Griffins Grab Point in 3-2 Overtime Loss to Cleveland

March 12, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release

Grand Rapids Griffins' Elmer Soderblom iversus cleveland Monsters' James Malatesta
(Grand Rapids Griffins, Credit: Cleveland Monsters)

In their last 12 road games, the Griffins earned points in 10 of the outings. Sebastian Cossa's point streak extended to 12 contests (7-0-5) in the defeat, as the rookie netminder has not suffered a regulation loss since January. Taro Hirose bagged a helper on Elmer Soderblom's goal, which put the fifth-year pro at four points (1-3--4) in his last seven games. Brogan Rafferty picked up an assist to stretch his helper streak (0-3--3) to three games. The overtime defeat pushed the Griffins' loss streak to five outings.

The Griffins collected the first goal of the contest when Cross Hanas streamed into Cleveland's zone and unleashed a bullet from the top of the right circle, which beat the blocker of Jet Greaves at 6:49. The Monsters evened the score at one, as Marcus Bjork beat Cossa on his stick side with a slapshot from the top of the right circle with 5:22 remaining in the first period. Despite the opening frame tie, the Griffins held an 18-8 shot advantage over Cleveland.

Grand Rapids restored its lead when Hirose sent a tape-to-tape pass to Soderblom, who then ripped a one-timer behind Greaves from the right circle to make it a 2-1 game at 7:46 in the second period. With just 31 seconds remaining in the period, Hunter McKown marched down the ice on a breakaway and was initially stopped by Cossa but Tyler Angle capitalized on a loose puck and buried the disc from the doorstep for a Monsters equalizer.

With no change in the score during the third frame, Cleveland and the Griffins entered their fifth overtime period through seven games. With the Monsters on a 4-on-3 power play in the extra stanza, McKown collected a rebound and slipped the puck behind Cossa's right pad from the goal mouth for his third point of the night and to give Cleveland a 3-2 overtime victory over Grand Rapids at 3:25.

Notes

- Matt Luff played in his 150th AHL game.

Box Score

Grand Rapids 1 1 0 0 - 2

Cleveland 1 1 0 1 - 3

1st Period-1, Grand Rapids, Hanas 6 (Newpower, Luff), 6:49. 2, Cleveland, Bjork 6 (McKown, Pyyhtia), 14:38. Penalties-Luff Gr (hooking), 9:54; Mazur Gr (interference), 17:24.

2nd Period-3, Grand Rapids, Soderblom 9 (Hirose, Rafferty), 7:46. 4, Cleveland, Angle 6 (McKown), 19:29. Penalties-Johansson Gr (tripping), 0:52; Knazko Cle (tripping), 10:49; McKown Cle (hooking), 13:24.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

OT Period-5, Cleveland, McKown 9 (Del Bel Belluz, Christiansen), 3:25 (PP). Penalties-Aston-Reese Gr (slashing), 1:58.

Shots on Goal-Grand Rapids 18-7-8-1-34. Cleveland 8-11-5-6-30.

Power Play Opportunities-Grand Rapids 0 / 2; Cleveland 1 / 4.

Goalies-Grand Rapids, Cossa 13-7-8 (30 shots-27 saves). Cleveland, Greaves 26-10-3 (34 shots-32 saves).

A-7,513

Three Stars

1. CLE McKown (two goals, assist); 2. CLE Angle (goal); 3. CLE Greaves (W, 32 saves)

Record / Next Game

Grand Rapids: 27-17-7-4 (65 pts.) / Fri., March 15 vs. Iowa 7 p.m.

Cleveland: 34-18-3-3 (74 pts.) / Sun., March 17 vs. Wilkes-Barre Scranton 3 p.m.

Grand Rapids Griffins' Elmer Soderblom iversus cleveland Monsters' James Malatesta (Cleveland Monsters)

American Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2024

• Monsters Grab 3-2 Overtime Win Against Griffins - Cleveland Monsters
• Griffins Grab Point in 3-2 Overtime Loss to Cleveland - Grand Rapids Griffins
• IceHogs Win Seventh Straight and Down Stars 4-3 - Rockford IceHogs
• Rockford Claims Midweek Opener in Texas - Texas Stars
• Flames Recall Dustin Wolf - Calgary Wranglers
• Dylan Garand's 31 Saves Not Enough as Wolf Pack Fall 2-1 in Overtime to Checkers - Hartford Wolf Pack
• Mackie Samoskevich Nets OT Winner against Hartford - Charlotte Checkers
• Phantoms Power Play Presented by Provident Bank - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
• Morning Skate Report: March 12, 2024 - Henderson Silver Knights
• Silver Knights Sign Forward Ryan Dzingel - Henderson Silver Knights
• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Aims for Revenge against Lehigh Valley - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
• Penguins Sign Philip Waugh - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
• Monsters Total Solar Eclipse Game Enters Orbit and Lands on CW 43 WUAB - Cleveland Monsters
• Anaheim Ducks Recall Pavol Regenda from San Diego - San Diego Gulls
• Syracuse Crunch Weekly - Vol. 30, No. 22 - Syracuse Crunch
• Texas Stars Sign Clarkson Forward Anthony Romano to Tryout - Texas Stars
• Game Preview: Condors at Canucks, 7 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
• Stastney Recalled by Preds, Ads Summon Two - Milwaukee Admirals
• Blue Jackets add Brendan Gaunce on emergency recall, Cleveland loans Pavel Cajan to ECHL Cincinnati - Cleveland Monsters
• Game #56: Tucson Roadrunners vs. Henderson Silver Knights - Tucson Roadrunners
• Wolf Pack Open Key Back-To-Back Set in Charlotte - Hartford Wolf Pack
• Dillon Hamaliuk Reassigned to Wheeling - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
• Griffins Continue Playoff Push with Three Games this Week - Grand Rapids Griffins
• IceHogs Bring Six-Game Win Streak to Texas - Rockford IceHogs
• Reign Sweeps Calgary - Ontario Reign
• Wranglers Downed by Reign - Calgary Wranglers

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

• Brandsegg-Nygard Joins Team Norway for World Championship
• Griffins Drop Series Finale in Double-Overtime Thriller
• Late-Game Griffins Rally Falls Short in Game 2
• Griffins Continue Central Division Semifinals against Texas
• Griffins Drop Game 1 of Division Semifinal Series