2013–14 Grand Rapids Griffins season

The 2013–14 Grand Rapids Griffins season was the franchise's 13th season in the American Hockey League.

Off-season Following the Grand Rapids Griffins' Calder Cup-winning season last year, several of the players were called up to the Detroit Red Wings, including forwards Joakim Andersson and Tomáš Tatar; and defensemen Danny DeKeyser, Brian Lashoff and Brendan Smith. There was a great deal of roster movements between the two teams throughout the off-season, with some players getting repeatedly called back and forth, which meant Griffins coach Jeff Blashill could not finalize the roster or power play and penalty kill teams until just before the regular season began. Ten of the 20 players on Detroit's starting roster had played with Grand Rapids the previous year. Other Griffins departures included defenseman Chad Billins, goaltender Jordan Pearce, and forwards Jan Muršak, and Francis Paré. Winger Cory Emmerton began the regular season with Detroit after Patrick Eaves was placed on long-term injured reserve.

Gustav Nyquist was sent down to Grand Rapids from Detroit, but was not expected to remain there long. The move was primarily intended to keep the team under its salary cap, since Nyquist could be transferred without having to clear waivers. The Griffins signed several new skaters during the off-season, giving the roster a mix of veterans and young prospects. New additions included goaltender Jared Coreau; defensemen Alexey Marchenko, Richard Nedomlel and Xavier Ouellet; forwards Martin Frk, David McIntyre and Marek Tvrdon. McIntyre was the only one of the seven with previous American Hockey League experience. The team re-signed defensemen Nathan Paetsch and Brennan Evans, and forwards Triston Grant and team captain Jeff Hoggan, as well as several skaters who had played only a handful of games the previous year, including center Calle Järnkrok, winger Teemu Pulkkinen, and defenseman Ryan Sproul.

After a training camp that began September 23 at Van Andel Arena, the Griffins played a pair of off-season games against the Lake Erie Monsters, although eight of their players were absent due to a call-up to Detroit. Grand Rapids won the first game 3–2 in a shootout, with Frk scoring the sole shootout goal and McCollum making 36 saves and stopped five shootout shots. Lake Erie won the second game in a 2–0 shutout. Center Landon Ferraro, the team's third-highest score the previous year, suffered a foot injury during the off-season that kept him out of the first two weeks of the regular season.

Regular season On October 4, the Grand Rapids Griffins won their season opener against the Rochester Americans by a score of 8–1, setting a franchise record for largest margin of victory in a season debut, breaking the previous record of four goals in 2004. Gustav Nyquist and Adam Almquist led the scoring with three points apiece.

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2013–14 Pre-season Game Log: 1–1–0–0 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record 1 September 28 Lake Erie 2–3 Grand Rapids SO McCollum 1–0–0–0 2 September 29 Grand Rapids 0–2 Lake Erie Coreau 1–1–0–0 Game played at Compuware Arena in Plymouth Township, Michigan Game played at WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario

Regular season 2013–14 Regular season Game Log October: 5–2–1–1 (Home: 1–2–0–0; Road: 4–0–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 1 October 4 Grand Rapids 8–1 Rochester McCollum 6,500 1–0–0–0 2 Gamesheet 2 October 5 Grand Rapids 3–4 Toronto OT Coreau 6,525 1–0–1–0 3 Gamesheet 3 October 12 Grand Rapids 4–3 Hamilton SO Mrazek 3,416 2–0–1–0 5 Gamesheet 4 October 18 Milwaukee 3–2 Grand Rapids Mrazek 10,834 2–1–1–0 5 Gamesheet 5 October 19 Grand Rapids 5–4 Rockford SO Mrazek 6,202 2–1–1–1 6 Gamesheet 6 October 25 Charlotte 5–0 Grand Rapids Mrazek 5,494 2–2–1–1 6 Gamesheet 7 October 26 Grand Rapids 3–2 Chicago McCollum 4,484 3–2–1–1 8 Gamesheet 8 October 27 Grand Rapids 3–2 Iowa McCollum 3,825 4–2–1–1 10 Gamesheet 9 October 30 Charlotte 2–5 Grand Rapids Mrazek 2,974 5–2–1–1 12 Gamesheet November: 10–2–0–0 (Home: 5–0–0–0; Road: 5–2–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 10 November 1 Grand Rapids 6–4 Lake Erie McCollum 7,044 6–2–1–1 14 Gamesheet 11 November 3 Grand Rapids 3–1 Rockford McCollum 3,033 7–2–1–1 16 Gamesheet 12 November 6 Rockford 2–6 Grand Rapids McCollum 6,118 8–2–1–1 18 Gamesheet 13 November 8 Grand Rapids 6–1 Hamilton Mrazek 3,088 9–2–1–1 20 Gamesheet 14 November 13 Grand Rapids 1–2 Milwaukee McCollum 2,659 9–3–1–1 20 Gamesheet 15 November 15 Rockford 3–5 Grand Rapids Mrazek 9,260 10–3–1–1 22 Gamesheet 16 November 16 Grand Rapids 3–4 Chicago McCollum 9,226 10–4–1–1 22 Gamesheet 17 November 20 Milwaukee 0–5 Grand Rapids Mrazek 5,056 11–4–1–1 24 Gamesheet 18 November 22 Grand Rapids 2–1 Iowa Mrazek 7,580 12–4–1–1 26 Gamesheet 19 November 23 Grand Rapids 2–1 Chicago Mrazek 7,228 13–4–1–1 28 Gamesheet 20 November 29 Texas 4–5 Grand Rapids Mrazek 8,288 14–4–1–1 30 Gamesheet 21 November 30 Texas 1–5 Grand Rapids McCollum 5,749 15–4–1–1 32 Gamesheet December: 7–4–0–1 (Home: 5–2–0–1; Road: 2–2–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 22 December 6 Rochester 1–5 Grand Rapids Mrazek 6,901 16–4–1–1 34 Gamesheet 23 December 7 Rochester 1–3 Grand Rapids Mrazek 5,115 17–4–1–1 36 Gamesheet 24 December 11 Chicago 4–2 Grand Rapids McCollum 6,290 17–5–1–1 36 Gamesheet 25 December 13 Milwaukee 2–4 Grand Rapids McCollum 5,976 18–5–1–1 38 Gamesheet 26 December 14 Milwaukee 0–5 Grand Rapids McCollum 8,002 19–5–1–1 40 Gamesheet 27 December 18 Grand Rapids 2–1 Iowa OT McCollum 3,619 20–5–1–1 42 Gamesheet 28 December 20 Rockford 2–3 Grand Rapids OT McCollum 8,269 21–5–1–1 44 Gamesheet 29 December 21 Grand Rapids 2–3 Chicago McCollum 5,724 21–6–1–1 44 Gamesheet 30 December 26 Grand Rapids 1–4 Milwaukee McCollum 5,197 21–7–1–1 44 Gamesheet 31 December 27 Grand Rapids 4–2 Rockford McCollum 4,105 22–7–1–1 46 Gamesheet 32 December 30 Toronto 4–2 Grand Rapids SO McCollum 20,337 22–7–1–2 47 Gamesheet 33 December 31 Toronto 3–1 Grand Rapids McCollum 10,834 22–8–1–2 47 Gamesheet Game played at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan January: 6–5–1–0 (Home: 5–3–0–0; Road: 1–2–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 34 January 3 Chicago 1–3 Grand Rapids McCollum 6,963 23–8–1–2 49 Gamesheet 35 January 4 Grand Rapids 2–4 Rockford Coreau 4,145 23–9–1–2 49 Gamesheet 36 January 8 Rockford 2–4 Grand Rapids McCollum 3,672 24–9–1–2 51 Gamesheet 37 January 10 Iowa 3–2 Grand Rapids McCollum 7,285 24–10–1–2 51 Gamesheet 38 January 11 Iowa 1–4 Grand Rapids McCollum 9,360 25–10–1–2 53 Gamesheet 39 January 15 Chicago 1–3 Grand Rapids McCollum 5,493 26–10–1–2 55 Gamesheet 40 January 17 Abbotsford 0–3 Grand Rapids McCollum 8,098 27–10–1–2 57 Gamesheet 41 January 18 Abbotsford 3–2 Grand Rapids McCollum 9,170 27–11–1–2 57 Gamesheet 42 January 24 Grand Rapids 4–6 Texas Coreau 4,639 27–12–1–2 57 Gamesheet 43 January 25 Grand Rapids 4–1 Texas McCollum 6,863 28–12–1–2 59 Gamesheet 44 January 26 Grand Rapids 5–6 San Antonio OT Coreau 4,995 28–12–2–2 60 Gamesheet 45 January 31 Chicago 6–2 Grand Rapids McCollum 10,834 28–13–2–2 60 Gamesheet February: 6–4–0–1 (Home: 2–3–0–1; Road: 4–1–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 46 February 1 Grand Rapids 3–2 Milwaukee SO Mrazek 7,621 29–13–2–2 62 Gamesheet 47 February 5 Lake Erie 4–0 Grand Rapids Mrazek 6,346 29–14–2–2 62 Gamesheet 48 February 7 Grand Rapids 1–4 Toronto Mrazek 5,237 29–15–2–2 62 Gamesheet 49 February 8 Grand Rapids 5–1 Rochester McCollum 17,968 30–15–2–2 64 Gamesheet 50 February 14 San Antonio 2–1 Grand Rapids SO McCollum 6,724 30–15–2–3 65 Gamesheet 51 February 15 San Antonio 3–0 Grand Rapids Mrazek 10,018 30–16–2–3 65 Gamesheet 52 February 21 Oklahoma City 4–2 Grand Rapids McCollum 10,834 30–17–2–3 65 Gamesheet 53 February 22 Oklahoma City 3–4 Grand Rapids Mrazek 8,254 31–17–2–3 67 Gamesheet 54 February 23 Milwaukee 0–1 Grand Rapids SO Mrazek 8,451 32–17–2–3 69 Gamesheet 55 February 26 Grand Rapids 5–1 Milwaukee Mrazek 3,002 33–17–2–3 71 Gamesheet 56 February 28 Grand Rapids 4–3 Abbotsford SO Mrazek 3,068 34–17–2–3 73 Gamesheet March: 9–3–0–1 (Home: 3–1–0–0; Road: 6–2–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 57 March 1 Grand Rapids 5–2 Abbotsford Mrazek 2,774 35–17–2–3 75 Gamesheet 58 March 5 Chicago 2–4 Grand Rapids Mrazek 5,343 36–17–2–3 77 Gamesheet 59 March 7 Iowa 0–4 Grand Rapids Mrazek 8,594 37–17–2–3 79 Gamesheet 60 March 8 Iowa 3–1 Grand Rapids McCollum 10,834 37–18–2–3 79 Gamesheet 61 March 13 Grand Rapids 1–2 San Antonio SO McCollum 6,772 37–18–2–4 80 Gamesheet 62 March 14 Grand Rapids 3–2 Oklahoma City McCollum 3,294 38–18–2–4 82 Gamesheet 63 March 15 Grand Rapids 4–3 Oklahoma City McCollum 4,494 39–18–2–4 84 Gamesheet 64 March 21 Grand Rapids 4–1 Iowa McCollum 6,547 40–18–2–4 86 Gamesheet 65 March 22 Grand Rapids 3–2 Iowa Mrazek 6,359 41–18–2–4 88 Gamesheet 66 March 23 Grand Rapids 2–6 Chicago Mrazek 11,388 41–19–2–4 88 Gamesheet 67 March 28 Grand Rapids 4–5 Rockford McCollum 5,223 41–20–2–4 88 Gamesheet 68 March 29 Rockford 1–4 Grand Rapids Mrazek 10,834 42–20–2–4 90 Gamesheet 69 March 30 Grand Rapids 3–1 Milwaukee Mrazek 8,090 43–20–2–4 92 Gamesheet April: 3–3–0–1 (Home: 2–2–0–0; Road: 1–1–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Gamesheet 70 April 2 Iowa 1–6 Grand Rapids Mrazek 8,077 44–20–2–4 94 Gamesheet 71 April 4 Hamilton 4–1 Grand Rapids Mrazek 10,834 44–21–2–4 94 Gamesheet 72 April 5 Hamilton 1–2 Grand Rapids SO McCollum 10,006 45–21–2–4 96 Gamesheet 73 April 10 Grand Rapids 0–3 Charlotte Mrazek 6,709 45–22–2–4 96 Gamesheet 74 April 13 Grand Rapids 2–1 Charlotte McCollum 8,002 46–22–2–4 98 Gamesheet 75 April 18 Lake Erie 4–2 Grand Rapids Mrazek 10,834 46–23–2–4 98 Gamesheet 76 April 19 Grand Rapids 3–4 Lake Erie SO McCollum 14,064 46–22–2–5 99 GamesheetLegend:

Playoffs 2014 Calder Cup Playoffs Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (5) Abbotsford Heat – Grand Rapids won series 3–1 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 25 Grand Rapids 2–1 Abbotsford 2 OT Mrazek 2,420 1–0 Recap 2 April 26 Grand Rapids 7–2 Abbotsford Mrazek 2,154 2–0 Recap 3 April 30 Abbotsford 2–1 Grand Rapids Mrazek 7,193 2–1 Recap 4 May 2 Abbotsford 3–5 Grand Rapids Mrazek 7,641 3–1 Recap Western Conference Semifinals vs. (1) Texas Stars – Texas won series 4–2 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 May 8 Grand Rapids 2–5 Texas Mrazek 2,661 0–1 Recap 2 May 10 Grand Rapids 0–4 Texas Mrazek 4,635 0–2 Recap 3 May 13 Texas 2–5 Grand Rapids Mrazek 4,293 1–2 Recap 4 May 14 Texas 2–3 Grand Rapids Mrazek 5,089 2–2 Recap 5 May 16 Texas 3–2 Grand Rapids OT Mrazek 8,057 2–3 Recap 6 May 18 Grand Rapids 1–7 Texas Mrazek 4,010 2–4 RecapLegend:

Player statistics

Skaters Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Regular season Player * 71 31 28 59 18 34 73 4 49 53 9 56 53 16 30 46 17 14 70 26 18 44 23 51 70 16 20 36 0 24 ‡ 57 13 23 36 19 14 ‡ 32 13 19 32 10 14 * 72 11 21 32 0 49 70 15 16 31 −3 52 59 14 17 31 1 31 68 4 27 31 18 40 64 8 13 21 −1 45 ‡ 15 7 14 21 6 6 ‡ 31 8 10 18 −2 12 51 6 12 18 −1 104 * 49 3 15 18 11 14 68 4 13 17 14 111 70 4 13 17 3 22 51 6 10 16 6 103 ‡ 18 5 7 12 8 18 50 3 9 12 −12 22 36 6 3 9 5 27 45 0 9 9 12 8 ‡ 8 4 2 6 1 8 38 2 2 4 −1 16 2 1 2 3 0 0 ‡ 9 1 2 3 3 6 13 1 1 2 3 7 25 0 2 2 4 4 13 1 0 1 −2 5 ‡ 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 −1 0 ‡ 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 2 ‡ 2 0 0 0 −4 0 3 0 0 0 −2 2 5 0 0 0 −2 0

Playoffs Player 10 5 6 11 8 10 10 2 7 9 4 2 8 5 2 7 −5 11 10 4 2 6 4 4 10 1 5 6 −6 2 10 4 1 5 −4 12 10 2 3 5 2 4 8 1 4 5 −5 6 8 1 4 5 −5 0 10 0 5 5 2 4 9 1 2 3 −4 2 10 1 1 2 0 9 3 1 0 1 2 12 1 0 1 1 2 2 4 0 1 1 −3 4 6 0 1 1 2 6 6 0 1 1 −1 0 6 0 1 1 −1 0 10 0 1 1 −3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 2 4 0 0 0 −4 0 4 0 0 0 0 4 8 0 0 0 −5 4 10 0 0 0 2 30

Goaltenders