AHL Cleveland Monsters

MONSTERS GAME SUMMARY: Monsters Sneak Past Griffins in Shootout, 3-2

Published on November 30, 2016 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The AHL's defending Calder Cup Champions, the Cleveland Monsters, proudly powered by Constellation, defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins in a shootout on Wednesday at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI by a final score of 3-2. With the win, the Monsters improved to 7-10-1-1 overall this season and with a .421 points percentage, currently sit tied for seventh place in the AHL's Central Division standings.

After a scoreless first period, the Griffins claimed a 1-0 lead in the second when Mitch Callahan tipped home a power-play marker at 3:14. The Monsters were quick to respond though, as Nick Moutrey leveled the score less than one minute later at even-strength thanks to a nifty transition setup from Joe Pendenza and John Ramage at 3:54. Cleveland then claimed their first edge of the game at 12:08 of the middle stanza when, thanks to assists from Aaron Palushaj and Sheldon Brookbank, Sonny Milano snapped a sharp-angle wrister past the left arm of Griffins net-minder Eddie Pasquale to make it 2-1 Monsters.

In the third, Callahan notched his second power-play tally of the game at 9:23 to force overtime and after a scoreless extra session, the Griffins and Monsters squared off in a three-round shootout for the second time this season. After Milano beat Pasquale to the stick side in the top of round one, Monsters backstop Anton Forsberg denied Evgeny Svechnikov in the bottom of the first before a high-glove Palushaj finish in the second round for Cleveland gave way to a game-winning Forsberg save on Grand Rapids' leading scorer Matt Lorito in the bottom of the second that delivered the Monsters a 3-2 victory.

Forsberg's two shootout saves, along with 42 stops in regulation and OT, helped the Monsters' goaltender improve to 6-5-1 overall this season while Pasquale fell to 3-2-0 between the pipes for the Griffins despite stopping 24 pucks in regulation and the extra session before yielding goals on both shootout attempts he faced.

Next up for the Monsters, it's a Friday home clash vs. the Milwaukee Admirals with full coverage, live from The Q, underway at 7:00 pm on 99X and the Monsters Hockey Network.

Tickets for every Monsters home game start at just $10 and are on sale now! Full and partial season ticket memberships are also available and provide you with the best seat locations, custom member benefits and the lowest ticket prices. Group outing and birthday bash packages for 10 or more people are also on sale now. All tickets can be purchased by visiting ClevelandMonsters.com, calling (216) 420-0000, visiting The Q Box Office or any Northern Ohio Discount Drug Mart. Be sure to follow the Monsters on Twitter @monstershockey, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/clevelandmonsters, and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/monstershockey .

The Cleveland Monsters are part of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena organization and also owned by a group led by Cavaliers Majority Owner and Quicken Loans Founder and Chairman Dan Gilbert. The group also owns and operates the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League playing at Quicken Loans Arena and the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League playing in nearby Canton, Ohio at the Canton Civic Center.

- ClevelandMonsters.com -

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American Hockey League Stories from November 30, 2016


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