Grand Rapids Griffins 17-18

[Fil Larkmanthanasiou]

Wolves caught the Griffins with our legs still in Winnipeg as they man-handled us tonight. McCollum was shaky and had difficultly with the puck. PK was terrible as the Wolves were 3-3 and the last one the Wolves killed their PP by taking a penalty of their own.

Griffins had no breaks tonight as they hit the cross bar twice and the post once, Saarijarvi had his first AHL goal taken away by a quick whistle. Wolves got away with just about everything and the Griffins could not touch them at all. Worse game in about 2 months and was expecting this could happen.

Machovsky came in the 2nd period after McCollum looked bad on the Wolves 3rd goal and he looked pretty sharp. Stopped a breakaway and a 2 on 1 while he was in. Only goal he gave up was the Wolves 3rd PP goal early in the 3rd as 2 Griffins got sucked up by the blue line and Wolves had a nice 2 on 1 down low and the one player got the puck in front of the other Wolves player and redirected the puck in front and went in. Nothing Machovsky could do on it. Machovsky made a nice pass during one of the Griffins pp to catch the Wolves on a change.

Svechnikov made a nice pass from behind the net to Tangradi for the first Griffins goal and Tangradi hits the post seconds later before taking a high-sticking penalty to kill the Griffins burst of energy. Street made a nice tip-in on the Griffins pp goal from Svechnikov shot. Better luck on Sat and Sun against Iowa.

It seems he may be good at that.

 

[GrGriffins]

2018-02-22	Patrick McCarron (D)	Grand Rapids	DEL	Returned on loan to Toledo (ECHL)
2018-02-22	Dylan Sadowy (RW)	Grand Rapids	DEL	Reassigned by Detroit (NHL) to Toledo (ECHL)

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Looks like McCarron and Sadowy were sent back down to Toledo today according to the AHL transactions.

 

[Ezekial]

Good for Coreau to get the call-up, but that's horrible news for GR... Hope Machovsky can step in and do well.

That tip in for the Wolves 4th goal was so ridiculously beautiful.

 

[GrGriffins]

They have used 7 D at least a dozen times this year. This is the scoresheet from Oct 14 (4th game of the year) which was the first time they employed 7D.
https://theahl.com/stats/game-summary/1017168
Holland always signs too much redundant veteran depth.

They have played 7 d in a game 17 times this season so far. Injuries to our forwards at different times throughout the season and at times the Griffins schedule, has forced Nelson's hand to put out 7 d in the lineup.

It is better to have too much depth in your minor league system, than not enough.

 

[SpookyTsuki]

Sucks that Sadowy probably won’t make the nhl

 

[GrGriffins]

Sucks that Sadowy probably won’t male the nhl

Dylan is having a hard time (just like Nastasiuk) trying to make the Griffins lineup and stay there. Too many forwards ahead of them.

 

[GrGriffins]

McCollum in net for the Griffins tonight, Machovsky will be in net for the Griffins tomorrow afternoon. Iowa Wild in town for both games.

 

[GrGriffins]

Iowa Wild 1 at Grand Rapids Griffins 2 - Status: Final
Saturday, February 24, 2018 - Van Andel Arena

Iowa 0 0 1 - 1
Grand Rapids 0 2 0 - 2

1st Period- No Scoring.

Penalties-No Penalties

2nd Period-1, Grand Rapids, Ford 20 (Saarijarvi, Hicketts), 12:06 (PP). 2, Grand Rapids, Lorito 18 (Tangradi, Svechnikov), 16:32 (PP).

Penalties-Ford Gr (slashing), 2:10; White Ia (interference), 5:28; Kunin Ia (holding), 10:39; Svedberg Ia (tripping), 15:35; Lorito Gr (hooking), 17:20.

3rd Period-3, Iowa, Gabriel 2 (White, Murphy), 19:57.

Penalties-Street Gr (slashing), 10:11.

Shots on Goal-Iowa 6-8-9-23. Grand Rapids 16-7-10-33.

Power Play Opportunities-Iowa 0 / 3; Grand Rapids 2 / 3.

Goalies-Iowa, Svedberg 16-10-3 (33 shots-31 saves). Grand Rapids, McCollum 9-9-3 (23 shots-22 saves).

A-10,221

Referees-Guillaume Labonte (35), Jeremy Tufts (78).
Linesmen-Jake Davis (23), Pat Richardson (67).

 

[GrGriffins]

Iowa Wild 2 at Grand Rapids Griffins 3 (SO) - Status: Final SO
Sunday, February 25, 2018 - Van Andel Arena

Iowa 1 1 0 0 - 2
Grand Rapids 1 1 0 0 - 3

1st Period-1, Grand Rapids, Hronek 8 (Lorito), 1:10 (PP). 2, Iowa, Anas 19 (Palmquist, Rau), 11:04 (PP).

Penalties-served by Mayhew Ia (bench minor - delay of game (faceoff violation)), 0:35; White Ia (fighting), 3:08; McIlrath Gr (interference), 3:08; Tangradi Gr (fighting), 3:08; Svechnikov Gr (tripping), 10:32; Svechnikov Gr (cross-checking), 11:28; Ford Gr (goaltender interference), 15:42.

2nd Period-3, Iowa, Mayhew 10 (Menell, Anas), 14:34. 4, Grand Rapids, Lorito 19 (Campbell, Turgeon), 16:17.

Penalties-Rau Ia (elbowing), 5:00.

3rd Period- No Scoring.

Penalties-Palmquist Ia (holding the stick), 6:41; Loov Ia (interference), 9:53; Campbell Gr (boarding), 13:13.

OT Period- No Scoring.

Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout - Iowa 0 (Anas NG, Mitchell NG, Kloos NG), Grand Rapids 1 (Turgeon G, Tangradi NG).

Shots on Goal-Iowa 15-6-6-1-0-28. Grand Rapids 8-11-11-4-1-35.

Power Play Opportunities-Iowa 1 / 5; Grand Rapids 1 / 4.

Goalies-Iowa, Svedberg 16-10-4 (34 shots-32 saves). Grand Rapids, Machovsky 1-0-0 (28 shots-26 saves).

A-10,367

Referees-Guillaume Labonte (35), Jeremy Tufts (78).
Linesmen-John Tallieu (94), Logan Wetekamp (1).

 

[raymond23]

Saarijarvi was terrific

 

[raymond23]

Griffs are running three defenseman on the second PP unit. Russo, Hicketts & Saarijarvi. Never seen it before.

 

[GrGriffins]

Griffs are running three defenseman on the second PP unit. Russo, Hicketts & Saarijarvi. Never seen it before.

With Puempel out, Nelson has put Svech on the 1st PP unit and switch some bodies around on the 2nd PP unit, which Hicketts is on net front and Russo and Saarijarvi on the points.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

Is Hicketts very effective at screening goalies? I... wouldn't think so.

 

[GrGriffins]

Is Hicketts very effective at screening goalies? I... wouldn't think so.

He creates traffic in front of the net to the point that the other team's d-man has a hard time moving him out of there. He sometimes drifts to the wing position on the pp unit and can gets off a good shot. Also helps out in the corners to dig pucks out and creates problems behind the net as well. Just depends who Nelson puts out on the 2nd pp unit, especially when Puempel is still out (should be back next Wed game) and Svech replaced him on the 1st PP unit.

 

[Fil Larkmanthanasiou]

Is Hicketts very effective at screening goalies? I... wouldn't think so.

His low center of gravity makes him hard to move. I wanted to catch today's game but couldn't so I haven't watched him there yet but I am sure he is a little ball of hate. Dino Cicarrelli was probably the all-time best net-front guy.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

His low center of gravity makes him hard to move. I wanted to catch today's game but couldn't so I haven't watched him there yet but I am sure he is a little ball of hate. Dino Cicarrelli was probably the all-time best net-front guy.

Dave Andreychuk or Phil Esposito in my opinion.

 

[Redder Winger]

Tim Kerr deserves some love.

 

[GrGriffins]

Bertuzzi and Coreau were sent back down to GR (on paper) and recalled back to Detroit in order for those 2 to be allowed to participate in the post season for the Griffins. In doing this, the Wings have used up 2 of the 4 after the TDL recalls that each team can use.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Bertuzzi and Coreau were sent back down to GR (on paper) and recalled back to Detroit in order for those 2 to be allowed to participate in the post season for the Griffins. In doing this, the Wings have used up 2 of the 4 after the TDL recalls that each team can use.

That is okay, they will just use emergency callups more than likely. They could shutdown Kronwall any day they want to call up Hronek for instance. I am sure they can accomplish what they want.

While I am happy for GR, I am surprised they kept Bertuzzi eligible. They haven't done that a whole lot with guys the last bunch of years that they could have done that with but were clearly already NHL guys.

 

[GrGriffins]

While I am happy for GR, I am surprised they kept Bertuzzi eligible. They haven't done that a whole lot with guys the last bunch of years that they could have done that with but were clearly already NHL guys.

When the Wings were in the playoffs and winning cups, Griffins suffered big time to where our top players would get called up to the Wings (Black Aces) and the Griffins (if we made the playoffs that season) ended up with 3rd and 4th liners along with players in Toledo and players coming from juniors, Europe, or college, who had no pro experience at all and we would that an early exit from our playoffs. It was not pretty here. But when the Wings did not win anymore Stanley Cups, players that came from GR who moved up to Detroit, saw that those players had this "losing mentality", so the Wings finally sunk in that in order to have a winning culture in the NHL, you have to have the same philosophy in your AHL affiliate, and thus the Griffins have that "winning culture" for the past 5-7 seasons.

With Bertuzzi, the Wings are 98% not going to make the playoffs (barring a miracle) so for their development, it is best for him to keep playing and gain more playoff experience and more confidence for the next season.

With Coreau, it gives the Wings a much longer look to see if he is worth while to resigning him for next season (maybe beyond) to be their #2 goalie, or if not, give other NHL teams a look and maybe make a trade to get something that the Wings need.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

When the Wings were in the playoffs and winning cups, Griffins suffered big time to where our top players would get called up to the Wings (Black Aces) and the Griffins (if we made the playoffs that season) ended up with 3rd and 4th liners along with players in Toledo and players coming from juniors, Europe, or college, who had no pro experience at all and we would that an early exit from our playoffs. It was not pretty here. But when the Wings did not win anymore Stanley Cups, players that came from GR who moved up to Detroit, saw that those players had this "losing mentality", so the Wings finally sunk in that in order to have a winning culture in the NHL, you have to have the same philosophy in your AHL affiliate, and thus the Griffins have that "winning culture" for the past 5-7 seasons.

With Bertuzzi, the Wings are 98% not going to make the playoffs (barring a miracle) so for their development, it is best for him to keep playing and gain more playoff experience and more confidence for the next season.

With Coreau, it gives the Wings a much longer look to see if he is worth while to resigning him for next season (maybe beyond) to be their #2 goalie, or if not, give other NHL teams a look and maybe make a trade to get something that the Wings need.

With Bertuzzi he is an established NHL guy at this point really. There is a decent chance he finishes the last 20 games in the top 6 in Detroit. He won the Playoff MVP last year, there isn't a whole lot more for him to accomplish at that level. Similarly they have let other guys in the past shuffle out of that and have a longer off-season.

I understand the Griffins are not just a Wings play thing. I say that often. I also have applauded their investment at this level and agree with the importance of growing up on winning teams when it is possible to control that. I also like that one of their Vets has generally also been able to protect the younger kids. They are doing GR right.

Just saying I am surprised in terms of Bertuzzi. I wonder if he was consulted at all on it, I would think they at least called him in to ask him about it.

Coreau for me was always going back on a paper transaction today. I fully expected that move.

 

[GrGriffins]

Just saying I am surprised in terms of Bertuzzi. I wonder if he was consulted at all on it, I would think they at least called him in to ask him about it.

Knowing Bertuzzi and getting to know him personally through the Griffins booster club functions, he most likely told Holland that if the Wings did not make the playoffs this season and the Griffins do make it, that he wants to be a part of it. You are correct that he has nothing to prove here since he won the Playoff MVP last season, but it shows that he wants to play and not sit around. It would not surprise me a bit if that happened.

 

[GrGriffins]

Sucks that Sadowy probably won’t make the nhl

He is doing well in Toledo from what I'm reading and hearing from some of the Walleye fans that made it to the Griffins game here on Sunday. He is on a 7 game scoring streak down there. Nice guy to talk to as he sat with me at the awards dinner last April. Just too many guys ahead of him here in GR right now to where Toledo is his best option to get playing time at the moment.

 

[ShelbyZ]

That is okay, they will just use emergency callups more than likely. They could shutdown Kronwall any day they want to call up Hronek for instance. I am sure they can accomplish what they want.

While I am happy for GR, I am surprised they kept Bertuzzi eligible. They haven't done that a whole lot with guys the last bunch of years that they could have done that with but were clearly already NHL guys.

They would need more than just "shutting down" Kronwall to utilize emergency recall. Another Dman would have to be out/sick/hurt/etc. as well.

 

[Henkka]

They would need more than just "shutting down" Kronwall to utilize emergency recall. Another Dman would have to be out/sick/hurt/etc. as well.

¨
Green is already hurt, so just put him on IR and call Hronek.