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Mitten Hockey story card: Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL

Griffins Game Preview: at Wolves (Nov. 1) — AHL-leading Grand Rapids back after a week off

The AHL-leading Griffins play their only game of the week Sunday afternoon at Allstate Arena, their first since Oct. 24, with a reshuffled roster.

Shaun
2–3 minutes

The Grand Rapids Griffins return to the ice Sunday for the first time in eight days, visiting the Chicago Wolves at 4 p.m. ET at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. It is the Griffins’ only game of the week and the start of November for a team that finished October with the best record in the American Hockey League.

The matchup

Grand Rapids went 7-1-1-1 in October, good for 16 points and first place in the Central Division, the Western Conference, and the AHL. The Griffins carry a six-game point streak (5-0-0-1) into Sunday and last played Oct. 24, a 5-2 home win over Cleveland. Chicago, the Carolina Hurricanes’ affiliate, is 5-4-0-1.

This is the second of eight meetings this season and the first of four in Rosemont; Grand Rapids won the first. Sunday marks the 222nd all-time meeting between the clubs. Chicago is the Griffins’ most frequent opponent, and their 111 wins against the Wolves are the most against any team.

Roster changes since the last game

The week off brought plenty of movement. Defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka was assigned to Grand Rapids by the Red Wings on Oct. 30, while defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker was recalled to Detroit the same day. Forward Sheldon Dries, who had five goals and eight points in four games after rejoining the Griffins on Oct. 22, was recalled to Detroit on Oct. 29 with Dylan Larkin suspended.

In goal, Michal Postava returned from Detroit on Oct. 29. He led the AHL in wins entering the week with four, along with a 1.25 goals-against average and a .954 save percentage. Rookie Trey Augustine (2-1-2) is also available. Carter Gylander, who won his season debut against Cleveland, was assigned to Toledo along with Jacob Truscott.

Players to watch

Captain Dominik Shine scored his 100th Griffins goal as part of a hat trick against Cleveland, the team’s third hat trick in three weeks after Jesse Kiiskinen and John Leonard. Kiiskinen led Grand Rapids with 10 points in October, Leonard has four power-play goals, and defenseman Shai Buium has points in four straight games. Rookie Carter Bear has six points in his last seven games.

Special teams have carried the Griffins early. Their penalty kill ranks first in the AHL at 93.5 percent (43-for-46), and the power play is converting at 25 percent with a goal in each of the last six games.

How to watch

Puck drop is 4 p.m. ET at Allstate Arena. The game streams on AHLTV on FloHockey, with radio on WOOD 106.9 FM and 1300 AM starting at 3:45 p.m. The Griffins return home to host the Texas Stars on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.

Sources

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