GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 6 AT Lake Erie Monsters 4

Nov. 1, 2013

CLEVELAND — A two-goal game by Tomas Jurco and strong special teams performances helped the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 6-4 win over the Lake Erie Monsters at Quicken Loans Arena on Friday.

The Griffins killed off six of seven penalties and scored two power-play goals. Grand Rapids (6-2-1-1) continues its road point streak, earning at least one point in every road game this season.

Karl Stollery put Lake Erie on the board first at 16:44 of the opening frame. During four-on-four play, Stollery and Colin Smith rushed the Grand Rapids’ zone on a two-on-one and Stollery buried the puck on a one-timer.

Ryan Sproul responded with a Griffins’ goal to tie the game at 18:29 of the first period. Cory Emmerton had the puck along the left boards in the Monsters’ zone, and he fed a pass to Sproul who was speeding down center ice. Sproul controlled the bouncing pass and buried it in the top shelf.

When it appeared the teams would be heading into the locker rooms knotted 1-1, a power-play goal by Calle Jarnkrok with just two seconds remaining in the first period gave Grand Rapids the advantage. Gustav Nyquist closed in on goaltender Calvin Pickard and backhanded a pass to Jarnkrok, who scored to give the Griffins a 2-1 lead.

At 11:19 of the middle frame, Landon Ferraro carried the puck along the left boards and passed to Jurco in the left circle. Jurco took a stride with the puck before burying it past Pickard for the power-play goal.

The Monsters (4-5-0-0) threatened to shorten the Griffins’ lead when Paul Carey was awarded a penalty shot at 15:31 of the second period after being interfered with on a breakaway. However, Tom McCollum got a piece of the puck and turned away Carey’s attempt.

Six goals were scored in the third period, including two empty-netters.

Jurco netted his second of the night off a rebound by Adam Almquist at 8:57. Nyquist assisted both of Jurco’s goals along with Jarnkrok’s.

At 12:10, Monster David Van der Gulik managed a backhanded shot as he was falling down. The puck found its way in, marking Lake Erie’s only power-play goal of the night and bringing the score to 4-2.

In the last two minutes of the game, each team scored two goals. The Monsters pulled Pickard for the extra skater, and Lake Erie’s Mark Olver scored on a slapshot from the point at 18:24. Just 18 seconds later, Luke Glendening scored an empty-netter for Grand Rapids.

Less than a minute later, the series of plays repeated itself. With Pickard pulled, Monster Bryan Lerg scored a goal at 19:15, but it took the Griffins 26 seconds to reestablish their two-goal lead. Jeff Hoggan scored on an empty net.

McCollum turned away 21 of 25 in the win, and Pickard stopped 25 of 30.

The Griffins will take the ice at 5 p.m. Sunday at BMO Harris Bank Center against the Rockford IceHogs.

Three Stars: 1. GR Jurco (two goals); 2. GR Nyquist (three assists); 3. GR Ferraro (two assists)