MONSTERS SHOW THEIR TEETH
CLEVELAND – Though the Grand Rapids Griffins unleashed 42 shots against the Lake Erie Monsters Saturday, they saw the hosts walk away with a 3-2 victory at Quicken Loans Arena.
A night after the Griffins’ special teams punched their ticket to victory against the Monsters, Lake Erie roared back in the rematch with two power play goals followed by a game-winning shorthanded tally.
Grand Rapids (20-24-2-5) closes its six-game road stretch with a visit to the Rochester Americans Sunday at 6:05 p.m. in a North Division clash.
The Monsters (17-22-4-6) lit the lamp first as Jamie Lundmark tipped in a power play goal 1:48 into the contest. Michael Vernace unleashed a shot from the top of the left circle that Lundmark, who set up shop a few feet to Jimmy Howard’s left, tipped into the twine.
Grand Rapids caught a break later in the first when an apparent Lake Erie goal was disallowed at 13:46 because the puck was directed into the net by a Monster’s skate. Minutes later, the Griffins managed to kill an 80-second two-man advantage to hold their deficit to one goal.
Grand Rapids would finally draw even on its 31st shot of the game at 11:41 of the second period. Skating through the right circle as he led the rush, Mattias Ritola sent a wrist shot at Lake Erie netminder Mike Wall. Though Wall made the initial save, Evan McGrath was waiting to stuff the puck home for the equalizer.
Lake Erie soon responded, capitalizing on a two-man advantage at 18:35 as Eric Healey gave the Monsters a 2-1 edge.
The Griffins continued to fight and brought the game to another deadlock just 27 seconds into the final frame. Darren Helm charged hard through the right wing and, upon reaching the goal line, dropped a backhand pass onto the doorstep for Mark Cullen to poke over Wall’s right pad.
The Monsters, however, had the final answer as Wyatt Smith converted a shorthanded odd man rush at 5:08, putting Lake Erie on top for good.
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