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AHL Cleveland Monsters

Monsters Top Grand Rapids 5-4

October 24, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release


Dennis Everberg's third period goal proved to be the difference maker for the Lake Erie Monsters (2-3-0-0) in a back-and-forth 5-4 victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins (3-2-0-0) Friday night at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Markus Lauridsen, Michael Schumacher, Kenny Ryan, and Andrew Agozzino also registered goals in the Monsters win, while Sami Aittokallio won his first start of the season in net. Five different Monsters had multi-point games in the win over the Griffins. The Monsters are back on the ice Saturday night in Milwaukee at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

Markus Lauridsen opened the scoring with his first goal of the season for the Monsters on a blast from the left point at 5:40 of the first period, assisted by Colin Smith and Stefan Elliott. Under three minutes later, a nifty setup from Mike Sgarbossa to Michael Schumacher in the right circle led to the Monsters taking a 2-0 lead, as Schumacher sent a low shot just inside the far post for his first goal of the season. Sgarbossa's assist was his fifth in five games to start the season, and Elliott also added an assist on the goal.

Before the period could end, Grand Rapids clawed back to tie the game at 2-2. Chris Bruton tipped a Xavier Ouellet point shot at 9:30 of the first period to pull the Griffins to within a goal, and Teemu Pulkkinen scored his fourth goal in five games on a five-on-three power play for Grand Rapids with 1:43 left in the first period to tie the game at 2-2. The Monsters and Griffins each registered 12 shots on goal in the opening frame.

The two teams battled in a 2-2 game for most of the second period before Kenny Ryan gave the Monsters a 3-2 lead at 18:17 of the middle stanza. Colin Smith took a pass at the top of the crease, and slipped a pass to his left onto the forehand of Ryan, who banged the puck past Griffins goalie Petr Mrazek with no hesitation. The goal was the second of the season for Ryan, and was also assisted by Lauridsen. The Monsters held their 3-2 lead into the second intermission.

Alexey Marchenko tied the game at 3-3 for Grand Rapids on a shot from the right point at 6:06 of the third period, but the Monsters responded. A Duncan Siemens shot from the left point bounced off the end boards and directly onto the stick of Andrew Agozzino in the right circle, and Agozzino immediately fired a puck past Mrazek to regain a lead for the Monsters, making the score 4-3. The goal was the first of the season for Agozzino and was also assisted by Ryan at 9:47 of the third period. At 14:03 of the third period, the Monsters captured their second two-goal lead of the game when Dennis Everberg notched his second goal in as many games, and second of the season, at the 14:03 mark of the third period. Elliott and Sgarbossa assisted on Everberg's goal, which proved to be the game-winner.

Nathan Paetch added a late goal for Grand Rapids at 15:34 of the third period, but the Monsters held on for the victory.

Sami Aittokallio won his first start of the season for the Monsters after returning from the National Hockey League's Colorado Avalanche earlier in the week; he stopped 25 of 29 shots. Mrazek stopped 22 of 27 Monsters shots, and is now 1-2-0 with the loss.

The Monsters continue their road trip Saturday night in Milwaukee. The puck drops at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and airs live on 99X (99.1 FM).

NOTES: Sgarbossa's two assists give him six on the season through five contests... Elliott's three assists give him four points over his last two games... Kenny Ryan's two points give him four points in three games against Grand Rapids this season... Aittokallio is 3-0-0 against Grand Rapids dating back to the start of last season... The Monsters were 0-5 on the power play, and 3-4 on the penalty kill... The Monsters are 2-1-0-0 against Grand Rapids this season, and 2-0-0-0 at Van Andel Arena... 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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American Hockey League Stories from October 24, 2014


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