
Griffins End Homestand with 6-2 Loss to Cleveland
February 17, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Griffins concluded their four-game homestand with a 1-3-0-0 record after losing 6-2 to the Cleveland Monsters at Van Andel Arena on Friday.
Alex Chiasson had his second consecutive two-point outing, posting a goal and an assist on the scoresheet. The veteran forward has 17 points in 24 contests this season (8-9-17) and five points in his last four games. Adam Erne crossed the 50-assist milestone in the AHL. In just his fourth outing in a Grand Rapids uniform, the New Haven, Conn., native has three assists for the Griffins this season.
Tyler Angle buried the first goal in the opening frame, capitalizing on a turnover in the slot at 2:04. Chiasson responded 39 seconds later with his own tally from between the circles, as his shot deflected off the goal post and in to tie it up. Joona Luoto tallied back-to-back scores after Chiasson lit the lamp, with Luoto scoring at 3:07 off of a rebound and at 8:27 on an odd-man rush. Capping off the stanza, David Jiricek lasered the puck off of the crossbar and in the cage from the top of the right circle to take a 4-1 lead on a power play with 1:21 remaining.
Cleveland recorded goal number five at 4:48 in the second after Robbie Payne tapped the puck in off of Alex Nedeljkovic's left-pad save. The Griffins' penalty kill fended off 1:17 of 5-on-3 play beginning at 8:52 to remain within four. After Jake Christiansen was ejected due to a game-misconduct penalty with 5:24 to go in the second for boarding Jasper Weatherby, Danny O'Regan took advantage by firing the disc over the catching glove of Jet Greaves to cut the deficit to three with 1:07 left.
The Griffins killed another 1:42 of 5-on-3 play beginning at 9:44 in the third, but Josh Dunne was able to add on another power-play goal with 5:38 remaining to conclude a 6-2 win.
Notes
- The Griffins dropped to 15-5-1-0 against Cleveland in the past two seasons.
- In 14 games with Grand Rapids, O'Regan has four goals and three apples.
Box Score
Cleveland 4 1 1 - 6
Grand Rapids 1 1 0 - 2
1st Period-1, Cleveland, Angle 7 (Payne), 2:04. 2, Grand Rapids, Chiasson 8 (Czarnik, McIsaac), 2:43. 3, Cleveland, Luoto 9 (Knazko, Fonstad), 3:07. 4, Cleveland, Luoto 10 (Sillinger, Fix-Wolansky), 8:27. 5, Cleveland, Jiricek 6 (Fix-Wolansky, Fonstad), 18:39 (PP). Penalties-Luoto Cle (slashing), 6:14; McIsaac Gr (interference), 16:46.
2nd Period-6, Cleveland, Payne 5 (Sillinger, Fix-Wolansky), 4:48. 7, Grand Rapids, O'Regan 7 (Chiasson, Erne), 18:53 (PP). Penalties-Ahcan Cle (tripping), 1:42; Shine Gr (tripping), 8:09; Weatherby Gr (holding), 8:52; Christiansen Cle (major - boarding, game misconduct - boarding), 14:36; Jiricek Cle (double minor - high-sticking), 16:50; Soderblom Gr (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:50.
3rd Period-8, Cleveland, Dunne 13 (Jiricek, Fix-Wolansky), 14:22 (PP). Penalties-Kampfer Gr (tripping), 9:26; Weatherby Gr (slashing), 9:44; Edvinsson Gr (boarding), 14:06; Luoto Cle (hooking), 15:32.
Shots on Goal-Cleveland 14-16-8-38. Grand Rapids 8-9-2-19.
Power Play Opportunities-Cleveland 2 / 6; Grand Rapids 1 / 5.
Goalies-Cleveland, Greaves 11-9-3 (19 shots-17 saves). Grand Rapids, Nedeljkovic 8-5-2 (38 shots-32 saves).
A-8,395
Three Stars
1. CLE Luoto (two goals); 2. CLE Tre Fix-Wolansky (four assists); 3. CLE Payne (goal, assist).
Record / Next Game
Grand Rapids: 20-23-2-2 (44 pts.) / Fri., Feb. 19 at Manitoba 7 p.m. EST
Cleveland: 21-20-3-2 (47 pts.) / Sat., Feb. 18 at Chicago 7 p.m. CST
American Hockey League Stories from February 17, 2023
- Colorado Picks Up Point in 2-1 OT Loss at Calgary - Colorado Eagles
- Dominic Toninato Tallies Two Points in Win - Manitoba Moose
- Five Unanswered Goals Send Amerks Past First-Place Marlies - Rochester Americans
- Vlasic Sends Hogs Past Stars with Overtime Winner - Rockford IceHogs
- Angus Crookshank Tallies Twice in 5-3 Win - Belleville Senators
- Stars Scoop Up Point In Overtime Loss To Icehogs - Texas Stars
- Vlasic Sends Hogs Past Stars with Overtime Winner - Rockford IceHogs
- Manitoba Takes 2-1 Win Over Iowa - Iowa Wild
- Terry Has Four Points In 900th Professional Game On Friday In Win - Bridgeport Islanders
- Griffins End Homestand with 6-2 Loss to Cleveland - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Brodzinski Scores 100th Career AHL Goal, But Wolf Pack Doubled Up by Islanders 6-3 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Toronto Marlies Face Off Against Rochester Americans In Saturday Showdown - Toronto Marlies
- P-Bruins Down Thunderbirds for Sixth Straight Win - Providence Bruins
- Explosive First Period Leads Monsters to 6-2 Win Over Griffins - Cleveland Monsters
- T-Birds' Magic Runs Out in Providence - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Firebirds' Goaltending Coach Colin Zulianello Is All Class - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Abbotsford Canucks vs San Jose Barracuda Series Preview - Abbotsford Canucks
- Bridgeport Islanders Introduce Third-Jersey Fisherman Design - Bridgeport Islanders
- Moose Launch Second Annual Women in Sport Job Shadow Program - Manitoba Moose
- Annunen, Meyers Recalled by Colorado Avalanche - Colorado Eagles
- Wranglers' Pettersen Suspended One Game - AHL
- Comets Receive Alex Holtz from Devils - Utica Comets
- Syracuse Crunch Sign Forward Daniel Walker to AHL Contract - Syracuse Crunch
- Wolf Pack Open Three-In-Three Set with Visit from Rival Islanders - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Iowa Wild at Manitoba Moose - Iowa Wild
- Minnesota Wild Recalls Forward Adam Beckman from Iowa - Iowa Wild
- Providence Bruins Sign Fossier to PTO - Providence Bruins
- Belleville Sens Sign 8-Year-Old Peter Owens to One-Day AHL Contract - Belleville Senators
- Bridgeport Islanders Open Busy Weekend in Hartford Tonight - Bridgeport Islanders
- IceHogs and Stars Meet on Rockford's First Pride Night - Rockford IceHogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Grand Rapids Griffins Stories
- Griffins Calder Cup Champ Tomas Nosek Wins Stanley Cup with Florida
- Griffins' 'Put a Lid on It' Program to Give Away 200 Bike Helmets
- Griffins Raised over $530,000 for Charity During 2024-25 Season
- Griffins Re-Sign Gabriel Seger to One-Year Deal
- Griffins' 2025-26 Home Opener Set for October 17

