffins are just 9-20-0-0 (0.310) 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 second, three short-handed goals are tied for first
Simon Edvinsson—15 assists rank sixth among rookie defensemen, 18 points are tied for sixth among rookie defensemen
Taro Hirose—14 power-play assists are tied for ninth
Joel L’Esperance—Eight power-play goals are tied for seventh, 142 shots rank fifth

Milestones
Brian Lashoff appeared in his 750th game as a pro on Feb. 3 at Texas and Jakub Vrana registered his 150th assist as a pro. Vrana skated in his 100th AHL game on Jan. 29 at Chicago and bagged his 300th pro point in the process (151-149—300). Austin Czarnik recorded his 300th pro point with an assist on Jan. 28 at Milwaukee.
Simon Edvinsson—Three points from 50 as a pro
Albert Johansson—One assist from 50 as a pro
Steven Kampfer—Two assists from 150 as a pro
Joel L’Esperance—One goal from 100 as a pro
Chase Pearson—Two assists from 50 as a pro, in the AHL and as a Griffin
Dominik Shine—One assist from 50 as a pro, as a Griffin and in the AHL

Photo by Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins