Record Crowd to Enjoy Tuesday’s Matinee Game Versus Milwaukee

This Week’s Games
Tue., Nov. 14 - Milwaukee Admirals at GRIFFINS - Noon - WTKG 1230 AM/B2 Networks

Fri., Nov. 17 - Peoria Rivermen at GRIFFINS - 7 p.m. - WOOD 1300 AM/B2</b>

Sat., Nov. 18 - GRIFFINS at Chicago Wolves - 8 p.m. - WOOD/B2

Last Week’s Results
Tue., Nov. 7 - GRIFFINS 1 at Manitoba Moose 2 - 6-4-1-1, 14 pts. (2nd, North Division)

Wed., Nov. 8 - GRIFFINS 1 at Manitoba Moose 2 - 6-5-1-1, 14 pts. (2nd)

Fri., Nov. 10 - Milwaukee Admirals 3 at GRIFFINS 2 OT - 6-5-2-1, 15 pts. (2nd)

Sat., Nov. 11 - Albany River Rats 3 at GRIFFINS 2 - 6-6-2-1, 15 pts. (2nd)

Back to School: The Griffins will host the Milwaukee Admirals for Tuesday’s sixth annual matinee game presented by Lake Michigan Credit Union, with a record crowd for the event expected to approach 9,000 (including more than 6,000 students). Grand Rapids owns a perfect 5-0 record all time in its noon affair, dating back to the inaugural event in 2001. On Friday, the Griffins will conclude a four-game homestand and a stretch of 12-of-14 games within friendly confines by hosting the Peoria Rivermen. Bud Light proudly presents the first installment of Bud Light Friday Nights, with live music from The Rockit King on the concourse from 6-7 p.m. and on the ice during the second intermission. It’s another Student Night, as all college and high school students can purchase a lower bowl ticket for only $10 with a valid student ID. Finally, the Wendy’s Friday Family Four Pack offers four small single combos from Wendy’s and four Griffins tickets for $44.

Unfamiliar Territory: At 6-6-2-1 (0.500), the Griffins are at or below the breakeven point 15 games into a season for the first time since the 1998-99 campaign, when they started 5-8-2. For perspective, however, they are only two points behind the pace of the 1999-2000 squad that eventually reached the Turner Cup Finals, and they maintain second place in the North Division, two points ahead of both Hamilton and Manitoba…Grand Rapids’ four-game skid (0-3-1-0) is its longest during regular season play since losing five straight in regulation from Dec. 9-17, 2005…The Griffins last week went winless during a four-games-in-five-nights stretch for the first time in franchise history, dropping each contest by a single goal. The winning goal in each game was scored by the opposition in either the third period or overtime.

Single Life: Eight of Grand Rapids’ nine losses this season have come by a single goal, including five in regulation, two in overtime and one in a shootout. Now 2-5-2-1 this season in games decided by a single goal, the Griffins only lost nine one-goal games during the entire 2005-06 regular season (23-4-1-4). Including the final three games of the 2006 Western Conference Finals against Milwaukee, 11 of Grand Rapids’ last 12 defeats have had a one-goal margin.

Reversal of Fortunes: After averaging five goals per game during their recent three-game winning streak (Oct. 28-Nov. 4), the Griffins have totaled just six goals during their current four-game losing streak (Nov. 7-11)…During its first eight games this season, Grand Rapids surrendered four or more goals on five occasions. In the seven games since, the defense has allowed as many as four goals just once.

OT Turn: After going 6-1 during the 2005-06 regular season in games decided in overtime and entering the current campaign with a 28-9 record all time during the extra session, the Griffins have lost both of their overtime decisions this season.

Special Situations: Grand Rapids scored two power play goals in three chances on Saturday against Albany to break a 0-for-21 drought with the man-advantage. The River Rats, meanwhile, scored on one of four opportunities, giving Griffins opponents a 26.3% success rate (10-for-38) over the last five games. Only three of the 14 goals surrendered by the Griffins during that stretch have come at even strength.

Transactions: Defenseman Brad Norton made his Griffins debut on Saturday after being assigned by the Red Wings following their 3-0 win over Nashville on Friday. Norton, 31, appeared in each of the Red Wings’ first six games this season as a forward before sustaining a shoulder injury at Anaheim on Oct. 18…On Sunday, the Red Wings recalled right wing Josh Langfeld, prompting the Griffins to sign center Jeff Campbell to a pro tryout. In 15 games with the Griffins this season, Langfeld has recorded six goals and six assists to place second on the team with 12 points. A six-year pro who shows 30 points (9-21—30) in 108 NHL contests between Boston, San Jose and Ottawa, Langfeld will be available to make his Red Wings debut tomorrow night when Detroit visits Vancouver. Campbell, who attended Griffins training camp in September, has tallied 17 points (4-13—17) in 11 games with the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators.

Kudos to Keller: Ryan Keller has logged consecutive two-point games, the first multi-point efforts of his AHL career.

Hallmarks of Consistency: Griffins leading scorer Kip Miller is tied for ninth in AHL scoring with 17 points (7-10—17), having figured on the scoresheet in 11 of the team’s 15 games. Miller, Josh Langfeld, Matt Ellis and Matt Hussey all have yet to endure a three-game stretch without a point this season.

And Then There Were Eight: Last Saturday’s first-ever meeting with Albany (a 3-2 loss) reduced the list of AHL teams the Griffins have never played to eight: Bridgeport, Hartford, Lowell, Manchester, Portland, Providence, Springfield and Worcester.


Tue., Nov. 14 vs. Milwaukee Admirals (4-4-1-0) – Van Andel Arena – Noon
Radio: WTKG 1230 AM at 11:59 a.m. Web Cast: Video ($6 – B2 Networks) and audio (free) available through griffinshockey.com. Season Series: 0-0-1-0 Overall, 0-0-1-0 Home. Second of eight meetings overall, second of four in Grand Rapids. All-Time Series (W-L-T-OTL-SOL): 41-22-7-2-3 Overall, 24-9-2-1-0 Home. NHL Affiliation: Nashville Predators. Head Coach: Claude Noel (4th season). Notes: The Griffins had prevailed in five straight overtime decisions against Milwaukee, dating back to the 2001-02 season, before the Admirals took their 3-2 win last Friday at Van Andel Arena…Milwaukee is 2-0 on the road but just 2-4-1-0 at home.

Fri., Nov. 17 vs. Peoria Rivermen (6-6-1-1) – Van Andel Arena – 7 p.m.
Radio: WOOD 1300 AM at 6:59 p.m. Web Cast: Video ($6 – B2 Networks) and audio (free) available through griffinshockey.com. Season Series: First of eight meetings overall, first of four in Grand Rapids. All-Time Series (W-L-T-OTL-SOL): 3-1-0-0-0 Overall, 2-0-0-0-0 Home. NHL Affiliation: St. Louis Blues. Head Coach: Dave Baseggio (1st season). Notes: Baseggio played 15 regular season and 15 playoff games for the Griffins during the 1999-2000 season…The Rivermen have a 0.500 record despite having allowed 11 more goals than they’ve scored (47-36)…Griffins right wing Brendan Brooks played three seasons in Peoria, scoring 27 points (14-13—27) for the Rivermen in 2005-06.

Sat., Nov. 18 at Chicago Wolves (9-4-1-0) – Allstate Arena – 8 p.m.
Radio: WOOD 1300 AM at 7:40 p.m. Web Cast: Video ($6 – B2 Networks) and audio (free) available through griffinshockey.com. Season Series: First of four meetings overall, first of two in Rosemont. All-Time Series (W-L-T-OTL-SOL): 38-24-2-2-2 Overall, 20-14-0-1-0 Road. NHL Affiliation: Atlanta Thrashers. Head Coach: John Anderson (10th season). Notes: Chicago, 8-1-0-0 on the road this season, is just 1-3-1-0 at home…The Wolves boast the AHL’s top two scorers in Jason Krog (10-19—29) and Darren Haydar (11-15—26), while rookie Brett Sterling (9-8—17) is tied for ninth…Chicago has scored a league-high 62 goals.