Griffins Play Ugly But Beat the Admirals

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins took down the Milwaukee Admirals, 3-2, on Wednesday night.

Griffins Head Coach Ben Simon wasn’t completely impressed with how his team played. “I don’t think we executed very well and you’re going to have those kind of night,” said Simon of how Grand Rapids played. “I think all-in-all the game in itself wasn’t a great game.” One word he used to describe the game as a whole was “sloppy.”

There wasn’t a lot of consistency and both teams traded momentum throughout the game. “I thought in the first period we came out flat. I thought the second period they came out flat,” Simon said of the way Wednesday’s game was played. “The third period got a little bit of life, a little bit more action going back and forth.”

So, what went wrong on Wednesday? What went right?

Griffins power play struggled

During the first two games of the season, the Griffins power play showed a lot of promise for the year. They went four for 12, had multiple shot attempts, and found ways to open up shooting lanes while on the man advantage.

Once Wednesday rolled around, the power play looked completely different. The Admirals penalty kill was able to anticipate almost every move made by the Griffins power play units. They took away shooting lanes and stuck to the Griffins like glue causing Grand Rapids to not be able to fire off a single high danger shot on net.

One of the more dicey moments on the Griffins’ power play came when goaltender Sebastian Cossa was left alone behind the net while two members of the Admirals came barreling down the ice towards him. “Their penalty kill had some pressure coming down on goalie touches there,” said Cossa. “So, I was trying to beat the first guy and give us a little break.” Luckily, for the Griffins, Cossa made the quick decision to spin and find an open teammate who was able to take the puck up the ice.

Simon wasn’t quite sure why the power play didn’t excel on Wednesday night. “I don’t know why our play play wasn’t great tonight,” said Simon of the Griffins’ man advantage. “I do know we have two really good units that are more than capable.” Simon expanded a little more on this by saying, “Sometimes the puck doesn’t go in. I just think we need to execute a little bit more.”

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Matt Luff has been a good addition to Grand Rapids

Since the season started, Matt Luff has been a solid addition to the Griffins’ forward pool. In his first three games with Grand Rapids, Luff has notched five points. Two of those points came during Wednesday night’s win over the Admirals. 

Around the halfway point of the second period, Luff was the connecting piece between Taro Hirose and Austin Czarnik on the Griffins’ first goal of the evening. At the time, Milwaukee was trying to move the puck around the net and up ice. Grand Rapids saw the play take shape and began to take their positions. 

Hirose broke up a pass from the Admirals and found Luff alone in the faceoff circle. Luff’s ability to sneak into the faceoff circle undetected allowed him to quickly swivel and fire the puck towards Czarnik who found the back of the Admirals’ net.

Grand Rapids ties the game at one 10:15 into the second period.

The play started with Taro Hirose blocking a pass from Milwaukee.

And ended with Austin Czarnik finding the back of the net.
—–#MILHockey 1 – #GoGRG 1@FPC_AHL pic.twitter.com/OW8vuHIY6T

— Elaine Shircliff (@imaraindancer) October 20, 2022

Grand Rapids’ second goal of the night happened shortly after Luff picked a puck off the boards near the benches and quickly passed it off to Hirose.  On top of this, Luff’s spatial awareness and ability to read opponents helped the Griffins set up multiple high danger plays throughout the night.

It’s not just Luff’s on-ice presence which makes him a welcome addition to the Griffins this season. “He’s a good guy to be around. He’s got a good sense of humor. He’s a pleasant presence. He’s good with the guys in the room and good with the young kids,” said Simon of what Luff brings to the table off of the ice. “We’re happy we get a chance to work with him this year.”

Glimpses of muscle was on display

On Wednesday, there were a few glimpse of the physicality the Griffins bring to the table. From Wyatt Newpower laying bone crushing hits along the boards to make the Admirals cough up pucks to Jared McIsaac applying full body pressure to players trying to rush the net, the Griffins showed they are not going to be manhandled this season.

If outmuscling the opponent fails for Grand Rapids, Simon hopes the players are able to out think the opposition this season. “If you can’t outmuscle people because you aren’t as strong, you have to use your hockey sense to try and put yourself in a position so as not to be exposed with your size and strength,” explained Simon of what he hopes the Griffins can execute as the season rolls along.

Due to the Griffins high compete level, Simon believes if the players keep working to get better then the season will end in their favor. “If you have a high compete level and are willing to do those little things, it will take care of itself.”

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