Duffer’s Dabbles: Red Wings Farmhand Criscuolo Carrying Hot Hand For GR

Kyle Criscuolo’s play resulted in him earning a recall to the NHL Detroit Red Wings last week. He skated in Detroit’s 4-3 shootout victory over the Seattle Kraken on December 1. Kyle Criscuolo ended up working 9:17 in ice time in what was his first NHL appearance since March 5, 2018 with the Buffalo Sabres.

Returned to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins after the game, Criscuolo picked up right where he left off. The 29-year-old center picked up his fifth multi-point game in the past seven outings on Monday as Grand Rapids beat the Monsters 4-1 in Cleveland. He also extended his point streak to seven games (7-7-14). That’s a new career high and a season high for any Griffin.

The Monsters had dominated possession early, but the Griffins didn't need much to get on the board. One shot. One goal.

Kyle Criscuolo gathers the feed from Jonatan Berggren and snaps the puck past JF Berube.

GR 1 – CLE 0 | 1st – 4:26 | #GRvsCLE | #MonstersXV | 📹 AHLtv pic.twitter.com/KcdKxuDaWk

— Deana Weinheimer (@FPHMonsters) December 7, 2021

Criscuolo is the Griffins’ goal-scoring leader with nine. Winger Jonatan Berggren is also counting a three game point streak (1-3-4).

Grand Rapids switched goalies. While assigning Kaden Fulcher to the ECHL Toledo Walleye, they were recalling Viktor Brattstrom from the same club. Meanwhile, the Red Wings were activating defenseman Seth Barton from IR and assigning him to GR.

The Griffins were playing Monday without defenseman/winger Luke Witkowski. He was serving the first of a two-game AHL suspension as a consequence of a charging incident in a game vs. Rockford on December 4.

Red Wings Making Change At The Top

The Red Wings announced Chris McGowan has been named President and ChiefExecutive Officer of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment (IS+E), the business division of the Detroit Red Wings,
Detroit Tigers, The District Detroit, Olympia Parking and the Ilitch joint venture (JV) interest in 313
Presents.

McGowan most recently was serving as president of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. He replaces
Chris Granger, who served as Ilitch Holdings’ Group President for Sports and Entertainment since 2017.

Around The League

Vancouver: In their first game under new coach Bruce Boudreau, the Canucks blanked the Los Angeles Kings 4-0.

Pittsburgh: Jake Guentzel is on fire. Adding two more goals in Monday’s 6-1 smacking of the Kraken, the Penguins winger has five tallies in his last two games.

Boston: It isn’t often that a team’s EBUG is a Vezina and Stanley Cup winner but that’s the case with the Bruins.

Detroit: What it rookie defenseman Moritz Seider’s offensive upside? The Red Wings admit that they don’t know but it’s sure going to be exciting finding out.

Washington: Just like the Red Wings, the Capitals are dealing with three players in COVID protocol.

Florida: After a slow start, offseason addition Sam Reinhart is heating up for the Panthers.

San Jose: How do you trade a problem like Sharks forward Evander Kane?