The Cleveland Monsters found themselves down early yet again and were not able to end their losing streak against Grand Rapids.
It was deja vu for the Cleveland Monsters as they were down big yet again in the 1st period. After losses to Milwaukee Friday and Saturday which found Cleveland being down three goals or more in both contests, in happened yet again Monday evening against the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Grand Rapids scored three times in the 1st period, all around five or so minutes apart. Cleveland was just not able to keep the Griffins off the scoreboard in the 1st. The Monsters were able to avoid the shutout in the 2nd period as Tyler Sikura scored his fifth goal of the year. Sikura was assisted by Liam Foudy (8) and Giovanni Vallati (1) in the lone highlight for Cleveland.
The Griffins would score a cheap empty net goal with 16 seconds left to make it 4-1, the only goal that did not count against Jean-Francois Berube. Berube would save 25 of 28 shots on goal, the fourth straight game allowing three goals or more.
Cleveland continues to sit in fourth place in the AHL North Division with 23 points in 20 games. The Monsters are 5-4-1-0 in their last 10 as they found themselves in a holding pattern. A trip to Syracuse to take on the seventh place Crunch Wednesday could provide the elusive win they are in search of.
