The Daily: Mazur, Johansson Key Griffins Win; Red Wings Go West

The Grand Rapids Griffins are doing what their parent team hasn’t been able to do since early December. The Griffins are climbing in the standings.

Some of Detroit’s top prospects delivered in the Griffins’ 5-1 win against the Cleveland Monsters on New Year’s Eve.  Defenseman Albert Johansson (drafted 60th in 2019) scored a pair of goals and Carter Mazur (drafted 70th in 2021) scored for the fourth consecutive game to help Grand Rapids win its third consecutive win. That allowed the Griffins to move into a tie for third place in the American Hockey League’s Central Division.

“Getting momentum back for us after the Christmas break is huge for  us,” Mazur said. “It shows we are headed in the right direction, especially as a young team, to get those wins under our belt early, to keep it going.

Jonatan Berggren (drafted 33rd in 2018) also had a pair of assists and Simon Edvinsson (Drafted sixth in 2021) had one. Mazur boasts five goals and six points in his past six games.

NEW YEAR'S EVE W!! 🎉🎊
Griffins – 5 Monsters – 1#GoGRG pic.twitter.com/jPEmlYS4YS

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) January 1, 2024

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Red Wings were better defensively, but not good enough in loss to the Boston Bruins.
• You have to see the video of Tomas Jurco being manhandled by his coach on the bench at the Spengler Cup.
• Are Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat better off with J.T. Compher as their center?
• Jake Walman is now among the NHL leaders in goals by a defenseman. Red Wings D Men are contributing significantly to the offense.

Red Wings Next Game

Detroit begins a three-game western road trip with a game Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks have lost eight games in a row, and hold the league’s worst record of 9-25-3. But the Sharks erased a four-goal deficit and downed Detroit 6-5 in overtime in their last meeting on Dec. 7. They will be facing former Red Wings player Filip Zadina. He has four goals and 10 points in 32 games for the Sharks. He is -7 in his past three games. After facing San Jose, the Red Wings play the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday and the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: BHN’s Mick Colageo’s take: Boston Bruins are at a crossroads with forward Jake DeBrusk.

Chicago: Nate Brown writes that draft pick Frank Nazar is playing well enough at the University of Michigan to believe he will be playing for the Chicago Blackhawks next fall.

Philadelphia: Former Flyers player Dave Poulin, who succeeded Bobby Clarke as captain, was named Senior Vice President of Hockey operations for the Ottawa Senators. Philadelphia Flyers.

Pittsburgh: Ex-Red Wings goalie Alex Nedeljkovic takes down the Islanders to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 7-1-1 record for their last nine games.  The Penguins are now one of three teams between Detroit and the last wild card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

San Jose: The San Jose Sharks lost their eighth game in a row and defenseman Mario Ferraro was injured.