Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen provides an update on the Grand Rapids Griffins:
Coach Dan Watson’s team will play the Texas Stars (Dallas Stars) tonight for second place in the division. The Griffins (27-19-4) and Stars (28-16-3) are tied at 58 points, although the Stars have four games in hand.
The Griffins, scoring 19 goals in their past 10 games, are looking to find the net with more frequency. It doesn’t help that 19-goal scorer Sheldon Dries was recently called up by the Red Wings.
The key for Grand Rapids now may be prospects Carter Mazur, Amadeus Lombardi and Nate Danielson. Mazur and Lombardi are finding their scoring touch after lengthy stays on the injured list. Mazur boasts five points in his past five games, while Lombardi scored Sunday against Iowa. Danielson has two goals and two assists over the past five games.
One of the Griffins’ underrated offensive contributors this season has been prospect defenseman Antti Tuomisto who has two goals and 19 assists for 21 points.
The Griffins and Stars are both two points behind the division-leading Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators).
