Monsters double Griffs 4-2 for pre-season split

After dropping its first pre-season game against the Grand Rapids Griffins the previous day at Bowling Green State University, the Lake Erie Monsters, American Hockey League affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets evened the score with a 4-2 win Saturday (Oct. 3) at Windsor Family Credit Union Center in Windsor, ON, directly across the St. Clair River from Detroit.

Alex Broadhurst put the Monsters in front 5:03 into the contest and the team led the remainder of the contest, Derek Deblois doubling the margin 3:02 later. Both of the first period goals for the Monsters came on set ups from Ben Wilson.

Alden Hirschfeld got the Griffins, AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, on the board with 9:30 to go in the opening period, converting a feed from Martin Frk.

Lukas Sedlak notched the lone goal of the middle frame 3:10 in and restored the Monsters’ two-goal cushion.

Frk pulled the Griffs within a goal again with 5:48 remaining in the game with an assist for Marek Tvrdon, but an empty netter for Oliver Bjorkstrand clinched the win and evened the two-game set for the Monsters.

Anton Forsberg collected the win in goal with a 22 save effort for the Monsters and Tom McCollum turned aside 34 shots in goal for the Griffins.

The Griffins will not prepare for its season opener on Friday (Oct. 9) with the team’s one and only West coast trip, beginning with a game against the Bakersfield Condors, AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers.