This Week’s Games

GRIFFINS vs. Rockford IceHogs // Wed., Jan. 29 // 7 p.m. // Van Andel Arena

Listen: WOOD 106.9 FM & 1300 AM at 6:45 p.m.

Watch: AHLTV on FloHockey 

Season Series: 2-2-0-0 Overall, 1-1-0-0 Home. Fifth of 12 meetings overall, third of six at Van Andel Arena

All-Time Series: 69-49-11-11 Overall, 41-18-6-5 Home

NHL Affiliation: Chicago Blackhawks 

Noteworthy: Rockford’s Cole Guttman is tied for third in the AHL with 38 points (18-20—38) in 39 games. Seven of the final 13 contests of the season for the Griffins will be against the IceHogs.  

GRIFFINS vs. Colorado Eagles // Fri., Jan. 31 // 7 p.m. // Van Andel Arena
GRIFFINS vs. Colorado Eagles // Sat., Feb. 1 // 7 p.m. // Van Andel Arena

Listen: WOOD 106.9 FM & 1300 AM at 6:45 p.m. on Friday and 7 p.m. on Saturday

Watch: AHLTV on FloHockey on Friday, WXSP-TV and AHLTV on FloHockey on Saturday

Season Series: 1-1-0-0 Overall, 0-0-0-0 Home. Third and fourth of four meetings overall, first and second of two at Van Andel Arena

All-Time Series: 3-3-0-0 Overall, 2-0-0-0 Home

NHL Affiliation: Colorado Avalanche 

Noteworthy: This will mark just the third time that the Eagles will pay a visit to Van Andel Arena. Last season, Colorado and Grand Rapids met for the first-ever time on Oct. 13 at Van Andel Arena with the Griffins claiming a 3-2 victory. The Griffins have a plus-four scoring margin against the Eagles at home (8-4). 

Hot Run: The Griffins have won four of their last five games and are currently on a five-game point streak from Jan. 15-25 (4-0-0-1). During the run, Grand Rapids has averaged four goals per game while giving up 2.80 tallies. In the four games before the point streak from Jan. 4-11, the Griffins averaged just one goal per game with a 1-3-0-0 mark. The defense has been solid once again, allowing just two goals per game since the break. The offense has averaged 3.09 goals per game since the break and at least four tallies in four of the last five outings. Grand Rapids remains in first place in the Central Division, second in the Western Conference, and tied for fourth in the AHL with a 24-12-3-1 record and 52 points through 40 games. The Griffins are 15-10-2-0 against their division rivals with a plus-six scoring margin and have held at least a share of the top spot in the division since Nov. 8. 

Career Year: Dominik Shine is just one point from tying his career best of 33 points and is on pace to reach 58 (20-38—58) this season. The veteran is also two assists from tying his career high of 23 (2023-24) and six goals from tying his career best of 17 (2021-22). He has already notched career-high totals in power-play goals (4), game-winners (3), and multi-point outings (8). On Jan. 18, Shine moved into a tie for 10th place on the team’s all-time goals scored list with his 72nd tally as a Griffin and is currently on a team-high five-game point streak (1-6—7). The 31-year-old also has 13 points (5-8—13) in his last 15 contests. Shine ranks first on the roster in points (11-21—32) and assists (21), tied for third in goals (11), and third in power-play goals (4) in 40 games. The Detroit native has spent his entire career with Grand Rapids since 2016-17 and has accumulated 170 points (72-98—170) and 513 penalty minutes in 462 appearances. In the Griffins’ all-time rankings, Shine places third in games played, sixth in penalty minutes, tied for 10th in goals scored (72), tied for 10th in overtime goals (2), and tied for first in unassisted goals (10). On Monday, Shine signed his first NHL contract, a two-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings. Later that evening, he made his NHL debut against the Los Angeles Kings.

Guess Who’s Back?: Carter Mazur was sidelined for 35 games from Oct. 19-Jan. 22 due to rehabbing an upper-body injury. Mazur made his long-awaited return last Thursday at Manitoba, collecting an assist, and now has three points (1-2—3) in the first five contests of his season. The 70th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in 2021 has totaled 46 points (21-25—46) in 71 pro games with the Griffins since 2022-23. Last season, Mazur paced the team’s rookies with 37 points (17-20—37) in 60 regular-season games before tying for second among all skaters on the team with eight points (3-5—8) in nine playoff outings.

Young Sheldon: After scoring 12 goals in 20 games from Oct. 27-Dec. 18, veteran Sheldon Dries was held without a goal for the next nine outings from Dec. 20-Jan. 15. Dries is now on a five-game point streak (5-1—6) and has scored a goal in four straight games, which is tied with Joe Snively for the longest run by a Griffin. The Macomb, Michigan, native ranks first on the roster and tied for 12th in the AHL with 17 goals in 37 games. Dries is no stranger to West Michigan, as he spent four seasons at Western Michigan University from 2013-17 and totaled 84 points (44-40—84) in 148 contests, serving as captain for three campaigns. The 30-year-old has competed in 433 pro games with 254 points (146-108—254) and 228 points (130-98—228) in 311 AHL appearances.

Pucks On Net: The 26 shots by the Griffins in the opening period on Jan. 17 against Cleveland were the most ever recorded in a period by either the Griffins or their opponent, spanning 2,359 combined regular season (2,170) and playoff (189) games. Grand Rapids finished the contest with a season-high 44 shots and have now averaged 30.1 shots per game in the month of January. The Griffins outshot their opponent just three times in the first 21 contests (14.3%) but have since outshot their opponent seven times in the last 19 games (36.8%). The Griffins average 26.1 shots per game, which ranks third-to-last in the AHL. Grand Rapids has been held to under 20 shots six times and has exceeded 30 shots nine times. On the flip side, the Griffins’ opponents average 29.0 shots per game (17th in AHL) and have been held to under 30 shots 20 times. The third period has given the Griffins the most problems, as they are being outshot 358-304 compared to being outshot 380-365 in the second and 398-356 in the first. However, Grand Rapids has a 16-7-2-0 ledger when recording 20-29 shots and a 12-5-2-0 mark when allowing at least 30 shots.

Get Your Goals: Tim Gettinger enjoyed a three-game goal streak from Jan. 17-23 after being held without a goal for 14 games from Dec. 8-Jan. 15. After receiving lower-body surgery during the offseason, the Cleveland native made his season debut on Nov. 29 against Milwaukee. Gettinger has nine points (4-5—9), six penalty minutes and a minus-one rating in 22 appearances this campaign. Last year, the 26-year-old showed 25 points (12-13—25) in 55 regular-season games before suiting up for eight postseason contests with the Griffins. Gettinger has 167 points (78-89—167) in 314 AHL games and one assist in 16 NHL outings with the New York Rangers. 

Come Out Firing: When the Griffins start hot, things usually turn out pretty well for the team, as they have a 15-1-2-1 record when scoring the game’s first goal. They also have yet to suffer a regulation loss when leading after the first period (9-0-2-1) or when leading after the second period (14-0-2-0). When Grand Rapids is trailing after the opening frame, it is 3-8-1-0 and 4-9-0-0 when it trails after the second period.

Home Sweet Home: Grand Rapids concluded a season-high five-game homestand on Jan. 18 with a 2-2-0-1 record, which included points in the final three games (2-0-0-1). This week, the Griffins will finish a stretch that saw them play eight of 10 games inside Van Andel Arena from Jan. 10-Feb. 1 after playing nine of 12 games on the road from Dec. 7-Jan. 4. The Griffins are 11-6-1-1 at home this season but have won three of their last nine home outings (3-4-1-1). Under head coach Dan Watson, Grand Rapids is 34-13-5-3 (.690) inside Van Andel Arena.

Rollercoaster Ride: The Griffins ranked 29th in the AHL through the first 10 games with 2.20 goals per contest before showing 4.10 goals per game from Nov. 7-Dec. 1 and going 8-2-0-0 during the run. The Griffins then averaged just 2.33 goals per game from Dec. 6-22 and went 3-4-2-0 in those contests. Grand Rapids has now potted 34 goals across 11 games (3.09) since Dec. 28 with a 7-3-0-1 record, which includes four goals on average in its last five outings. Grand Rapids has a plus-11 scoring margin in the third period (42-31) despite being outshot 358-304. The Griffins are tied for 19th on the circuit with 2.95 goals per contest, while placing first in goals against per game (2.48). When scoring at least three goals this season, Grand Rapids is 19-0-0-1 compared to 5-12-3-0 when scoring fewer than three goals.

Lock it Down: The Griffins have allowed just two goals per game since returning from the holiday break and rank first overall with 2.48 goals allowed per game. Sebastian Cossa has shown a 2.25 GAA and .920 save percentage through 23 games, Jack Campbell has a 2.15 GAA and a .917 save percentage in five appearances, and Ville Husso possesses a 2.12 GAA and a .931 save percentage in nine contests. Dating back to last season, Grand Rapids has allowed just 50 goals in its last 22 regular-season games at Van Andel Arena (2.27 GA per game). Also dating back to last season, the Griffins have allowed 59 goals in their last 23 regular-season road games (2.57 GA per game).

Power Surge: The Griffins potted two power-play goals in consecutive games from Jan. 15-17 for the first time this season and have scored on the man-advantage in four of the past five games (6-for-13, 46.2%). The power play has also converted nine of its last 33 opportunities (27.3%) in the previous 12 games. The power play ranks 10th on the circuit at 19.3% (26-for-135). If you break it down further, Grand Rapids’ home power play is 12-for-58 (20.7%, 12th) and its road power play is 14-for-77 (18.2%, 18th). The Griffins have given up six short-handed goals, which is tied for the fifth-most. The Griffins’ penalty kill has struggled as of late, allowing a power-play goal in six of their last eight games (21-for-28 on PK, 75.0%). Grand Rapids has also surrendered a power-play goal in 13 of its last 20 outings (56-for-71 on PK, 78.9%). However, the penalty-kill unit remains one of the best in the league, as it is tied for ninth at 84.6%. Grand Rapids has also scored six short-handed tallies, which is tied for sixth in the AHL. When scoring on the power play, the Griffins are 14-4-2-1 and 7-9-1-1 when they allow a power-play goal.

Holy Goalies: Sebastian Cossa, the 15th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in 2021, has been the go-to netminder for the Griffins this season, as he has a 13-7-3 mark with a 2.25 GAA and a .920 save percentage in 23 games. Cossa ranks among the AHL leaders in minutes played (1,357:57, 10th), games played (23, T11th), GAA (7th), wins (T6th), and save percentage (9th). The 22-year-old collected his first NHL victory during his debut on Dec. 9 at the Buffalo Sabres with a 6-5 shootout victory behind 12 saves and two stops in the shootout. Cossa became the first netminder in NHL history to win his debut via a shootout in a relief effort. Veteran Jack Campbell made his Griffins debut on Dec. 6 against the Chicago Wolves and later bagged his first win as a Griffin on Dec. 17 at Texas behind 20 saves in a 4-2 decision. Through six games with Grand Rapids, Campbell is 2-3-1 with a 2.15 GAA and a .917 save percentage. Campbell has 444 pro games under his belt with a 2.66 GAA and 231 wins since 2011-12, splitting time between the NHL (176 GP), AHL (241 GP) and ECHL (27 GP). In the AHL, Campbell has shown a 119-85-27 record with a 2.71 GAA and a .911 save percentage. Ville Husso was reassigned by the Red Wings last Saturday and has shown a 7-1-0 mark with two shutouts in nine games with the Griffins this year to go along with a 2.12 GAA and a .931 save percentage. Throughout his 10-game career with Grand Rapids since 2023-24, Husso has an 8-1-0 ledger with three shutouts, a 1.89 GAA and a .937 save percentage. 

AHL Leaderboard Tracker:
Shai Buium—Tied for seventh among rookie defensemen in assists (14), tied for 10th among rookie defensemen in points (14), tied for fifth among rookie defensemen in plus-minus rating (+8), tied for ninth among rookie defensemen in power-play assists (4)
Sebastian Cossa—10th in minutes played (1,357:57), tied for 11th in games played (23), seventh in GAA (2.25), tied for sixth in wins (13), ninth in save percentage (.920)
Nate Danielson—Tied for fourth among rookies in assists (18), tied for first in short-handed assists (3), first among rookies in short-handed assists (3), tied for ninth among rookies in power-play assists (7)
Josiah Didier—Tied for fourth in short-handed assists (2), tied for second among defensemen in short-handed assists (2)
Alex Doucet—Tied for sixth in short-handed goals (2), tied for first among rookies in short-handed goals (2)
Sheldon Dries—Tied for 12th in goals (17), tied for second in game-winners (5)
x William Lagesson—Tied for 11th among defensemen in plus-minus rating (+13)
Amadeus Lombardi—Tied for 11th in game-winners (4)
Austin Watson—First in major penalties (9), tied for 13th in penalty minutes (71)

Milestones:
Last Friday, Dominik Shine moved into a tie for 10th place on the team’s all-time goals scored list with his 72nd tally (tied with Darrly Bootland).
Sheldon Dries—Two assists from 100 in the AHL, four goals from 150 as a pro
Carter Mazur—Four points from 50 as a pro
Dominik Shine—One unassisted goal from claiming the franchise record of 11 in a career, one goal from moving into a tie for ninth place in the franchise’s all-time goals scored list (Derek King, 73), two assists from 100 as a Griffin
Joe Snively—One point from 200 in the AHL

Photo by Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins