Griffins Game #20 * Home Game #10 * AHL Game #307

Season Series: 1-2-0-0 Home Series: 0-1-0-0 Road Series: 1-1-0-0
All-Time Series: 36-24-4-4 All-Time Home Series: 19-10-1-3 All-Time Road Series: 17-14-3-1

Stars at Griffins
Fourth of eight meetings overall, second of four at Van Andel Arena...Texas has points in all of the last five games (4-0-1-0) against Grand Rapids at Van Andel Arena...In the past five seasons that the Stars and Griffins have met, Grand Rapids is 8-7-1-1 against Texas in West Michigan, having scored the Stars 61-59...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 18 clashes…Through 21 games, Texas is averaging 3.38 goals for while conceding an average of 2.95...The Stars’ penalty kill unit ranks third on the circuit at 85.9% while their power play places 23rd at 18.3%...Former Griffin Riley Barber (2020-22) signed with the Stars’ organization during the offseason and currently leads the team lead with 20 points (11-9—20) in 21 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 Texas Stars used three goals in the third frame to secure a 4-1 win against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday at Van Andel Arena. Magnus Hellberg made his Griffins debut tonight, notching 34 saves in his first AHL game since April 12, 2017 with the Hartford Wolfpack. Kyle Criscuolo scored the lone goal for Grand Rapids, his third of the season and his second in the last three games.

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
2004: Griffins become the first squad in franchise history to win 15 of its first 21 games (15-5-1-0), thanks to a 2-1 triumph over Utah.

Regaining Power
The Griffins’ power play has gotten off to a fast start this season, as the unit places 11th in the AHL with a conversion rate of 23.0%, which also ranks second the Central Division behind Rockford (23.3%, 10th). The power play faltered a bit last week, going 1-for-7 (14.3%), but the team is 7-for-27 on the man-advantage (25.9%) 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 seven games this season.

New Additions
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). Through 631 NHL games, the Montreal, Quebec, native has 224 points (114-110—224) and 353 penalty minutes. On Thursday, Dec. 1, the Detroit Red Wings assigned goaltender Magnus Hellberg to the Griffins on a conditioning loan. On Dec. 2, Hellberg became the fifth Red Wings goalie to make his Griffins debut during a conditioning stint, joining Curtis Joseph (2003-04), Chris Osgood (2005-06), Manny Legace (2005-06) and Jonas Gustavsson (2012-13).

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 enjoyed a four-game point streak (3-2—5) from Nov. 18-26 and has 12 points in the last 11 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 19 games and his nine power-play assists are tied for sixth 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 19 contests this season (5-13—18).

Jumping for Joel
Joel L’Esperance ranks second on the roster with 15 points (8-7—15) in 19 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 had goals in consecutive games from Nov. 25-26. L’Esperance also has five points (3-2—5) in his last six 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 2.95 goals while conceding 4.05. Eleven of their 19 games so far have had seven or more total goals scored, with six of those contests having eight or more tallies. The Griffins rank second to last on the circuit with 77 goals against while their 56 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 4-4-1-0 (0.500) this campaign at Van Andel Arena but have been outscored 33-26. 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, 22 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 four 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—Nine power-play assists are tied for sixth
Joel L’Esperance—Five power-play goals are tied for fifth

Milestones
Jared McIsaac skated in his 100th pro game on Dec. 2 against Texas, while Chase Pearson joined him with his 150th game as a Griffin and in the AHL. Joel L’Esperance skated in his 200th AHL game on Nov. 25 vs. Manitoba and bagged his 150th AHL point with a goal.
Taro Hirose—Four assists from 100 as a Griffin and in the AHL, four points from 150 as a pro, one game from 200 as a pro
Jared McIsaac—One game from 100 as a Griffin and in the AHL

Photo by Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins