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AHL Cleveland Monsters

Monsters Fall to Griffins in Shootout, 4-3

December 20, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release


Colin Smith's third period goal for the Lake Erie Monsters forced overtime, but the Grand Rapids Griffins (14-10-3-0) outlasted the Monsters (13-10-2-3), handing the Monsters a 4-3 shootout loss. A Quicken Loans Arena crowd of 11,056 witnessed the game. Smith, Andrew Agozzino, and Max Noreau scored goals for the Monsters, while Roman Will stopped 25 of 28 shots and four of six shootout attempts in the loss. The Monsters are back in action in Rochester on Friday at 7:05 p.m.

Andrew Agozzino banged home a rebound to give the Monsters a 1-0 lead at 10:54 of the opening period. Agozzino's fifth goal of the season was assisted by Mike Sgarbossa and Max Noreau, and the goal was the product of the Monsters relentless effort to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Grand Rapids countered with goals from Teemu Pulkkinen at 17:31 and Landon Ferraro at 19:05 of the first period to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.

Louis-Marc Aubry capitalized on a Monsters turnover to stretch the Griffins lead to 3-1 at 6:23 of the second period; Aubry netted a wrist shot from the right circle as he darted back into the Monsters zone. The Monsters pulled to within a goal when Max Noreau scored on a slap shot from the center-point at 11:12 of the second period for his seventh goal of the season. Noreau's goal was assisted by Colin Smith and Sgarbossa.

Smith netted the only goal of the third period to tie the game for the Monsters at 3-3. Michael Schumacher moved the puck over the Griffins blue line, sent a low shot toward the net, and a driving Smith tipped the puck past Coreau for his team-leading eighth goal of the season at 15:19 of the third period. Smith's goal ultimately forced overtime.

In overtime each team had prime chances. Early in overtime, Stefan Elliott had an opportunity from the slot but was denied by Coreau, and later in the frame, Andy Miele faked around Will, but Will's outstretched goalie stick batted the puck away.

In the shootout, Teemu Pulkkinen scored the deciding goal in the sixth round to secure the victory for Grand Rapids.

Will stopped 25 of 28 shots for the Monsters, and his record moved to 2-4-1 with the shootout loss. Will stopped four of six shootout attempts. Jared Coreau stopped 34 of 37 for Grand Rapids and is 6-0-0. Coreau stopped five of six shooters in the shootout.

The Monsters are back on the ice in Rochester on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. The game airs live on ESPN 850 WKNR.

NOTES: The Monsters are 4-3-0-1 against Grand Rapids this season, and have two more meetings with the Griffins this season... the Monsters are 8-5-0-2 on the season at home... The Monsters are 7-2-1-1 over their last 11 games... The Monsters are 8-1-2-3 in one-goal games this season... The Monsters are 6-2-0-1 in December this season... The Monsters are 9-2-1-3 against the Midwest Division... Saturday night, the Monsters were 1-3 on the power play, and Grand Rapids was 0-1... Follow the Monsters on Twitter @monstershockey, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lakeeriemonsters, and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/monstershockey .

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