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AHL Cleveland Monsters

Monsters Complete Comeback, Top Griffins 5-4

November 21, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release


Three third period goals helped the Lake Erie Monsters (5-7-1-2) erase a two-goal deficit and top the Grand Rapids Griffins (6-7-1-0) 5-4 Friday night at Quicken Loans Arena. Borna Rendulic scored twice, including the tying goal in the third period, and Kenny Ryan scored twice in the third period, including the eventual game-winning goal. Markus Lauridsen also scored for the Monsters, who snapped a five-game winless skid. The Monsters and Griffins meet again Saturday at 7:00 p.m. in Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids opened the scoring when Stephen Weiss netted a wrist shot 19 seconds into the game, but the Monsters tied the game at 1-1 4:03 into the first period. Borna Rendulic worked the puck to the slot from the left boards, and snapped a shot past the glove of Griffins goalie Tom McCollum. The power play goal was the third of the season for Rendulic, and was assisted by Michael Schumacher.

Before the first period ended, Grand Rapids scored twice: Teemu Pulkkinen scored from the high slot at 4:14 of the first period to give the Griffins a 2-1 lead, and Nick Jensen scored from the left point at 11:16 of the first period to give the Griffins a 3-1 lead.

The Monsters scored the only goal of the second period on a power play when Markus Lauridsen ripped a shot from the left point through traffic that beat McCollum with 0.1 seconds left on the clock in the middle frame. The goal was the second of the season for Lauridsen, and was assisted by Stefan Elliott and Mike Sgarbossa.

Pulkkinen scored to regain a two-goal lead for the Griffins at 6:59 of the third period on a wrist shot from the right circle, but the Monsters scored the game's last three goals to secure the win. Kenny Ryan tipped home a Karl Stollery point shot for his fourth goal of the season at 7:33 of the third period. Max Noreau also assisted on the goal, which pulled the Monsters to within 4-3.

Rendulic cut up the right side, through the circle, and netted his second of the game and fourth of the season, with an assist to Noreau, at 17:02 of the third period. Just 57 seconds later, Ryan tipped a Duncan Siemens point shot past McCollum to give the Monsters a 5-4 lead.

Sami Aittokallio is 2-0 after earning the win in net for the Monsters; he stopped 14 of 15 shots in two periods of game action in a relief appearance. Roman Will started the game for the Monsters, and allowed three goals on 10 shots in the first period. McCollum is 3-5-1 after taking the loss for Grand Rapids; he stopped 28 of 33.

The Monsters and Griffins play again Saturday in Grand Rapids at 7:00 p.m. The game airs live on AM 1420 'The Answer'.

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