Monsters Blank Griffins 2-0
Published on September 29, 2013 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release
WINDSOR, Ont. - The Grand Rapids Griffins completed their preseason schedule on Sunday with a 2-0 loss against the Lake Erie Monsters at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ont.
Lake Erie center Mark Olver nabbed the first goal of the night at 7:09 of the opening period on a Monsters power play. Grand Rapids forward Travis Novak was called for interfering with goaltender Calvin Pickard at 6:15 and Lake Erie wasted little time in putting their extra skater to good use.
The Griffins failed to capitalize on a giant scoring opportunity halfway through the first after Lake Erie was caught with too many men, compounding upon a Monsters slashing penalty by Olver just over a minute before. The two penalties resulted in 34 seconds of a two-man advantage for Grand Rapids, but they were unable to convert on either of the chances.
The aggression on the ice turned up a notch in the second period when Trevor Parkes steamrolled Monsters defenseman Mikael Tam along the left boards in the Grand Rapids zone, sending Tam to the bench with a bloody nose. Both teams then engaged in a mutual quarrel, but no calls were made against either side.
Later in the frame, however, Parkes' physicality resurged at 17:21 which resulted in a boarding call against Grand Rapids. Markus Lauridsen extended the Monsters' lead to 2-0 when his shot found its way past Griffins netminder Jared Coreau on a feed from the point.
A late tripping penalty against Parkes at 16:41 in the closing period secured the fate of the Griffins. With just over a minute of play remaining, Coreau retreated to the bench to provide Grand Rapids with an extra skater. Ultimately, the effort proved fruitless and Lake Erie walked away with a shutout victory. All four of Lake Erie's goals this weekend were scored on the power play.
The Griffins, who completed their preseason slate with a 1-1 record, will open their 18th regular season with two road games this weekend when they face the Rochester Americans on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7:05 p.m. and the Toronto Marlies on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 3 p.m.
American Hockey League Stories from September 29, 2013
- Monsters Blank Griffins 2-0 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Pickard's Shutout Exacts Revenge on Griffins - Cleveland Monsters
- Rampage Fall to Texas, 3-0, in Preseason Finale - San Antonio Rampage
- Texas Stars Blank San Antonio 3-0 - Texas Stars
- Penguins Edge Bears in Final Preseason Tune-Up - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Penguins Defeat Bears in Pre-Season Finale - Hershey Bears
- 2-0, Now It Begins - Manchester Monarchs
- Kings, Monarchs Announce Player Transactions - Manchester Monarchs
- Phantoms Conclude Preseason Schedule - Adirondack Phantoms
- Pirri, Morin and Raanta Assigned to Rockford - Rockford IceHogs
- IceCaps taste victory in Mary's Cup finale - St. John's IceCaps
- Late Goal Downs Pack - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Late Goal Gives Springfield Win in Preseason - Springfield Falcons
- Beach Heads to Sweden - Rockford IceHogs
- Beck, Piskula, Mazanec Assigned to Admirals - Milwaukee Admirals
- Dallas Stars Assign Three Players to Texas Stars; Gazdic Claimed by Oilers - Texas Stars
- Rangers Assign Seven Players to Wolf Pack - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Lightning Send Eight to Syracuse - Syracuse Crunch
- Bulldogs Release Four, Assign Three - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Minnesota Wild Sends Dowell, Zucker and Bulmer to Iowa - Iowa Wild
- Pirri, Morin and Raanta Assigned to Rockford - Rockford IceHogs
- Canucks Trade for Dalpe & Welsh - Utica Comets
- Flames Acquire Centre Joe Colborne from Toronto - Abbotsford Heat
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.
