GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- After a deadlocked battle through three periods and overtime, Luca Pinelli netted the lone shootout goal to hand the Cleveland Monsters a 3-2 win over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday at Van Andel Arena.

Despite the loss, the Griffins extended their point streak to five games (4-0-0-1). Sheldon Dries scored a goal in his first game back with Grand Rapids after a six-game stint with the Detroit Red Wings, and Jesse Kiiskinen tallied his current AHL-rookie-leading sixth goal of the season. Trey Augustine logged a career-high 36 saves and continued his three-game point streak (2-0-1). 

Cleveland drew first blood at the 15:17 mark of the first period when Steven Lorentz fired a one-timer from the left circle past Augustine on a power play. The Griffins had killed off 28-straight penalties before the Lorentz tally, as the team's penalty kill ranked first in the AHL at 97.1% entering the game.

Grand Rapids responded less than a minute later, also on the power play. Dries recorded the tally by flicking a no-look pass from John Leonard through the five-hole of Pheonix Copley to tie the game with 3:51 remaining in the period. 

The Griffins wasted no time scoring in the second, taking their first lead 1:36 into the frame courtesy of Kiiskinen from the left circle. While Copley managed to get a piece of it, the puck trickled through his legs and across the line to make it 2-1. 

Grand Rapids’ advantage on the scoreboard was short lived, with Luca Marrelli tying the game back up for Cleveland on a one-timer from the point on a power play at 3:17. 

Grand Rapids faced immense pressure in the third period, including nearly four-consecutive minutes on the penalty kill with under 10 minutes to play. However, the Griffins weathered the attack to send the game to overtime and earn their 14th point of the season.

After a scoreless five minutes of extra time, Copley stonewalled Carter Bear, Leonard and Kiiskinen in the shootout. Pinelli scored in the first round to give the Monsters a 3-2 victory. 

Notes

• Shai Buium (1-2—3) and Dries (4-1—5) both continued their three-game point streaks.
• The Griffins finished 1-for-3 on the power play and 4-for-6 on the penalty kill.

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

1st Period-1, Cleveland, Lorentz 7 (Williams, Buckberger), 15:17 (PP). 2, Grand Rapids, Dries 4 (Leonard, Bryson), 16:09 (PP). Penalties-Bezeau Cle (roughing), 2:48; Draper Gr (hooking), 2:48; Becher Gr (hooking), 14:56; Dumais Cle (holding), 15:48; Tuch Cle (slashing), 16:24; Williams Cle (slashing), 18:11.

2nd Period-3, Grand Rapids, Kiiskinen 6 (Buium), 1:36. 4, Cleveland, Marrelli 1 (Pinelli, Keskinen), 3:17 (PP). Penalties-served by Butler Gr (too many men - bench minor), 2:25; Bryson Gr (tripping), 5:46; Butler Gr (slashing), 12:51.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Pyyhtiä Cle (diving/embellishment), 7:48; Bryson Gr (hooking), 7:48; Malatesta Cle (roughing), 10:08; Christensen Gr (roughing), 10:08; Bernard-Docker Gr (tripping), 11:29; Leonard Gr (slashing), 13:33.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout - Cleveland 1 (Pinelli G, Lorentz NG), Grand Rapids 0 (Bear NG, Leonard NG, Kiiskinen NG).
Shots on Goal-Cleveland 7-11-13-7-1-39. Grand Rapids 9-8-6-0-0-23.
Power Play Opportunities-Cleveland 2 / 6; Grand Rapids 1 / 3.
Goalies-Cleveland, Copley 3-1-0 (23 shots-21 saves). Grand Rapids, Augustine 2-1-2 (38 shots-36 saves).
A-5,082

Three Stars
1. CLE Marrelli (power-play goal); 2. CLE Copley (SOW, 21 saves); 3. CLE Lorentz (power-play goal)

Record / Next Game
Grand Rapids: 6-1-1-1 (14 pts.) / Sat., Oct. 23 vs. Cleveland 7 p.m.
Cleveland: 5-2-0-0 (10 pts.) / Sat., Oct. 23 at Grand Rapids 7 p.m.

Photo by Nicolas Carrillo