'O Canada'
This Week’s Games
GRIFFINS at Manitoba Moose // Fri., Jan. 19 // 8 p.m. EST // Canada Life Centre
GRIFFINS at Manitoba Moose // Sat., Jan. 20 // 7 p.m. EST // Canada Life Centre
Listen: WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM at 7:45 p.m. EST on Friday and at 6:45 p.m. EST on Saturday
Watch: AHLTV
Season Series: 1-1-0-0 overall, 0-0-0-0 road. Third and fourth of eight meetings overall, first and second of four at Canada Life Centre
All-Time Series: 71-43-1-1-9 Overall, 32-24-0-0-3 Road
NHL Affiliation: Winnipeg Jets
Noteworthy: Since returning from the holiday break, Manitoba has lost seven consecutive contests from Dec. 29-Jan. 13 and has been outscored 27-9. The Moose are also just 1-9-0-0 in their last 10 games. In comparison, the Griffins are 5-2-1-0 since the break and 5-3-2-0 in their last 10.
Good Taste of Humble Pie: The Griffins enjoyed a season-high five-game win streak from Dec. 27-Jan. 6 but have since gone on to drop three straight contests from Jan. 10-13, setting a new season-high for home losses in a row. However, Grand Rapids has secured at least a point in eight of its last 11 contests (6-3-2-0) and sits in fourth place in the Central Division, one point behind third place Rockford. Since returning from the holiday break, the Griffins have outscored their opponents 27-16, scoring an average of 3.38 goals per game. Grand Rapids allowed just one goal in three consecutive games from Dec. 31-Jan. 6 and has allowed an average of two goals against since Dec. 27. Grand Rapids has points in seven of its last 11 games (6-4-1-0) inside Van Andel Arena and has points in five of its past six road appearances (4-1-1-0). The Griffins have been solid at home with an 8-6-2-0 mark, outscoring their opponents 46-38. Although it has been better in foreign territory as of late, earning four straight victories, Grand Rapids still holds a 6-9-2-1 record away from home and is being outscored 64-51.
One-Two Punch: Goaltenders Sebastian Cossa and Michael Hutchinson have combined for points in six out of the last eight contests (5-2-1) and have allowed an average of two goals per game during the run. Cossa has allowed just one tally in consecutive starts from Jan. 5-12 and has a 3-2-1 record in his last six outings, showing a .913 save percentage. Hutchinson collected a team-best three straight wins from Dec. 29-Jan. 6 and has points in four of his last five appearances (3-1-1) with a .928 save percentage. Through 18 games, Hutchinson shows an 8-8-2 record with one shutout to go along with a 2.76 GAA and a .902 save percentage. Cossa has suited up for 16 outings this season and has a 6-7-3 ledger with a 2.84 GAA and a .906 save percentage. Cossa ranks sixth among rookies in goals against average and tied for fifth in save percentage. Combined, the netminding duo has a 2.80 goals against average and a .904 save percentage.
Johnny Bravo: Jonatan Berggren has seven points (1-6—7) in his last six outings, which included a four-game assist streak from Dec. 31-Jan. 10. Berggren also has 10 points (3-7—10) in his last nine games from Dec. 15-Jan. 13 and now leads the roster with 25 points (8-17—25) in 25 games this season. The Enkoping, Sweden, product enjoyed a six-game point streak in the AHL (4-5—8) from Nov. 18-Dec. 5, which included a three-game goal run from Nov. 18-26 and a team-best five-game assist streak from Nov. 24-Dec. 5. The 23-year-old has a combined 96 points (33-63—96) in 102 career AHL appearances from 2021-24, collecting an assist during his 100th game as a Griffin on Jan. 10 against Milwaukee. During his rookie season with the Griffins in 2021-22, Berggren broke Grand Rapids’ rookie single-season scoring record with 64 points (21-43—64) in 70 games, five more points than the previous record held by Teemu Pulkkinen (2013-14). The prospect has appeared in 76 games with the Red Wings throughout two seasons and has 33 points (17-16—33), including five points (2-3—5) in nine contests this campaign. Berggren was selected to participate in the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Tech CU alongside fellow country man Simon Edvinsson.
On The Come Up: The Griffins’ power play has been a strong unit this season, as it ranks seventh in the AHL with an overall conversion rate of 20.5% and the road power play comes in at 23.6% (6th). Grand Rapids has scored on the power play in six of its last eight games (7-for-24, 29.2%). Tim Gettinger, Joel L’Esperance and Carter Mazur are all tied for the team lead with four power-play goals, while Jonatan Berggren paces the squad with seven power-play assists. After allowing a power-play goal in a season-high five straight games from Dec. 19-31 (7-for-17, 41.2%), the Griffins have allowed just one power-play tally in their last five outings (17-for-18, 94.4%). However, Grand Rapids still ranks 28th in the AHL with a penalty kill rate of 77.5%. At home, the Griffins’ penalty kill is tied for 13th in the league at 83.6%, while the road penalty kill ranks last on the circuit at 72.3%.
The Last Czar: Since returning to the Griffins from Detroit on Dec. 30, Austin Czarnik has accumulated six points (0-6—6) in as many games. The 31-year-old has made the most of his time in Grand Rapids, showing 13 points (3-10—13) and an even plus-minus rating in 15 appearances. Czarnik posted three assists on Dec. 31 against the Cleveland Monsters and logged five assists in three games from Dec. 9-Jan. 5. The Washington Township, Michigan, native signed a two-year deal with the Red Wings on July 7, 2022 and has since gone on to register 50 points (17-33—50) in 58 career games with the Griffins. Czarnik has 275 points (98-177—275) in 285 AHL games from 2014-18 and 2019-24. He has also suited up for 18 games with Detroit this season and has one assist, six penalty minutes and a minus-three rating. In total, Czarnik has 51 points (18-33—51) in 189 career NHL outings.
Come Out of the Gates Fast: Playing with the lead has been huge for the Griffins this season, as they are 8-2-1-0 when leading after the first period, 11-1-1-0 when leading after the second, and 11-7-1-1 when scoring first. In comparison, Grand Rapids is just 6-13-3-1 when trailing or tied after the opening frame and 3-14-3-1 when trailing or tied after the second. The Griffins’ largest comeback of the season came on Dec. 15 against Texas when they trailed by two goals early in the second period and went on to collect a 4-2 victory. The last time Grand Rapids trailed in the third period and came back to win was on Dec. 9 at Belleville (trailed 2-1, won 4-3 in overtime).
Under Three is Key: Unsurprisingly, the Griffins have done well in games where they have scored four or more goals, going 12-1-1-0 (.893). Although, when scoring three goals or less the team is just 2-14-3-1 (.200). Grand Rapids has failed to score four or more goals in three straight games but has surpassed the four-goal mark in six of its last 11 outings. On the flip side, Grand Rapids is just 2-12-4-1 (.237) when allowing at least three goals, compared to a 12-3-0-0 mark (.800) when allowing two goals or less. In their last 12 appearances, the Griffins have allowed three or more goals just five times and allowed just one goal in three straight contests from Dec. 31-Jan. 6.
AHL Leaderboard Tracker
Sebastian Cossa—2.84 GAA places sixth among rookie netminders, .906 save percentage is tied for fifth among rookie goaltenders
Simon Edvinsson—Six goals are tied for 10th among defensemen, two power-play goals are tied for seventh among defensemen, two game-winners are tied for fifth among defensemen
Carter Mazur—10 goals are tied for ninth among rookies, two game-winners are tied for sixth among rookies, four power-play goals are tied for ninth among rookies
Antti Tuomisto—Three goals are tied for seventh among rookie defensemen, two game-winners are tied for fifth among defensemen
Milestones
Joel L’Esperance collected his 200th point in the AHL with an assist on Jan. 13 against Rockford. On Jan. 10, Jonatan Berggren
recorded an assist in his 100th game as a Griffin and in the AHL.
L’Esperance scored a goal in his 100th game as a Griffin.
Zach Aston-Reese—One game from 400 as a pro
Jonatan Berggren—Four points from 100 as a Griffin and in the AHL
Austin Czarnik—Two goals from 100 in the AHL
Taro Hirose—Three goals from 50 as a Griffin
Dominik Shine—Four penalty minutes from tying Ed Patterson (457) for eighth on the team’s all-time penalty minutes list
Nolan Stevens—Two goals from 50 as a pro
Photo by Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins
