Pregame with the Griffins. (Nic Antaya | MLive.com)

By Peter J. Wallner | pwallner@mlive.com

The Grand Rapids Griffins gave themselves a heck of a Calder Cup hangover to start the first half, and now it’s a question whether the recent signs of life are enough to even make the playoffs.

The Griffins reached the midseason point of the season Monday by defeating Manitoba – the team with the best record in the AHL – in overtime, 3-2. It was their sixth win in seven games.

That’s an encouraging sign given the team sleepwalked through October, November and most of December en route to its worst first half in years.

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WHERE THEY'RE AT

The Griffins are 17-16-1-4 and sixth in the seven-team Central Division, a place they've been since mid-November. In the search for one of eight playoff spots, they are 14th out of 15 in the conference and just the second team in the league to reach the 38-game mark.

The good news for them is the pack is rather bunched. The Griffins are just one point from third in the division - and the top four teams in the division make it in.

Still, the Griffins haven’t endured a first half like this since 2011-12 when they started 15-16-4-3 and did not make the playoffs. It was also the last time Grand Rapids didn’t make the postseason.

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RECENT HISTORY

Last year at this point, the Griffins had eight more wins at 25-10-1-2. They eventually finished second in the division and went on to capture their second AHL championship in five seasons.

Here is how the Griffins fared at the break in other recent seasons:

2015-16: 24-12-1-1 (second round)

2014-15: 19-15-3-1 (third round)

2013-14: 25-10-1-2 (second round)

2012-13: 22-12-2-2 (won title)

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Coach Todd Nelson. (Nic Antaya | MLive)

NEW TEAM, NEW STRUGGLES

Todd Nelson-coached teams historically start slowly, and this season proved similar to his first year in 2015-16 when they began 2-8-01-1. Three new veteran forwards and a revamped defense contributed to a longer learning curve of his system. A lot longer.

They didn’t win more than two in a row until late December, but never really floundered, either, as they went no more than two games without a point. They had a five-game losing streak in mid-November that dropped them in the standings, and they haven’t gotten out yet.

“I think our transition game has been the difference the past three weeks,” Eric Tangradi said Friday after a Griffins’ win. “We’ve found a way to move the puck in the neutral zone as quick as we can and that allows us to get to our forecheck and create opportunities. It’s just a matter of being hungry at the net.”

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Joe Hicketts, left, and Eric Tangradi. (Daytona Niles | MLive.com)

REVAMPED DEFENSE

The Griffins – well, the Detroit organization – finally went full youth this season and committed to youngsters such as Filip Hronek and Vili Saarijarvi, both 20, and second-year skaters Joe Hicketts (21) and Dan Renouf (24).

There has been some adjustment with that group. Hronek has fared well – he leads the defenseman with a plus-10 rating – and Saarijarvi appears to have steadied himself after two trips to Toledo.

Meanwhile, third-year Robbie Russo hasn’t approached his rookie numbers (5-34-39 and a plus-40). He has a minus-7 rating.

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INABILITY TO CLOSE

The Griffins have struggled in the third period. They have outscored opponents the first two periods (35-28 and 46-45), but not in the third. Opponents have outscored them 44-32 in the final 20 minutes even though the Griffins have taken more shots (381-365).

Overall, they have been outscored 122-117.

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Matt Puempel. (Mike Clark | MLive.com)

LEADERS

Matt Puempel was acquired from the New York Rangers organization for defenseman Ryan Sproul in the third week of the season and has been stellar. The all-star leads the team with 30 points (13-17-30).

Others:

Assists: Ben Street, 21

Plus/minus: High – Filip Hronek, plus-10; low – Axel Homstron, minus-10.

Penalty minutes: Dylan McIlrath, 66.

Among goalies, Jared Coreau is not among the top 20 with a 2.77 GAA and .906 save percentage. He has started 25 games with a 12-9-2 record.

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Matthew Ford. (Nic Antaya | MLive.com)

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Matthew Ford. The 10-year veteran is on pace for his best goal-scoring season with a team-high 15. The first-year captain is a far bigger presence than during his injury-plagued 2017 season (14-21-35), especially on the power play with eight goals.

Runner-up would be Dominic Turgeon, a second-year center who’s already surpassed his rookie numbers with eight goals and 22 points (6-12-18 in 71 games last season.

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Evgeny Svechnikov (Mike Clark | MLive.com)

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Evgeny Svechnikov. The second-year winger, Detroit's first pick in 2015 (19th overall) has struggled mightily after a breakout rookie season (20-31-51). He has 11 points (5-6-11) and went 19 games without a goal (from Nov. 8 to Dec. 30).

However, Svechnikov was slow to start last season (10-7-17 in first 38 games last season) and has heated up of late (two goals on Dec. 31 and two assists in Monday’s game).

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Filip Hronek. (Nic Antaya | MLive.com)

ROOKIE MVP

Much was expected from Hronek after he impressed in an audition late last season. His season has been a bit uneven, but he leads all blueliners in points (3-11-14) and tied for lead with three goals in 30 games.

The concerning part? Hronek is the only rookie who has made much of an impact.

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Tyler Bertuzzi (Mike Clark | MLive.com)

THE GRADUATE

It doesn’t appear Tyler Bertuzzi will be coming back – at least not until the health of the Red Wings improves. Bertuzzi had two call-ups, the second coming Dec. 21 and he hasn’t been back after seven goals and 14 points in 16 games.

He is the only Griffins player to appear this season with the Red Wings. Veteran defenseman Brian Lashoff and goalie Jared Coreau were up for emergency purposes and did not play.

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BEST FIRST-HALF PLAY

More like best punch line. Dominick Shine, in his first full season with the Griffins, may develop into a decent scorer in the future, but for now the rookie has a memorable KO to his credit. After inadvertently running into the Cleveland goalie (and a goalie interference call), Shine was pushed and shoved into the boards by Joe Pendenza. Shine, in turn, delivered a shiner with three quick rights to end it and secure a great story the rest of his life.

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WHAT'S AHEAD

The Griffins, one of two teams already at the midseason point, played three games in three nights on three occasions in December. So, the second half will be a little lighter. They have a rematch at division-leading Manitoba on Wednesday and then are home for five of six to finish the month.

They will continue to play teams within the division through Feb. 7 (nine games), so there will be opportunities to get back into the playoff hunt.

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What else ...

Other recent Griffins stories to check out:

Griffins digging out of hole, getting more offense with one less forward

Two skaters from Griffins selected to 2018 AHL All-Star Classic

Griffins goalie's act of kindness lets opposing player see birth of child

Offense arrives to raise stock on defensively-sound Dominic Turgeon

3 from Michigan named to U.S. Olympic men's hockey team