Monsters at Griffins Live Game Updates : Fighting Off the Sunday Scaries
Photo Credit: Cleveland Monsters
After a day off, the Cleveland Monsters headed to the state up north to take on the Grand Rapids Griffins. Cleveland is riding high on a 10-game winning streak. On the other side, Grand Rapids is looking to avenge their 5-2 loss against the Chicago Wolves on Saturday night. Plus, the Griffins are playing the final game of a weekend three-in-three which saw them play at home on Friday night, in Rosemont on Saturday night, and back home on Sunday.
Since Cleveland’s 2-0 win over the Toronto Marlies on Friday night, Rocco Grimaldi signed an SPC AHL contract for the rest of the 2024-25 season, defender David Jiricek was traded to the Minnesota Wild for Daemon Hunt, forward Mikael Pyyhtia was recalled by the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Jet Greaves was loaned to the Monsters.
Hunt will not enter the lineup today. However, Greaves is slated to be the backup goaltender and Joseph LaBate enters the lineup for the first time in 14 games.
Officials
Referees : Mike Sullivan (47), Ibrahim Arifi (68)
Linespeople : Ben Gawlik (36), Devon Gale (97)
Cleveland Lineup
Forwards
James Malatesta - Luca Del Bel Belluz - Trey Fix-Wolansky
Rocco Grimaldi - Owen Sillinger - Gavin Brindley
Max McCue - Hunter McKown - Roman Ahcan
Justin Pearson - Joseph LaBate - Curtis Hall
Defensemen
Denton Mateychuk - Madison Bowey
Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm - Corson Ceulemans
Samuel Knazko - Cole Clayton
Goalies
Zach Sawchenko - Jet Greaves
Grand Rapids Lineup
Forwards
Elmer Soderblom - Amadeus Lombardi - Dominik Shine
Joe Snively - Nate Danielson - Austin Watson
Tim Gettinger - Sheldon Dries - Cross Hanas
Alex Doucet - Ondrej Becher - Jakub Rychlovsky
Defensemen
William Wallinder - Antti Tuomisto
Eemil Viro - Josiah Didier
Shai Buium - Tory Dello
Goalies
Sebastian Cossa - Jack Campbell
Start of the 1st - Monsters 0, Griffins 0
GOAL - 1st Period, 7:12 - Monsters 0, Griffins 1
It took the Grand Rapids Griffins to register their first shot on goal. Luckily for the Griffins, Tory Dello’s shot through heavy traffic turned into a goal to give them the 1-0 lead over Cleveland.
GOAL - 1st Period, 7:25 - Monsters 1, Griffins 1
Thirteen seconds after the Griffins scored defender Denton Mateychuk scooped up his own rebound to score the equalizer for the Monsters.
Initially the shot was fired from above the right faceoff circle. After shooting, Mateychuk skated down the slot and was able to pick up rebound.
Great work from the young defender.
GOAL - 1st Period, 11:30 - Monsters 1, Griffins 2
Dominik Shine extended the Grand Rapids Griffins lead over the Cleveland Monsters, 2-0, 11:30 into the first period.
The play started with Sebastian Cossa blocking Luca Del Bel Belluz's shot. After Cossa kicked the puck away, the Monsters went behind the net allowing the Griffins to go on a 3-on-1 rush down the ice.
At that point, there was nothing Zach Sawchenko could do to stop Grand Rapids from scoring.
GOAL - 1st Period, 13:38 - Monsters 2, Griffins 2
Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm kicked this play in motion by sneaking the puck out of a scrum along the boards.
As the Monsters rushed into the offensive zone, Max McCue sneakily dropped the puck to Bjorgvik-Holm at the blueline. He quickly wound up and launched the puck into the net.
Incredibly beautiful play by Max McCue to help that goal come to fruition.
Goal - Power Play - 1st Period, 19:57 - Monsters 2, Griffins 3
A one-timer from Joe Snively at the right faceoff dot gave the Griffins the 3-2 lead over the Monsters.
Once Grand Rapids was able to dig the puck off the boards, they were able to do a series of quick and crisp passes which didn’t give Cleveland time to react.
End of the 1st - Monsters 2, Griffins 3
Despite playing in their third game in three days, Grand Rapids matched Cleveland’s energy in the first period. Both teams dug pucks off the boards, broke up plays, and had multiple rushes.
It took the Griffins over seven minutes to notch their first registered shot, and they were held to seven shots in the opening period. Cleveland did a decent job of keeping them from getting too close to the net. However, once Grand Rapids started their quick passing game, the Monsters couldn’t keep up.
Start of the 2nd - Monsters 2, Griffins 3
GOAL - 2nd Period, 2:10 - Monsters 3, Griffins 3
Trey Fix-Wolansky ties the game at three for Cleveland with a one-timer from the left faceoff dot. Defender Cole Clayton had a beautiful pass from the blue line to help make the goal happen.
GOAL - 2nd Period, 4:42 - Monsters 3, Griffins 4
Joe Snively scored his second of the night for Grand Rapids after Monsters defender Madison Bowey after his pass was deflected by the Griffins.
Once Snively received the puck from Dominik Shine, he held onto it until he saw the right side of the net wide open.
GOAL - 2nd Period, 6:35 - Monsters 3, Griffins 5
Antti Tuomisto was left alone on the left side of the ice. By the time Cleveland realized he was there, it was too late. Tuomisto was already winding up to launch the puck into the net from the top of the faceoff circle to the left of Sawchenko.
After Tuomisto’s goal, Cleveland replaced Sawchenko in net with Jet Greaves.
GOAL - 2nd Period, 15:36 - Monsters 3, Griffins 6
Nate Danielson extended Grand Rapids lead over Cleveland to 6-3 with a shot that hit Monsters defender Cole Clayton’s stick.
Yet again, the Griffins stuck to short, quick passes.
End of the 2nd Period - Monsters 3, Griffins 6
Cleveland came out hot at the start of the second period. However, once Fix-Wolansky scored, Grand Rapids kicked it in high gear and never slowed down.
Both Greaves and Sawchenko struggled to handle Grand Rapids’ short, quick passes. They couldn’t track the puck fast enough allowing the Griffins to get a leg up on their competition.
Start of the 3rd - Monsters 3, Griffins 6
3rd Period, 10:23 - Three Shot Griffins
The Monsters have held the Griffins to three shots in the first 10:23 of the third period. Part of this is due to the fact Grand Rapids have taken their foot off the gas.
GOAL - 3rd Period, 16:44 - Monsters 4, Griffins 6
Cleveland was able to get within two of Grand Rapids with a snipe from the top of the left faceoff circle by Luca Del Bel Belluz. Corson Ceulemans set him up with the shot after skating around a broken stick.
FINAL - Monsters 4, Griffins 6
Despite their best attempts, the Cleveland Monsters could not slow down the Grand Rapids Griffins. It was clear from the start that the Griffins wanted to end this game as quickly as possible and skate away with a win.
The Griffins have spent the season combining fundamentals and flashy plays into their game-day repertoire. It has proven helpful in times when they are tired or when they are playing a hot team. Grand Rapids short, quick passes allow them to move around the ice smoothly and it frazzles the defense and netminders a bit. Also, it allows four players to draw the focus away from the fifth skater giving them time to set up a play on the other side of the ice.
All of this was on display tonight against the Monsters.
Cleveland’s winning streak ends at 10 games. Don’t worry Monsters fans! There is still enough time left in the season to start a new winning streak!
Three Stars
1st - Grand Rapids - Joe Snively - 2g, 1a
2nd - Grand Rapids - Dominik Shine - 1g, 2a
3rd - Grand Rapids - Nate Danielson - 1g, 1a
Unsung Hero - Griffins
Grand Rapids Captain Josiah Didier earned the honor of Unsung Hero for his team tonight. Didier was an absolute terror on the ice and showed why he was named Captain at the start of the season.
Unsung Hero - Monsters
Cleveland Assistant Captain Trey Fix-Wolansky earned the honor tonight because of his consistency over the past few years against the Griffins.
