The Daily: Grand Rapids Griffins’ Playoff Fate On The Line This Weekend

The Grand Rapids Griffins’ uphill battle to make the American Hockey League playoffs continues tonight when they play a home game against the Chicago Wolves. They take on the Wolves again Sunday in Chicago.

The top five Central Division teams advance to the AHL playoffs. The Griffins (32-32-6, .500) are currently seventh, trailing the Iowa Wild (.522) and the Texas Stars (.507) in the race for the final playoff spot. Points percentage determine the standings because the AHL is playing an unbalanced schedule this season.

The Griffins kept themselves in the race with a 5-3 win against against the Rockford IceHogs on Wednesday.

Jonatan Berggren, the Red Wings’ top forward prospect, has been one of the Griffins’ most productive players down the stretch. He is currently on a seven-game point scoring streak. He has 11 points in that surge and boasts 18 points in his past 14 games over the past month.

The Red Wings are doing their part to help the cause of their farm club. Detroit reassigned center Chase Pearson to Grand Rapids on Friday.

In Case You Missed It

The Florida Panthers downed the Detroit Red Wings 5-2 on a record-setting night in Sunrise, Fla.

Red Wings 2020 second-round pick William Wallinder is the Swedish Junior Player of the Year. Plenty of big name players have won that award, including Victor Hedman and Peter Forsberg.

Detroit Hockey Now staff weighs in on Jeff Blashill, future Red Wings’ player movement and the Calder Trophy race.

Hot Wings

Sam Gagner’s 13 goals and 29 points represent his best season since 2016-17 when he totaled 50 points for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He’s a candidate to return to this team next season.

Cold Wings

Since March 1, the Red Wings have surrendered four or more goals 15 times in  25 games. They’ve given up two or fewer goals only four times in that span.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: The Boston Bruins had nothing going well in their 4-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Colorado: Colorado Hockey Now presents an argument for Cale Makar winning the Norris Trophy this season.

Florida: George Richards of Hockey Now weighs in on who the Florida Panthers might play, or want to play, in the opening round of the playoffs.

Montreal:  Did the referees give the Philadelphia Flyers bad information about a possible video review? The Flyers won, but there was officiating controversy on a goal.

New York Islanders:  Rangers’ Andrew Copp made it a long night for the New York Islanders.

Philadelphia: Hockey Now’s Sam Carchidi offers insightful observations about the Philadelphia Flyers ending their six-game winless streak.

Pittsburgh: Jake Guentzel netted a hat trick to help the Penguins gain control over third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Vancouver:  The Vancouver Canucks‘ playoff hopes were crushed Thursday by a loss to Minnesota.

Vegas:  Owen Krepps explains that Logan Thompson’s confidence is vital to the Vegas Golden Knights’ postseason aspirations.