Monsters Lose to Crunch for First Time
January 6, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release
It took three games, but the Syracuse Crunch finally beat the Lake Erie Monsters this season, getting past Lake Erie at Quicken Loans Arena Tuesday night by a 3-1 final. Lake Erie is now 2-1 on the season against the Crunch, including a thrilling 3-2 overtime win at home Saturday night.
Crunch left wing Kevin Harvey started the scoring on Tuesday at the 7:51 mark of the first period. As Crunch center Trevor Frischmon drove wide into the Monsters zone, Harvey snuck in behind the play. With the puck on his back hand, Frischmon let go of a shot that Monsters goaltender Jason Bacashihua got a piece of. After hitting Bacashihua, it fell right to the trailing Harvey, who put home his third goal of the year. Mike York was credited with the second assist on the goal.
While the rest of the first period would remain scoreless, Syracuse wouldn't wait long once the second frame began, as the Crunch scored a mere 31 seconds in. Breaking in from the blue line, Crunch forward Tom Sestito fired a shot from the high slot that hit the stick of a Monsters player, then deflected off the glove of Bacashihua and into the net, making it 2-0. Adam Pineault registered the second assist on the goal.
Before the second period would end, the Crunch would extend their lead by three when center Derek MacKenzie registered his eighth goal of the season at the 14:37 mark. Left wing John Vigilante's shot from along the goal line deflected off Bacashihua, hit MacKenize in the mid section and fell to the ice, laying mere inches from the goal line, and waiting for the Crunch forward to push it into the net.
It would take another period of play before the score would change again. Lake Erie forward Chris Mueller would foil LaCosta's bid to earn the shutout, beating the Syracuse goalie shorthanded at the 15:44 mark of the third. Stealing the puck at the blue line, Mueller attempted to get the puck to teammate Chris Durno, only to have the puck bounce off the skate of a Crunch defender and back to his stick. Determined, Mueller flew down the right side, ripping a wrist shot past the glove of Syracuse goaltender Dan LaCosta.
LaCosta made 24 saves on 25 shots in the game, while Bacashihua turned away 25 of Syracuse's 28 shots.
After the game, Lake Erie head coach Joe Sacco knew his team didn't give their best effort, but also acknowledged the performance of the visiting Crunch.
"I think Syracuse deserves a lot of credit," said Sacco. "They played a good game and they did a good job of eliminating our chances and we just really couldn't generate much offense tonight. Syracuse played a good game tonight, and they deserve credit."
Added Mueller, "They were more ready to play than we were from the drop of the puck. They took it to us early in the game and that was the difference."
The Monsters return to the ice on Friday, when they travel to Ontario to play the Hamilton Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m. Both teams will travel back to Cleveland to complete a home-and-home, meeting at 7:30 p.m. at The Q Saturday night. Lake Erie finishes three games in three days, hosting the Philadelphia Phantoms at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from January 6, 2009
- Monsters Lose to Crunch for First Time - Cleveland Monsters
- Wolf Pack Beat Moose, 6-3 - Connecticut Whale
- Wolf Pack Trounce Moose, 6-3 - Manitoba Moose
- 'Dogs Haunt Phantoms in 4-2 Win - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Dogs Double Up Phantoms - Adirondack Phantoms
- Crunch Slay Monsters - Syracuse Crunch
- Houston Aeros sign Beaudoin to PTO, Release Smith - Houston Aeros
- Dan Smith and Clay Wilson to Sign Autographs at AmeriCU Credit Union in Liverpool - Syracuse Crunch
- First-Place Griffins Host IceHogs and Phantoms - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Amerks to Honor Mike Bliss Friday - Rochester Americans
- Knighthawks to Join Amerks at Annual Celebrity Waiter Dinner - Rochester Americans
- Monarchs Release Mosienko; Voynov Returns - Manchester Monarchs
- Goaltender Mike Brodeur Named to 2009 AHL All-Star Game - Rochester Americans
- Brett Palin Selected for AHL All-Star Game - Abbotsford Heat
- Columbus Reassigns Nikita Filatov and Assigns Stefan Legein to the Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- Purcell Named To Canadian AHL All-Star Team - Manchester Monarchs
- Syvret, Giroux Named To Canadian All-Star Roster - Adirondack Phantoms
- B-Sens Game Wednesday Night In Springfield Postponed - Binghamton Senators
- Locke and Brust to represent Aeros on Canadian AHL All-Star Team - Houston Aeros
- Brian Elliott Named Starter For 2009 All-Star Classic - Binghamton Senators
- Boychuk, St. Pierre Named AHL All-Stars - Providence Bruins
- Falcons Postpone January 7th Home Game - Springfield Falcons
- Team leading scorer and rookie defenseman to play in Worcester, MA All-Star Game - Bridgeport Islanders
- Mancari Named to 2009 Canadian AHL All-Star Team - Portland Pirates
- Krog named to Canadian All-star Team for 2009 AHL All-Star Classic - Manitoba Moose
- Rampage's MacLean Selected to 2009 Canadian AHL All-Star Team - San Antonio Rampage
- Admirals Forward Steve Downie Named an AHL All-Star - Norfolk Admirals
- Three Admirals Named to AHL All-Star Classic - Norfolk Admirals
- Minard Named Starter For Canadian All-Stars - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- 2009 Canadian AHL All-Star Team announced - AHL
- Moose sign Jordan Fox to PTO - Manitoba Moose
- Wolves Anderson and Lehman to Assist Reading Program - Chicago Wolves
- Jones Recalled by Predators - Milwaukee Admirals
- B-Sens Weekly - Binghamton Senators
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Cleveland Monsters Stories
- Blue Jackets Reassign Defenseman Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm to Monsters
- Monsters' Jet Greaves Named Howies Hockey Tape/AHL Player of the Week
- Cleveland Monsters Single Game Tickets on Sale Now for North Division Semifinals
- Monsters Clinch North Division Championship with 3-1 Win over Marlies
- Pearson's Hat Trick Leads Monsters to 4-3 Win over Marlies