GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 0 at Lake Erie Monsters 2

Sept. 29, 2013

WINDSOR, Ont. – The Grand Rapids Griffins completed their preseason schedule on Sunday with a 2-0 loss against the Lake Erie Monsters at the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ont.

Lake Erie center Mark Olver nabbed the first goal of the night at 7:09 of the opening period on a Monsters power play. Grand Rapids forward Travis Novak was called for interfering with goaltender Calvin Pickard at 6:15 and Lake Erie wasted little time in putting their extra skater to good use.

The Griffins failed to capitalize on a giant scoring opportunity halfway through the first after Lake Erie was caught with too many men, compounding upon a Monsters slashing penalty by Olver just over a minute before. The two penalties resulted in 34 seconds of a two-man advantage for Grand Rapids, but they were unable to convert on either of the chances.

The aggression on the ice turned up a notch in the second period when Trevor Parkes steamrolled Monsters defenseman Mikael Tam along the left boards in the Grand Rapids zone, sending Tam to the bench with a bloody nose. Both teams then engaged in a mutual quarrel, but no calls were made against either side.

Later in the frame, however, Parkes’ physicality resurged at 17:21 which resulted in a boarding call against Grand Rapids. Markus Lauridsen extended the Monsters’ lead to 2-0 when his shot found its way past Griffins netminder Jared Coreau on a feed from the point.

A late tripping penalty against Parkes at 16:41 in the closing period secured the fate of the Griffins. With just over a minute of play remaining, Coreau retreated to the bench to provide Grand Rapids with an extra skater. Ultimately, the effort proved fruitless and Lake Erie walked away with a shutout victory.

All four of Lake Erie's goals this weekend were scored on the power play.

The Griffins, who completed their preseason slate with a 1-1 record, will open their 18th regular season with two road games this weekend when they face the Rochester Americans on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7:05 p.m. and the Toronto Marlies on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 3 p.m.