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RWC Archives - January Griffins Report
MacDonald coming on strong after surgery, slow start...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
February 5, 2006
Joey MacDonald is quietly rounding into form.
The Grand Rapids Griffins goaltender had a slow start to the campaign after off-season back surgery forced him to miss all of training camp. He struggled to regain his all-star form in the early going, posting a 5-4 record, a 3.87 goals-against average and a .877 save percentage.
Lately, however, MacDonald has been back to his usual self. He has a 6-2 record, a 2.35 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.
Grand Rapids stands atop the American Hockey League's Western Conference with a 34-12-1-3 record. The Houston Aeros are two points back. The Griffins feature the league's No. 1 offense and power play.
Donald MacLean, Jiri Hudler and Valtteri Filppula represented the Griffins at the AHL all-star game this week.
MacLean won the hardest shot competition with 98.0 mile-per-hour blast and scored twice for Canada. Hudler was named the starting left-winger, while Filppula recorded an assist.
The following is a review for January:
OFFENSE
' Balanced scoring continues to be the club's strength, as all three regular forward lines produced at similar levels. Eric Himelfarb is seeing time on the top line, while MacLean averaged a goal-per-game in January. The line of Tomas Kopecky, Darryl Bootland and Valtteri Filppula also played strong, physical hockey.
DEFENSE
' The league's worst defensive unit (97 goals against) got a considerable boost this month with improved play in goal by MacDonald and the return of Kyle Quincey from injury. Bryan Helmer (12 points, plus-7) and Clay Wilson (nine assists, plus-5) led the defense, while Derek Meech had a team-worst minus-4 rating.
GOALTENDING
' MacDonald stepped up his game and appeared to take over the starter's role with the Griffins. Youngster Jimmy Howard, in his pro rookie campaign out of the University of Maine, had a tough month, posting a 4.11 goals-against average.
SPECIAL TEAMS
' The AHL's best power play has 74 goals in 50 games, clicking along at a 21.9 percent efficiency level. This potent weapon continues to be offset by the team's lackluster penalty killing, which is rated 23rd in the league (68 goals-against, 80 percent).
PLAYER OF THE MONTH
' MacLean. For the second straight month, MacLean paced the club offensively. In 12 games in January, he had 12 goals and six assists for 18 points, not including a pair in the all-star game. He has already matched his career-high of 33 goals, set in 2001-02.
ROOKIE WATCH
' January was a tough month for rookies. Quincey missed most of the month with a concussion, but was impressive in four games after returning. Howard had a string of poor outings, but still rang up three wins; while Wilson tightened up his defensive game and averaged almost a point-per-game.
CURRENT INJURIES
' Travis Richards, back, indefinite ...
NOTEABLE MOVEMENT
' Goaltender Drew MacIntyre assigned to Toledo (ECHL) ... Center Brad Bonello assigned to Toledo (ECHL) ... Defenseman Brett Angel signed to PTO from Muskegon (UHL) ... Defenseman John Adams signed to standard contract ... Brett Angel released from PTO ... John Adams assigned to Florida (ECHL) ...
KEY STATS
' MacLean leads the AHL with 33 goals ... He also is tied for fourth with five game-winners... Hudler is third in the AHL with 23 power-play assists ... Kopecky is tied for fifth at plus-15 ... Bootland is fourth in the league with 226 penalty minutes ...
UP NEXT
' The Griffins begin on the road against Milwaukee before settling in for a four-game home stand (hosting Syracuse, Philadelphia, Peoria and Manitoba). Next up is a road game against Cleveland and two at home against Hamilton and Manitoba. The club finishes on the road against Rochester, Philadelphia, Syracuse and Hershey.
Jason Kasiorek contributes monthly Grand Rapids Griffins reports. They appear on RedWingsCentral.com at the start of each month.
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