The Grand Rapids Griffins’ relatively consistent run continues, with the Griffins winning a 6-4 decision over the Cleveland Monsters on Sunday evening:
GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 6 vs. Cleveland Monsters 4
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Griffins tallied a season-high six goals in their 6-4 win against the Cleveland Monsters on Sunday at Van Andel Arena.
The Griffins’ victory snapped the Monsters’ franchise-record 10-game winning streak. Joe Snively (2-1—3) and Dominik Shine (1-2—3) both secured three-point campaigns while Nate Danielson (1-1—2) and William Wallinder (0-2—2) tallied two-point outings. Danielson increased his point streak to four (1-4—5). Tory Dello and Antti Tuomisto both earned their first goals of the year and goaltender Sebastian Cossa saved 29 shots to maintain a .925 save percentage and a 2.21 goals-against average. This is the first time the Griffins have been atop the Central Division in December or later since the 2018-19 season.
Dello gave the Griffins the early lead with his first goal as a Griffin at 7:12 in the first frame. Tim Gettinger fired a pass to Dello at the blue line and he sniped it past Zach Sawchenko. However, the Monsters scored a goal of their own from Denton Mateychuk just 13 seconds later. Grand Rapids took its lead back at 11:30 when Shine found the back of the net.Danielsondished the puck to Shine in the slot who buried the chance. Cleveland evened the score at two with 6:22 to play in the first courtesy of Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm, but with three seconds remaining in the frame, Snively found paydirt on a power-play goal to give the Griffins a 3-2 lead entering the second.
The Monsters kicked off the second period with a tally from Trey Fix-Wolansky at 2:10 to make it 3-3. The Griffins quickly jumped back on top 4-3 at 4:42 with Snively’s second goal when he sent the puck past the pads of Sawchenko. Grand Rapids earned its first two-goal lead when Tuomisto buried a slapshot from the top of the right circle at 6:35. The scoring run continued as Danielson secured the Griffins’ sixth goal of the contest with 4:24 left in the second.
Grand Rapids maintained its 6-3 lead until Cleveland pulled Jet Greaves and Luca Del Bel Belluz scored with 3:16 remaining. The Monsters kept the extra attacker on, but the Griffins’ defense held strong as they skated off with a 6-4 win.
Continued; the Griffins also posted a photo gallery, a highlight clip and a post-game interview clip:
