Griffins Game #19 * Home Game #9 * AHL Game #296

Season Series: 1-1-0-0 Home Series: 0-0-0-0 Road Series: 1-1-0-0
All-Time Series: 36-23-4-4 All-Time Home Series: 19-9-1-3 All-Time Road Series: 17-14-3-1

Stars at Griffins
Third of eight meetings overall, first of four at Van Andel Arena...Texas has points in all of the last four games (3-0-1-0) against Grand Rapids at Van Andel Arena...In the past five seasons that the Stars and Griffins have met, Grand Rapids is 8-6-1-1 against Texas in West Michigan, having scored the Stars 60-55...Last season, six of the eight games between the Griffins and Stars were decided by one goal, with three games needing overtime...The home team has points in 12 of the past 17 clashes…Through 20 games, Texas is averaging 3.30 goals for while conceding an average of 2.95...The Stars’ penalty kill unit ranks fourth on the circuit at 85.0% while their power play places 21st at 18.8%...Former Griffin Riley Barber (2020-22) signed with the Stars’ organization during the offseason and currently leads the team lead with 19 points (10-9—19) in 20 appearances, which is also tied for 14th in the AHL...Joel L’Esperance competed with the Texas Stars from 2017-22 and totaled 136 points (80-56—136) in 183 games while Alex Chiasson was with the Stars from 2011-13 and recorded 40 points (14-26—40) in 66 contests.

Last Time Out
The Griffins could not overcome the Moose's power-play unit in a 4-1 loss at Van Andel Arena. Pontus Andreasson extended his point streak to four games with an assist on Joel L’Esperance’s goal in the second period. L’Esperance has lit the lamp in back-to-back games and is now Grand Rapids’ leading goal scorer with eight tallies. Before allowing a goal with 4:05 to go in the second period, the Griffins and Jussi Olkinuora had held Manitoba scoreless for 95:55 dating to Friday’s matchup. In fact, Olkinuora made 48 consecutive saves – including 45 against Manitoba – dating to the third period of Grand Rapids’ 6-5 win at San Diego on Nov. 18.

Roster Shakeup
- Nov. 18—F Austin Czarnik reassigned by Detroit
- Nov. 25—F Trenton Bliss reassigned to Toledo by Grand Rapids
- Nov. 26—F Alex Chiasson signed to a PTO by Grand Rapids
- Nov. 29—F Trenton Bliss recalled by Grand Rapids
- Dec. 1—G Magnus Hellberg assigned by Detroit on a conditioning loan; F Austin Czarnik recalled by Detroit
- Dec. 2—D Donovan Sebrango and D Eemil Viro reassigned to Toledo by Detroit

This Date in Griffins History
2002: Grand Rapids’ team-record 16-game point streak (11-0-3-2) finally ends with a 5-3 loss at San Antonio, the Griffins’ first regulation road loss of the season.

Regaining Power
The Griffins’ power play has gotten off to a fast start this season, as the unit places seventh in the AHL with a conversion rate of 24.4%, which also ranks first the Central Division. The power play faltered a bit last week, going 1-for-7 (14.3%), but the team is 7-for-22 on the man-advantage (31.8%) since Nov. 16. The power play scored four times on Nov. 18 at San Diego, one shy of tying a franchise record. The Griffins have not scored on the power play in just six games this season.

New Addition
On Saturday, Nov. 26, the Griffins signed NHL veteran Alex Chiasson to a professional tryout. The 32-year-old spent the past nine seasons in the National Hockey League with stints at the Dallas Stars (2012-14), Ottawa Senators (2014-16), Calgary Flames (2016-17), Washington Capitals (2017-18), Edmonton Oilers (2018-21) and the Vancouver Canucks (2021-22). Chiasson lifted the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018 when he bagged two points (1-1—2) in 16 playoff appearances. Through 631 NHL games, the Montreal, Quebec, native has 224 points (114-110—224) and 353 penalty minutes. Chiasson has also spent time in the AHL with the Texas Stars (2011-13), totaling 14 goals, 26 assists and 52 penalty minutes in 66 contests. Chiasson is yet to compete for any franchise this season and will look to make his Griffins debut this weekend.

Pontus Pilot
After a slow start that saw him tally one point (0-1—1) in the first seven games, Pontus Andreasson has been among the driving forces of the Griffins’ offense of late. Andreasson is enjoying a four-game point streak (3-2—5) from Nov. 18-26 and has 12 points in the last 10 outings (5-7—12), including goals in three straight from Nov. 18-25. The Munkedal, Sweden, native bagged his first goal in North America on Nov. 11 against Toronto to conclude a three-point contest (2-1—3). In 2021-22 in the Swedish Hockey League, Andreasson finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting when he totaled 38 points (18-20—38) in 52 games. The 24-year-old signed a one-year contract with Detroit this past offseason.

Bobbing for Apples
Taro Hirose collected his first pro hat trick on Nov. 18 at San Diego, which concluded his career-high four-point (3-1—4) night. Hirose has been known for his passing abilities throughout four seasons with the Griffins. In fact, the former Michigan State Spartan has had at least 22 assists in each full AHL campaign in his career. This season has a similar pace, as Hirose has totaled a team-leading 13 helpers in 18 games, which is tied for 11th in the league and his nine power-play assists are tied for fifth in the AHL. Hirose saw his five-game point streak (1-5—6) come to an end on Nov. 5 but has points in 12 of the 18 contests this season (5-13—18).

Jumping for Joel
Joel L’Esperance ranks second on the roster with 15 points (8-7—15) in 18 games, which includes a team-high eight goals. He saw his team-high five-game point streak (2-4—6) come to an end on Nov. 9 at Cleveland but has goals in consecutive games from Nov. 25-26. L’Esperance also has five points (3-2—5) in his last five appearances. The Brighton, Mich., native’s five power-play goals are tied for fifth in the AHL. L’Esperance signed a two-year contract with the Griffins this past offseason.

Take the Over
The Griffins averaged just 2.75 goals a game during the 2021-22 season while giving up 3.16. However, this campaign has been much different, as Grand Rapids is averaging 3.06 goals while conceding 4.06. Eleven of their 18 games so far have had seven or more total goals scored, with six of those contests having eight or more tallies. Last Friday’s game against Manitoba (3-0 W) was the Griffins first contest that saw fewer than five goals. The Griffins rank second to last on the circuit with 73 goals against while their 55 goals for are tied for 18th.

Home Sweet Home
The Griffins are in the midst of a five-game home stand, their second-longest stretch this season. Grand Rapids split the home series against Manitoba last weekend and will finish the home stand with games against Texas and Iowa. The Griffins are 4-3-1-0 (0.563) this campaign at Van Andel Arena but have been outscored 29-25. In comparison, Grand Rapids is 4-6-0-0 (0.400) on foreign ice with a -14 scoring margin (44-30).

Hot Starts
It seems as though every franchise in the American Hockey League has had a promising start to the season. In fact, 23 of the 32 teams in the AHL are 0.500 or above entering the weekend. In the Central Division, every team is above 0.500 except for the Griffins and the reigning Calder Cup champions, the Chicago Wolves (0.375). Six of eight teams in the Atlantic, seven of the 10 teams in the Pacific and five of the seven clubs in the North are above the 0.500 mark.

AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Pontus Andreasson—Five goal are tied for 12th among rookies, three power-play goals are tied for fourth among rookies, 13 points are tied for 12th among first-year players
Cross Hanas—Seven goals are tied for fifth among rookies
Taro Hirose—Thirteen assists are tied for 11th, nine power-play assists are tied for fifth
Joel L’Esperance—Five power-play goals are tied for fifth

Milestones
Joel L’Esperance skated in his 200th AHL game on Nov. 25 vs. Manitoba and bagged his 150th AHL point with a goal. Austin Czarnik recorded his 150th assist in the AHL on Nov. 19 at San Diego.
Taro Hirose—Four assists from 100 as a Griffin and in the AHL, four points from 150 as a pro, two games from 200 as a pro
Jared McIsaac—Two games from 100 as a Griffin and in the AHL, one game from 100 as a pro
Chase Pearson—One game from 150 as a Griffin and in the AHL

Photo by Texas Stars