I COULD'VE DANCED ALL NIGHT
CLEVELAND – The Grand Rapids Griffins could not overcome an outstanding performance from Lake Erie Monsters netminder Mike Wall, falling 2-1 in a shootout Wednesday at the Quicken Loans Arena.
After each team recorded a goal in the second period, the Monsters took the shootout 3-1 on goals by David Jones, Eric Healey and Jamie Lundmark.
The Griffins (13-15-2-3) have played eight consecutive games to a one-goal decision, posting a 3-3-1-1 mark during that span. The win was the Monsters’ (9-15-1-5) first against Grand Rapids in their inaugural campaign, with the Griffins taking both previous meetings.
Grand Rapids continues its two-game road swing Thursday night in Toronto, where the Griffins meet up with the North Division-leading Marlies at 7:30 p.m.
Jimmy Howard and Wall dominated the first period, each stoning the opposition and foreshadowing the goaltending duel that would play out.
The Monsters, however, wasted little time lighting the lamp in the middle frame. At 1:10, Matt Hussey fired a wrist shot from the top of the right circle. Howard could not cover the rebound and a spinning Vladimir Denisov backhanded the puck into the net from the doorstep.
Evan McGrath drew the count to 1-1 at 7:44 on a beautiful shot one second after a Grand Rapids power play expired. Doing his best sniper impersonation from the low end of the right wing circle, McGrath managed to sneak the puck past Wall’s shoulder for the tying goal.
The netminders quickly regained the upper hand, keeping their respective nets unbothered for the remainder of regulation and throughout the overtime session.
Wall stopped 32 shots to pick up the victory, while Howard turned away 39 shots in the Griffins’ net.
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