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Grand Rapids Griffins vs Rockford IceHogs Preview
After a successful campaign in the AHL, the Rockford IceHogs host the Grand Rapids Griffins in the Central Division Semifinals on Saturday. The first playoff game starts at 8:00 PM ET in the BMO Harris Bank Center. The Griffins finished above Rockford in the standings, meaning the next two games of the series will be in Grand Rapids territory.
The IceHogs won 39 games in the regular season, two more than the Griffins. However, Grand Rapids ended up ahead of Rockford by one point because of fewer losses in regular time. The Griffins lost eight times in overtime, three more OT defeats than the IceHogs. But which side will win the first game of the AHL Central Division Semifinals this weekend?
Grand Rapids Griffins vs Rockford IceHogs Head-to-Head and Key Stats
The Grand Rapids Griffins faced the Rockford IceHogs thrice in April. All the contests were relatively low-scoring, with no game having over four goals. However, Rockford was the better team, winning twice over the three meetings. Their latest contest had the least goals, but the IceHogs walked away victorious.
Grand Rapids hosted their most recent meeting, but the first period didn’t go their way. The IceHogs scored the opener in under two minutes. Jaxson Stauber saved Radim Šimek’s one-timer, and Rockford started a counterattack. In a two-on-two situation, Jackson Cates weaved through the Griffins’ defense, assisting Michal Teply’s ninth goal. That was the first period’s only goal, with the IceHogs maintaining their 1-0 lead.
The contest was aggressive, with the two sides racking up 24 penalty minutes. In the second period, Rockford capitalized on one of the power plays. Sebastian Cossa had no chance of saving Wyatt Kaiser’s wrist shot during a PP, giving the IceHogs a 2-0 lead. After a goalless third period, Rockford walked away with a 2-0 victory over Grand Rapids.
The game was much more entertaining when the Rockford IceHogs invited the Griffins to the BMO Harris Bank Center on April 6. Despite the IceHogs’ home advantage, Grand Rapids opened the scoring in the first period. Carter Mazur got his 16th goal this season with three minutes remaining in the opener.
In the last stages of the second period, Luke Philp tied the game. The goal came via a fast break orchestrated by David Gust and Michal Teply, who both got assists. The score was 1-1 heading into the last period, with both sides looking dangerous. Rockford and the Griffins once again posted over 20 penalty minutes, with another power play proving crucial.
Mike Hardman gave Rockford the lead with his 20th goal of the season coming via a five-on-three power play. The IceHogs led for the first time in the contest, but the Griffins did everything they could to get back into the game. With just one minute left, Grand Rapids removed their goaltender. However, that gave Jackson Cates an unmissable opportunity, scoring from close range and killing the contest. The IceHogs won 3-1 after an entertaining game in front of their fans.
The Rockford IceHogs and Grand Rapids Griffins struggled to score during the AHL regular season. Grand Rapids notched only 208 goals in 72 contests, with the IceHogs scoring slightly more, getting 215. However, the Griffins were one of the best defensive teams in the league, allowing just 202 goals. Rockford also had a powerful defense, conceding 208 times.
With both sides lacking an offensive threat, their rosters aren’t full of prolific scorers. Brett Seney scored the most goals for Rockford, posting 23 in the regular season. The Griffins’ leading man was Jonatan Berggren, getting 24 goals in 53 appearances.
Grand Rapids Griffins vs Rockford IceHogs Predictions
Correct Score Prediction: Rockford IceHogs 2-1 win over the Grand Rapids Griffins
The AHL Central Division Semifinals burst into life on Saturday, with the Rockford IceHogs hosting the Grand Rapids Griffins. Rockford finished below the Griffins in the Central Division standings, but we predict the IceHogs will beat Grand Rapids this weekend. However, with both sides struggling to score during the regular season, we expect a low-scoring contest in the series opener.
Rockford faced the Griffins three times in April, winning twice. Only one game had over three goals. We forecast another close contest this week, with under 3.5 goals scored across the three periods. Our correct score prediction is a Rockford 2-1 win over Grand Rapids. The third period will be the lowest scoring, with only three goals coming in the last 20 minutes across their previous three meetings. We are yet to see a goalless first period between these sides, and we expect that trend to continue on Saturday.
Although we only predicted three goals during the contest, both sides have plenty of player-pick options on their roster. Simon Edvinsson has two points in his last three games for the Griffins, making him a fantastic selection this weekend. Edvinsson posted 30 points in 54 regular season games, and we forecast him getting over 0.5 against the IceHogs. Rockford’s Anders Bjork is a brilliant prop choice if you’re placing an AHL bet. Bjork has three points in his last two regular season outings, and we predict he’ll get over 0.5 on Saturday.
The previous meetings between the Rockford IceHogs and Grand Rapids Griffins were aggressive, with 68 penalty minutes across their last three clashes. Wagering during a power play is a smart way to capitalize on our live betting features, as we predict one goal will come during a PP this weekend. However, it’s important to remember that hockey games are fast-paced, so monitor your spending when placing bets during the game and never wager more than you can afford to lose.
First postseason practice ✅ #GoGRG pic.twitter.com/zQsPi7Icmx
— x – Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) April 23, 2024
Grand Rapids Griffins vs Rockford IceHogs Betting Picks
Hockey doesn’t get more exciting than betting on the American Hockey League Playoffs, with constant games and plenty of attractive wagers. We expect the Rockford IceHogs to get a 2-1 win over the Grand Rapids Griffins in the Central Division Semifinals. The IceHogs have the home ice advantage and our sportsbook favors the Rockford-based side. However, with a low-scoring game expected, there are plenty of better markets to analyze besides the moneyline.
The total goals market is always great when betting on hockey events. Wagering on the total goals allows you to include overtime and eliminates the need to predict a winner. We forecast just three goals when the Griffins face off against the IceHogs. That sets up a bet on under 4.5 goals this weekend. Neither of their last two meetings had over four goals, so wagering on a low-scoring game is an excellent idea.
As mentioned, player picks are a fantastic way to get involved with the game. When selecting prop bets, assists are as important as goals for a player’s points. Taro Hirose got 27 assists during the regular season for Grand Rapids, making him a standout choice when betting on the Griffins. The IceHogs’ roster has plenty of options, but Ethan Del Mastro is eye-catching. Del Mastro is a defenseman but notched 30 assists last season. Wagering on Del Mastro to get over 0.5 points against Grand Rapids is our pick.
But if you want higher odds this weekend, we’ve analyzed some riskier markets. To protect your deposited cash, use bonus funds in high-odds markets. The winning margin market is tricky to predict but offers large returns. We expect the Rockford Icehogs to win by one goal, meaning our bet will lose if the IceHogs win by a wider margin. Combining the match result and total goals is another fantastic high-odds option. Placing a bet on Rockford’s victory and under 4.5 goals significantly boosts our earnings.
UPDATE: The Red Wings reassigned center Austin Czarnik to the Griffins #GoGRG
DETAILS >> https://t.co/T9UvkNrGwt pic.twitter.com/WxxWzWTK2M
— x – Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) April 18, 2024
Grand Rapids Griffins Team News
After a successful spell in the National Hockey League, the Detroit Red Wings reassigned Austin Czarnik to the Grand Rapids Griffins. Czarnik got only one assist during 34 appearances for the Red Wings but achieved more NHL games than last season. However, the forward is far more effective in the AHL. While playing for the Griffins, Czarnik posted 28 points (10G, 18A) in 38 regular season games.
Grand Rapids extended Dominik Shine’s contract this month. The alternate captain received an extension until the end of the 2024/25 campaign, after featuring 65 times for the Griffins this season. Shine is 31 years old, but is still putting up big numbers. The forward notched 10 goals and 23 assists in 65 AHL regular season games.
Rockford IceHogs Team News
The Rockford IceHogs received an enormous boost to their playoff hopes, thanks to their NHL affiliate team, the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks reassigned one of their best young talents, Lukas Reichel, to the IceHogs. Reichel played 65 games in the NHL this season, posting five goals and eleven assists. However, the forward is dominant in the AHL, getting eight points (1G, 7A) in ten appearances. After his reassignment earlier this month, Ethan Del Mastro remains with the IceHogs. The defenseman played just two games in the NHL but is a starter for Rockford. In 69 AHL contests, Del Mastro got 37 points (7G, 30A) in the regular season.
In their latest transaction, the Rockford IceHogs signed Alex Pharand on an Amateur Tryout contract. Pharand posted 30 points (17G, 13A) for the Sudbury Wolves in the OHL last season, and now he can showcase his skills in the AHL Playoffs. The Chicago Blackhawks reassigned Samuel Savoie to the IceHogs. Savoie spent his regular season in the QMJHL with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, getting 22 points (10G, 12A) in 21 games. The two young skaters will offer added depth during Rockford’s playoff campaign, which starts this weekend against the Grand Rapids Griffins.
