GRAND RAPIDS – Grand Rapids Griffins goalie Kevin Poulin waited nearly four years and thousands of miles since his last point in the AHL.
The journeyman, who travels include playing in Kazakhstan, Austria, Switzerland and Germany along with the 2018 Winter Olympics, turned in a solid performance Wednesday as the Griffins lost in a shootout to Rockford, 2-1.
The defense did its part in regulation, allowing only 21 shots before Rockford had five in overtime. The Griffins (17-19-2-3) had a three-game win streak snapped but ran their point streak to four games, tying a season high.
Joe Veleno had the lone Griffins goal, at 7:46 of the third. The IceHogs 18-18-2-1) answered just under five minutes later on an odd-angle shot outside the left circle by Chad Krys and then survived a Griffins power play in overtime, They scored on two of three chances in the shootout.
MORE: Game summary
The 29-year-old Poulin had been unsigned and recovering from Achilles surgery just over five and a half months ago before he was signed to a pro tryout with the Griffins on Christmas day. He started Jan. 4 in a 4-0 loss at Texas and has been serving as backup for Calvin Pickard, the reigning AHL Player of the Week. When Pickard was recalled to Detroit on Sunday, that left Poulin or Pat Nagle (recalled from the ECHL) to start against Rockford.
“Poulin did a great job; gave us a chance to win the game,” said Simon, who was upset with the Griffins inability to execute the power play opportunity in overtime.
“He has a great resume and has been working his tail off up here the past couple weeks and Pat Nagle hasn’t played that much and took some time off for his first child so we went with Poulin,” he added.
Poulin’s past includes 50 games with the New York Islanders between 2010-15 and a bronze medal with Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics. He went through waivers and a trade before he appeared in 29 games with Stockton in 2015-16, going 14-11-4 with a 2,86 Goal Against Average and .909 save percentage.
From there, break out the map. He played in the KHL with Astana Barys in Kazakhstan in 2016-17, then the following year played with Zagreb Medvescak in Croatia and two games with Kloten HC in Switzerland before spending last season with Eisbaren Berlin in Germany. In 43 games, he had a 2.80 GAA and .915 save percentage.
“I wanted something more stable and that’s why I went to the KHL,” he said, though the travels went beyond that.
“Every place I was at were great experiences to travel a little,” he said, adding there were no good opportunities to return to the AHL.
Or, until Christmas.
Poulin said he was just cleared from rehab from the injury when the Griffins called.
“I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s go’ and I hopped on a plane,” said the Montreal native.
As for the game, Poulin would have liked to get the win but he was pleased with how it went.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t get the two points, but my game, I thought I played strong – a little fluke goal,” he said. “That’s part of the game.”
Pickard is expected to be back from Detroit as some point, leaving the organization a decision there’s Poulin, Nagle along with inured young prospect Filip Larsson.
“I’m here and I’m just going to enjoy every day,” Poulin said. “It’s just good to be back on the ice and be around a hockey club again.”
The Griffins will host Rockford against Friday.
MORE: Griffins coach fumes over missed OT opportunity