THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD

CLEVELAND – Despite a season-high 44-save performance from Eddie Pasquale – including 23 in the opening period – a pair of goals from Joe Pendenza helped the Cleveland Monsters spoil the start of the Grand Rapids Griffins’ seven-game, 15-day road trip in a 4-1 decision on Tuesday at Quicken Loans Arena.

Ranked 29th in goals scored entering play, the Monsters (25-23-3-4) used a rare offensive outburst to snap a four-game winless streak and leapfrog the Charlotte Checkers into fifth place in the Central Division standings, trailing the Iowa Wild by three points with two games in hand. The Central Division-leading Griffins continue their road trip on Friday as they take on the San Antonio Rampage with puck drop from AT&T Center set for 8:30 p.m. EST.

Cleveland controlled the play thorughout the first frame, outshooting Grand Rapids by a 24-5 margin. The hosts thought they drew first blood 11:43 into the contest when Brett Gallant took a pass from Ryan Stanton at the right circle and buried a one-timer into an open net. However, the alleged goal was immediately waved off due to goaltender interference.

Sonny Milano started the scoring for the Monsters when he intercepted Brian Lashoff’s pass at center ice before racing past the Grand Rapids defense and lifting a backhanded shot over Pasquale’s glove-side shoulder at the 15:13 mark.

Martin Frk restored parity for the Griffins 7:10 into the middle period when he took a rinkwide pass from Joe Hicketts at the top of the left circle and whistled a slapshot inside the left post for his team-leading 21st goal of the campaign.

Pendenza scored what proved to be the game-winning goal 25 seconds later. After Dillon Heatherington gained the zone and fired a snapshot from the left point, Pendenza raced in close and moved to his backhand to swat the rebound out of mid-air and inside the right post.

The Monsters put the game beyond any doubt with a pair of late insurance tallies, the first of which came when Ryan Craig set up a screen in front of the net and deflected Zac Dalpe’s slapshot at the 8:28 mark. Pendenza finishing the scoring shorthanded when he opened up Pasquale’s five-hole with 8:29 on the clock for his second tally of the night.

Grand Rapids finished 0-for-3 on the man advantage, snapping a streak of six consecutive games with a power play goal while Cleveland also came up empty in a 0-for-5 outing. Anton Forsberg turned aside 20-of-21 shots to earn the victory.

Notes: Frk extended his point streak to five consecutive games, registering eight points (4-4–8) during that span. The Griffins are 6-2-1-1 against Cleveland in the season series.

Three Stars: 1. CLE Pendenza (two goals); 2. CLE Forsberg (W, 20 saves); 3. CLE Milano (goal)

CLEVELAND – Despite a season-high 44-save performance from Eddie Pasquale – including 23 in the opening period – a pair of goals from Joe Pendenza helped the Cleveland Monsters spoil the start of the Grand Rapids Griffins’ seven-game, 15-day road trip in a 4-1 decision on Tuesday at Quicken Loans Arena.

Ranked 29th in goals scored entering play, the Monsters (25-23-3-4) used a rare offensive outburst to snap a four-game winless streak and leapfrog the Charlotte Checkers into fifth place in the Central Division standings, trailing the Iowa Wild by three points with two games in hand. The Central Division-leading Griffins continue their road trip on Friday as they take on the San Antonio Rampage with puck drop from AT&T Center set for 8:30 p.m. EST.

Cleveland controlled the play thorughout the first frame, outshooting Grand Rapids by a 24-5 margin. The hosts thought they drew first blood 11:43 into the contest when Brett Gallant took a pass from Ryan Stanton at the right circle and buried a one-timer into an open net. However, the alleged goal was immediately waved off due to goaltender interference.

Sonny Milano started the scoring for the Monsters when he intercepted Brian Lashoff’s pass at center ice before racing past the Grand Rapids defense and lifting a backhanded shot over Pasquale’s glove-side shoulder at the 15:13 mark.

Martin Frk restored parity for the Griffins 7:10 into the middle period when he took a rinkwide pass from Joe Hicketts at the top of the left circle and whistled a slapshot inside the left post for his team-leading 21st goal of the campaign.

Pendenza scored what proved to be the game-winning goal 25 seconds later. After Dillon Heatherington gained the zone and fired a snapshot from the left point, Pendenza raced in close and moved to his backhand to swat the rebound out of mid-air and inside the right post.

The Monsters put the game beyond any doubt with a pair of late insurance tallies, the first of which came when Ryan Craig set up a screen in front of the net and deflected Zac Dalpe’s slapshot at the 8:28 mark. Pendenza finishing the scoring shorthanded when he opened up Pasquale’s five-hole with 8:29 on the clock for his second tally of the night.

Grand Rapids finished 0-for-3 on the man advantage, snapping a streak of six consecutive games with a power play goal while Cleveland also came up empty in a 0-for-5 outing. Anton Forsberg turned aside 20-of-21 shots to earn the victory.

Notes: Frk extended his point streak to five consecutive games, registering eight points (4-4–8) during that span. The Griffins are 6-2-1-1 against Cleveland in the season series.

Three Stars: 1. CLE Pendenza (two goals); 2. CLE Forsberg (W, 20 saves); 3. CLE Milano (goal)