The Lake Erie Monsters continued their quest to the Calder Cup on Saturday afternoon at Quicken Loans Arena, facing off with the Grand Rapids Griffins to try to take a 2-0 lead in the Central Division Final.
It was a back and forth game, as the Monsters jumped out to an early lead, the Griffins fought back, and Ryan Craig and Daniel Zaar saved the day with two goals in the third period to win 4-3.
Sonny Milano got things started on the power play, scoring his second goal of the playoffs at the 14:39 mark of the first period, putting the Monsters up 1-0.
.@27SMiLano with a power play goal to put @monstershockey up by 1 #LEvsGR pic.twitter.com/yfrpeGbFvc
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 7, 2016
Milano was assisted by Kerby Rychel and Zach Werenski.
Lake Erie’s hot start would continue, as Steve Eminger would score his first goal of the playoffs, driving home a power play goal to make it 2-0 at the 17:44 mark of the first frame.
Steve Eminger makes it 2-0 Monsters!#BattleTogether pic.twitter.com/XC19XG30b4
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 7, 2016
Eminger was assisted by Werenski and T.J. Tynan.
Monsters Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo’s shutout would stand until Eric Tangradi came through with a late power play goal to put Grand Rapids on the board with just 3.4 seconds left in the first period.
.@ETangradi finds the back of the net with seconds left in the first to put @griffinshockey on the board #LEvsGR pic.twitter.com/4reedQv1Tb
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 7, 2016
Anthony Mantha and Andy Miele assisted on the goal, which was Tangradi’s second of the post-season.
The Griffins would own the second period, as Xavier Ouellet scored his first goal of the playoffs, to tie the game at two just 2:05 into the frame.
Griffins tie it up at 2.
Xavier Ouelet with his 1st goal of playoffs. pic.twitter.com/wr5SgAZT71
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 7, 2016
The goal was assisted by Mitch Callahan and Andreas Athanasiou.
Goaltenders on both sides made some beautiful plays to keep the game deadlocked at two for the next 12 minutes.
Korpisalo made this gem midway through the second frame.
Great save by Korpisalo. pic.twitter.com/D2GJy8ItSk
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 7, 2016
Griffins netminder Tom McCollum made a big stop of his own to answer back.
McCollum coming up big for @griffinshockey #LEvsGR pic.twitter.com/MOZ7pvaRhr
— AHL (@TheAHL) May 7, 2016
Miele would break the tie, scoring the go-ahead goal for the Griffins at the 14:58 mark of the second period to make it 3-2 in favor of Grand Rapids.
Griffins take a 3-2 lead thanks to Andy Miele.#LEvsGR @TheAHL @griffinshockey pic.twitter.com/BtjphAQY6w
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 7, 2016
It was Miele’s first goal of the playoffs, and was assisted by Mantha and Mark Zengerle.
The Monsters would trail 3-2 after two periods of play.
Korpisalo made yet another beautiful save with about 15 minutes left in regulation to keep it a 3-2 game.
Another great save from Korpi keeps it 3-2. 15 min left in 3rd period. pic.twitter.com/3jzStF0wBJ
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 7, 2016
After 14 scoreless minutes to start the third period, the Monsters had a great chance on the power play, but McCollum snuffed it out.
Monsters just barely miss a chance with 6 minutes to go. pic.twitter.com/jAhFimEWKj
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 7, 2016
Lake Erie kept chipping away, though, and 10 seconds later, Ryan Craig made it count, tying the game at three with 5:50 remaining in regulation.
Ryan Craig ties it up at 3 with 5:50 to play!!!! #BattleTogether pic.twitter.com/mJnVFGoaJX
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 7, 2016
Craig was assisted by Trent Vogelhuber and Justin Falk. It was his second goal of the playoffs.
Less than three minutes later, Daniel Zaar delivered to put the Monsters in front 4-3. It was Zaar’s second goal of the playoffs.
Ryan Craig scores again!!!!! 4-3 Monsters!!! pic.twitter.com/bfcJwXBPjq
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) May 7, 2016
Zaar’s go-ahead goal was assisted by Vogelhuber and Jaime Sifers.
The Monsters would hold on to win 4-3 and take a 2-0 series lead. They head to Grand Rapids for a 4 PM showdown on Sunday evening.
Korpisalo made 23 saves in the win.
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