Despite a Monster performance from rookie goalie Trevor Cann, who made 34 saves on 35 shots and turned away four of five shooters in the shootout, the visiting Monsters dropped a 2-1 contest to the Grand Rapids Griffins Wednesday afternoon at Van Andel Arena.
 
Cann was near flawless in the first period, stopping 12 of 13 shots. Jeremy Williams gave the Griffins the lead late in the first, when he recorded his eighth goal of the season at the 18:23 mark on the power play. Kris Newbury and Jakub Kindl assisted on the goal.

The middle frame would go by without any scoring, as Cann made 12 saves and Griffins goalie Daniel Larsson turned away all nine shots from the Monsters.

Battling back, rookie forward Brock Bradford tied the game for the Monsters with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation, recording his fifth goal of the season. Bradford has scored all five goals in the past six games and is now third on the team with nine points (5G, 4A). Marty Sertich and Chris Durno recorded assists on the goal, and with the helper, Durno has put up a point in seven straight games, an AHL season high. Durno has recorded 11 points (6G, 5A) in those seven games and leads the Monsters with 13 points (7G, 6A) on the season.

After Bradford’s score, the teams would remain deadlocked the rest of the way, heading into the extra frame tied at one.

Although the Monsters registered six shots in the five-minute sudden death frame, the game remained tied at one, and Lake Erie headed into their second shootout of the season.

Cann and Larsson combined to stop nine of the 10 shooters, as Kris Newbury, Grand Rapids fifth shooter, was the only player to score in the shootout, giving the Griffins a 2-1 win. With the win, the Griffins improve to 9-4-0-0 while the Monsters drop to 6-8-0-1. Cann ended the night with 34 saves on 35 shots while Larsson turned away 26 of 27 shots.

The Monsters return to the ice on Friday and Saturday for a pair of home games against the Houston Aeros. Tickets can be purchased by calling (216) 420-0000, by visiting LakeErieMonsters.com or by visiting any Northern Ohio Discount Drug Mart.