Griffins Game #50 * Home Game #25 * AHL Game #807

Season Series: 3-1-0-0 Home Series: 1-0-0-0 Road Series: 2-1-0-0
All-Time Series: 94-82-2-7-3 All-Time Home Series: 45-37-2-5-2 All-Time Road Series: 49-45-0-2-1

Wolves at Griffins
Fifth of 10 meetings overall, second of five at Van Andel Arena…Grand Rapids has faced Chicago 188 times in the regular season dating back to their IHL days, the second-most of any Griffins opponent (Milwaukee, 209)…The Griffins are currently on a three-game win streak against Chicago, their first such run against the Wolves since Oct. 20-Nov. 28, 2018...Sixteen total goals were scored between the two teams on Dec. 22 (8-7 OTW), which was Grand Rapids’ first 8-7 result in franchise history. Chicago’s seven goals were the second-most allowed by the Griffins in a win, trailing only a 10-8 victory over Chicago on Nov. 27, 2010...Since the 2020-21 season, Grand Rapids is just 7-18-1-0 (0.288) against the Wolves and has been outscored 105-59...The Griffins possess a 15-31-1-1 (0.333) overall record against Chicago since 2017-18 and have been outscored 183-123...Since the 2017-18 season, the Griffins are 5-16-1-0 (0.250) against the Wolves in West Michigan and have been outscored 84-47...The last time Grand Rapids was at 0.500 at Van Andel Arena against the Wolves was in the 2018-19 season when it went 2-2-0-0...The Wolves come into the contest with a 6-3-0-1 record in their past 10 games and have an 11-12-0-0 ledger on the road...The Griffins are 6-4-0-0 in their last 10 outings and possess a 9-12-2-1 mark at home...As part of his 11-year pro career, Griffins coach Ben Simon registered 87 points (37-50—87) in 196 games with the Wolves from 2001-03 and 2004-05 and was a part of their first Calder Cup title in 2002.

Last Time Out
The Griffins’ five-game road win streak was snapped by the Moose in a 5-1 loss at the Canada Life Centre. After crossing the 100-goal milestone on Sunday, Joel L’Esperance found the back of the net again for his team-leading 16th goal of the season. Austin Czarnik and Matt Luff both made the scoresheet with an assist on L’Esperance’s goal. Manitoba’s netminder Oskari Salminen now has 102 saves in four games against Grand Rapids this season (0.962 SV%).

Roster Shake Up
- Feb. 14—F Jakub Vrana recalled by Detroit
- Feb. 21—F Riley Sawchuk signed to a PTO and to a standard player’s contract for the 2023-24 season by Grand Rapids
- Feb. 22—F Jakub Vrana reassigned by Detroit
- Feb. 23—F Jakub Vrana recalled by Detroit; D Seth Barton reassigned to Grand Rapids from Toledo (ECHL) by Detroit

This Date in Griffins History
2002: A franchise-record nine players light the lamp in a 9-1 annihilation of Utah at Van Andel Arena, marking the Griffins' largest margin of victory ever on home ice. Grand Rapids also ties another franchise record with four power play goals.

Tough Sledding
The Griffins saw their five-game road winning streak come to an end Monday at Manitoba, which was their longest run since Feb. 23-March 19, 2016. From Jan. 21-Feb. 4, the Griffins allowed their opponent to score four or more goals just one time. However, since then Grand Rapids has allowed at least four goals in each of its last six outings, having been outscored 28-15. This has pushed Grand Rapids further from the postseason, as the Griffins are now seven points out of a playoff spot with 23 games remaining. Grand Rapids has points in 10 of its last 15 contests (8-5-1-1). Since the new year, Grand Rapids has lost in regulation just seven times through 20 games (10-7-1-2, 0.575).

Immortalized Forever
Right wing Chris Neil had his No. 25 jersey retired on Friday by the Ottawa Senators, making him the first Griffins alum to have his number retired by an NHL franchise. Neil skated for the Griffins from 1999-2001, making his pro debut with the franchise and helping lead the team to the 2000 IHL Turner Cup Finals and two division titles. He totaled 24 goals and 55 points in 129 games with Grand Rapids, while his 655 penalty minutes stand fourth in team history. Neil went on to play for the Ottawa Senators from 2001-17, playing all of his 15 NHL seasons with the club. He is one of two players in NHL history with at least 1,000 games played and 2,500 penalty minutes to play his entire career with the same team. Neil ranks third in Senators history in games played (1,026) and first in penalty minutes (2,522).

Simon Says
Rookie Simon Edvinsson posted a season-high four points (1-3—4) and a plus-five rating last Wednesday in a 5-4 victory over the Rockford IceHogs. He followed that performance with an assist on Feb. 19 at Manitoba. The 6-foot-6 defenseman ranks fifth among rookie defensemen with 19 assists and his 23 points are tied for fifth among first-year defensemen. Since the new year, Edvinsson has 13 points (3-10—13) in 19 games.

Chasing Chiasson
Veteran Alex Chiasson exploded for two goals on Feb. 15 against Rockford and returned on Feb. 17 with another two points (1-1—2). Chiasson’s three-game point streak (3-2—5) ended on Monday but he still has 10 points (3-7—10) in his last 13 outings. Through 26 games this season, the Montreal, Quebec, native has eight goals, 10 assists and a plus-three rating.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity, Jig
The Griffins concluded their four-game homestand last Friday with a 1-3-0-0 (0.250) record. After a pair of games in Manitoba, the Griffins now return to West Michigan for a five-game homestand and will play seven out of their next eight games at Van Andel Arena from Feb. 24-March 11. Grand Rapids is 9-12-2-1 (0.438) at home this season and 12-12-0-1 (0.500) on the road.

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 12-0-2-2 (0.875) in games decided by one goal and 4-0-2-0 (0.833) in overtime contests. In comparison, the Griffins are just 9-24-0-0 (0.273) 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 third, three short-handed goals are tied for first
Simon Edvinsson—19 assists rank fifth among rookie defensemen, 23 points are tied for fifth among rookie defensemen
Joel L’Esperance—Nine power-play goals are tied for sixth, 160 shots rank fourth

Milestones
Joel L’Esperance recorded his 100th goal as a pro on Feb. 19 at Manitoba. Adam Erne eclipsed 50 assists in the AHL on Feb. 17 against the Cleveland Monsters. Simon Edvinsson recorded four points (1-3—4) on Feb. 15 and eclipsed 50 points as a pro. Albert Johansson notched his 50th assist as a pro on Feb. 15 against Rockford and Tyler Spezia skated in his 250th game as a pro.
Alex Chiasson—Four assists from 150 as a pro
Simon Edvinsson—Four assists from 50 as a pro
Adam Erne—Three assists from 100 as a pro
Taro Hirose—Four points from 150 as a Griffin and in the AHL
Steven Kampfer—Two assists from 150 as a pro
Joel L’Esperance—Four goals from 100 in the AHL
Alex Nedeljkovic—Three wins from 100 in the AHL
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 Mark Newman/Griffins