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Griffins Reap Revenge - Slay Monsters 4-2 Shine nets gamewinner... By Jason Kasiorek www.griffinscentral.com January 18th, 2025
The Grand Rapids Griffins had a score to settle with the visiting Cleveland Monsters after watching a 4-0 lead disappear en route to a 5-4 shootout loss Friday night at Van Andel Arena. After falling down a goal, the team scored struck for three straight to blow the game open and then hold on for a 4-2 win. Grand Rapids got tallies from Sheldon Dries (14), Dominik Shine (11), Tim Gettinger (3) and Elmer Soderblom (5) in the win. For Soderblom, his empty netter gave the surging winger 3 goals and 3 assists in his last five games. Sebastien Cossa kicked out 24 of 26 shots to pick up his 12th win of the campaign.
First Period
The Griffins picked up where they left off in yesterday's game, with Austin Watson agitating - with a cross-check behind the play. Cleveland drew first blood just last the five minute mark when Knazko took a feed from Grimaldi at the top off the circle and fired a shot in over Sebastien Cossa, high, glove-side. Cross Hanas ended up with the puck in close and put a weak shot on Greaves that was stopped. Next rush up ice, Alexandre Doucet fed Hanas for another chance in front, but he fired it just wide. Sheldon Dries smoked Knazko at the blueline with a big open-ice hit. Then Dries on a breakaway was hauled down, but the puck still trickled in for a goal to knot the score at one. Griffins on the power play, Shai Buium with a great play to reach out and hold an errant puck in at the line. Elmer Soderblom balling along the boards, won the battle and used his reach to exit the pile and hit Nate Danielson for a chance in front.
Shots on goal: GR 9 - Clev 11.
Second Period
Doucet with a steal at the line, and he headed in a partial breakaway, going wide and then feeding Seger for a wicked shot that Greaves bobbled and the puck ended up behind him in the crease. Tim Gettinger pounced on the loose puck and flicked it in for a 2-1 lead. Eemil Viro with a brutal hip check that sent a monsters player flying. Slick play by Soderblom to make a bank pass to himself to step around a defender and move the puck into the offensive zone. Dominik Shine in the slot took a feed and clinked it in off the post to push the lead to 3-1. Penalty to Tuomisto for holding puts the Monsters on the power play. Joe Snively with speed gains the zone on a partial break, right after the penalty ended, but fired it wide. Grand Rapids out-chanced and outshot Cleveland 15-3 in the second.
Shots on goal: GR 15 - Clev 3.
Third Period
The Van Andel Arena Faithful got a charge out of Trey Fix-Wolansky being checked over the boards into the Griffins bench by Austin Watson. The monsters got some life back later in the period when McKown, on his belly in front, managed to chip the puck in over Cossa to cut the lead to one. Danielson walked out from behind the net with the puck and put a dangerous shot on greaves, but he made the save. Greaves to the bench for the extra skater just shy of three minutes left on the clock. The Griffins had a couple of chances at the empty net before Soderblom raced down and picked up the rebound of a near miss off the back boards and buried it for insurance and a 4-2 final score.
Shots on Goal: GR 5 - Clev 12. For the Game: GR 29 - Clev 26.
Starting Lines:
#85 Soderblom - #29 Danielson - #51 Watson
#21 Snively - #15 Dries - #65 Shine
#47 Doucet - #11 Seger - #26 Gettinger
#28 Johannes - #41 Becher - #71 Hanas
Pairings:
#5 Viro - #44 Didier
#22 Wallinder - #4 Tuomisto
#8 Buium - #25 Rafferty
Starter: #33 Cossa
Backup: #30 Campbell
Scratches:
#3 Dello
#43 Mazur - Injured
#81 Rychlovsky
#93 Lombardi - Injured
PP:
#15 Dries - #41 Becher - #65 Shine
#22 Wallinder - #21 Snively
#85 Soderblom - #29 Danielson - #51 Watson
#8 Buium - #25 Rafferty
PK:
#15 Dries - #65 Shine
#44 Didier - #5 Viro
#51 Watson - #29 Danielson
#22 Wallinder - #4 Tuomisto
Observations:
The last several games, one of the constants in my notes is about the compete level of rookie Andrej Becher. Becher has had an interesting start to his season. He was injured early in the prospects tournament and then sat out recovering while the rest of the hockey world started the season. He was a player without a team as he couldn't earn a spot in camp, and lost his spot in Juniors. When he was finally healthy, he was signed to an amateur tryout and when an injury crunch hit GR he was played sparingly as an extra forward for a bit. The speedy center eventually began to find traction and was signed to a three-year entry level contract. While his offensive game has not materialized yet, he has really started to make a name for himself in the defensive side of the ice. Buzzing around getting a stick on the puck (and opposing players) and leading a very aggressive forecheck. Bencher has become a fixture on the bottom two-lines and has shown some good chemistry with rugged Hunter Johannes. He has good hands and vision, and knows where to be to intercept the puck. Lately he has even seen some time on one of the power play units, telegraphing the coaching staff recognizes his offensive skills, currently bubbling under the surface.
Elmer Soderblom is a changed player this season, using his size, speed and reach to control play at times, and embracing his physical game at a higher level. For a fair part of the first half, the eye test showed he was a difference maker on the ice, but that was not translating to the scoresheet. After finally breaking out for his first goal of the season, the numbers have started to come a bit more often with 9 points (4g+5a) in his last 10 games and 6 points (3g+3a) in his last five. Great to see his hard work be rewarded, he has certainly moved his name to the top of the list for a recall To Detroit (NHL).
Also wanted to call out defender Antti Tuomisto for his stellar play as of late. Since returning from injury he has looked very effective, usually on a tandem with William Wallinder, who are both capable of making things happen at either end of the ice. Tuomisto has size, mobility and a wicked point shot, and has narrowly edged ahead of Wallinder as the next defender ready for a look at the next level.
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