April 13, 2022

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - An offensive powered three-goal second period lifted the Grand Rapids Griffins past the Cleveland Monsters 4-2 on Wednesday at Van Andel Arena. The Griffins have now tallied points in all seven outings this season against the Monsters (6-0-1-0).

Riley Barber tallied an assist, which extended his point streak to a career-high 11 games (9-5—14). This is not only a Grand Rapids season best but is tied for the fifth longest point streak in Griffins’ history. Jonatan Berggren tallied his 17^th goal of the campaign along with an assist, which pushed his point streak to four games (2-5—7). Taro Hirose joined Berggren with two points (1-1—2). The Griffins ended the home portion of the season series against the Monsters with a 3-0-1-0 ledger.

Cleveland scored first in the opening frame and marked the ninth consecutive game a Griffins’ opponent registered the contests’ first tally. At 10:26 on the power play, Robbie Payne from the goal crease placed the disc in the right corner after Tyler Angle’s shot was saved by Victor Brattstrom.

With 8:16 remaining in the period, Grand Rapids tied the contest at one. After a faceoff win in the neutral zone, Dominik Shine got to the puck and from the left circle sent a rifle over Cam Johnson’s glove.

At 16:54, Angle found Tyler Sikura in the slot, and he ripped a wrister over the right shoulder of Brattstrom.

The Griffins notched their second tally of the night at 8:02 in the middle frame. After Berggren’s initial attempt was saved, Hirose got the tap-in goal at the right post.

Grand Rapids took its first lead of the contest with 4:38 remaining in the stanza. Berggren from the left wing sent a one-timer over the blocker of Johnson, making it a 3-2 game.

At 16:26 in the middle frame, Dan Renouf skated down the slot and connected with Kyle Criscuolo at the right post. The winger tapped the puck inside the post, giving Grand Rapids a 4-2 advantage.

Brattstrom and the Griffins’ defense continued to hold Cleveland scoreless in the third, thus giving Grand Rapids a 4-2 victory over the Monsters. The Griffins held the Monsters scoreless in the remaining 43:06 of play.

Notes

• Grand Rapids now possesses a 7-2-2-0 (0.682) record against opponents from the North Division.
• The Griffins improved to 22-3-2-0 when leading after two periods.

Box Score
Cleveland 2 0 0 - 2
Grand Rapids 1 3 0 - 4

1st Period-1, Cleveland, Payne 9 (Angle, Clayton), 10:26 (PP). 2, Grand Rapids, Shine 16 (Pearson), 11:44. 3, Cleveland, Sikura 12 (Angle, Payne), 16:54. Penalties-Pearson Gr (slashing), 10:09.

2nd Period-4, Grand Rapids, Hirose 15 (Berggren, Barton), 8:02. 5, Grand Rapids, Berggren 17 (Hirose, Barber), 15:22. 6, Grand Rapids, Criscuolo 13 (Renouf, Worrad), 16:26. Penalties-Elson Gr (high-sticking), 10:11; Shine Gr (cross-checking), 16:59.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Sweezey Cle (holding), 14:20; Schemitsch Cle (interference), 18:33; Fix-Wolansky Cle (charging goaltender in crease), 19:09.

Shots on Goal-Cleveland 12-9-5-26. Grand Rapids 13-6-5-24.
Power Play Opportunities-Cleveland 1 / 3; Grand Rapids 0 / 3.
Goalies-Cleveland, Johnson 4-7-3 (24 shots-20 saves). Grand Rapids, Brattstrom 8-14-3 (26 shots-24 saves).
A-5,503

Three Stars
1. GR Berggren (goal, assist); 2. GR Hirose (goal, assist); 3. GR Barber (assist)

Record / Next Game
Grand Rapids: 30-31-6-2 (68 pts.) / Fri., April 15 vs. Iowa 7 p.m.
Cleveland: 24-31-8-5 (61 pts.) / Thu., April 14 vs. Laval 7 p.m

Photo by Mark Newman/Griffins