CLEVELAND, Ohio- The Cleveland Monsters returned home on Tuesday for a one-game stop against the Grand Rapids Griffins. It was a crucial game for the Monsters to win, as they pulled through for a huge 4-1 win.
The Monsters would get started with a controlling first frame. Cleveland would fire off twenty-four shots in the frame and would head into the break leading 1-0 following a Sonny Milano backhanded top-shelf goal that elevated the puck straight over Eddie Pasquale’s shoulder. The Griffins avoided what could have been a disastrous period, as earlier in the frame Brett Gallant capitalized off of a rebound attempt and went back door. The referees were quick to wave the goal off due to goaltender interference. Nonetheless, Cleveland held Grand Rapids to five shots in twenty minutes and would look for more opportunities in the middle stanza.
Though the Griffins would strike first in the second, Joe Pendenza would grab the lead back for Cleveland on a scrum near the crease that saw the puck sent midair and batted into the net by Pendenza at the 7:35 mark. Cleveland went into the break leading 2-1.
The Monsters would find the back of the net twice more in the third frame. The first goal coming from Ryan Craig, who deflected a shot from the high slot by newly-acquired Zac Dalpe to extend the lead to 3-1. Joe Pendenza iced the game with a breakaway goal through the five-hole of Pasquale.
The Monsters move to 25-23-3-4 on the season.
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