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AHL Cleveland Monsters

Monsters Top Griffins in Preseason Opener, 5-2

October 3, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release


Three goals in the first period jumpstarted the Lake Erie Monsters in a 5-2 victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins in Friday's preseason opener at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario. Mike Sgarbossa scored twice in the Monsters win, while Joey Hishon, Markus Lauridsen, and Stefan Elliott each added goals. Cody Corbett registered a pair of assists for a multi-point game. The Monsters and Griffins conclude the preseason Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Joey Hishon opened the scoring for the Monsters just 1:45 into the game when he streaked through the left circle, made a move to his backhand, and flipped the puck past the glove of Grand Rapids goalie Tom McCollum. Hishon's goal came on a power play, and was assisted by Michael Schumacher and Cody Corbett. Special teams continued to be a factor on the Monsters second goal; a shorthanded tally. Markus Lauridsen gave the Monsters a 2-0 lead when he fired the puck from the opposite side of center ice toward the Griffins net, and the clearing play fooled McCollum. Lauridsen's goal was assisted by Kenny Ryan at 7:58 of the first period.

Grand Rapids cut the Monsters lead in half when Andreas Athanasiou scored at 13:06 of the first period, but the Monsters were able to regain the two-goal lead before the first stanza ended. Garrett Meurs hauled the puck up the right wing boards and took a thunderous hit, but the puck was collected by Mike Sgarbossa. Sgarbossa moved into the right circle and snapped a shot into the top corner past McCollum's stick side. Gabe Beaupre also assisted on Sgarbossa's goal, which gave the Monsters a 3-1 lead through 20 minutes.

Sgarbossa's second tally of the game represented the second period's only scoring. Paul Carey spotted Sgarbossa from the end boards, sent a pass to the top of the crease, and Sgarbossa wasted no time sending the puck past McCollum to extend the Monsters lead to three. Corbett registered his second assist of the game on the goal, which was scored at 10:47 of the middle frame.

Each team scored in the third period. Jerome Verrier cut the Monsters lead to two at 6:45, and Stefan Elliott scored to put the Monsters on top 5-2 at 13:35 of the third period. Elliott ripped a shot from the right point that deflected, and trickled into the Grand Rapids net.

Sami Aittokallio started the game in net for the Monsters, stopping 10 of 11 shots before Roman Will took over with 10:17 left in the second period. Will stopped 19 of 20 shots in 30:17 of game action to preserve the victory. McCollum stopped 32 of 37 Monsters shots in the Griffins net.

The Monsters and Griffins conclude their preseason schedules Saturday night in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Saturday's preseason finale begins at 7:30 p.m.

NOTES: The Monsters and Griffins meet eight times before Christmas during the regular season, and they will meet 10 times overall in the '14-15 campaign... the Monsters and Griffins played a pair of preseason games against each other last season, with each team taking a win in the two-game set... 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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