AHL Cleveland Monsters

Season-Long Road Swing Starts with Second Straight Shootout Win

Published on November 1, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release


The Lake Erie Monsters (6-3-0-0) overcame a 3-1 third-period deficit and prevailed 4-3 in a shootout over the Peoria Rivermen (2-4-1-1) at Carver Arena in Peoria, Illinois on Thursday night. Three different players put pucks in the net for the Monsters, while Tyson Barrie registered a pair of assists. The game marked the first of three in three nights for the Monsters, and the first of seven straight on the road overall, a season-long road trip for Lake Erie. It was the second straight shootout win for the Monsters, following a 4-3 win at home over Abbotsford on Saturday.

Bryan Lerg gave the Monsters a 1-0 lead on the team's first power play of the game at 3:36 of the first period; he beat Peoria goalie Jake Allen with a wrist shot under his right arm. The goal was Lerg's fifth, and fifth in the last five games. Barrie and Thomas Pock assisted on the Monsters first goal of the game. The first period would end with Lake Erie still leading 1-0. Adam Cracknell tied the game for Peoria on a rebound at 3:22 of the second period; the lone goal of the middle frame.

Peoria started the third period with a pair of goals in the first three minutes from Cracknell and Andrew Murray - both shorthanded - to take a 3-1 lead, but the Monsters quickly scored two of their own to tie the game.

Cameron Gaunce found a loose puck behind the goal and wrapped the puck around the net, banking it off the skate of Allen to make it a 3-2 game. The goal was his first of the season, unassisted, at 3:48 of the third period.

Andrew Agozzino tied the game at 3-3 for the Monsters with his fourth goal of the season at 4:45 of the third period. Agozzino snapped a wrist shot from the slot stick-side on Allen with the assist going to Barrie.

After overtime didn't yield a winner, the Monsters prevailed 3-1 in the shootout portion thanks to goals from Lerg, Michael Sgarbossa, and Mark Olver.

Sami Aittokallio (3-1-0) stopped 25 of 28 shots in net in 65 minutes and turned away three of four Peoria shooters in the shootout portion. Allen stopped 31 of 34 shots and one of four in the shootout for Peoria; his individual record falls to 2-3-2.

The Monsters are back in action Friday night in Milwaukee and Saturday night in Rockford, with both games starting at 8:00 PM Eastern. Fans can listen live on AM 1220 WHKW.

NOTES: The Monsters were 1-6 on the power play, snapping a string of two straight games without a power play goal... The Monsters were 6-6 on the penalty kill against a Peoria power play that entered the game last in the league with the man-advantage... The Monsters are now 11-11 on the penalty kill over their last three games... Michael Sgarbossa's four-game point streak came to a close in the win in Peoria... The Monsters are 4-1-0-0 on the road this season... The shootout win was Aittokallio's first of the season... Andrew Agozzino had a goal and was +1 on the night, raising his plus/minus to +7 on the season... Mike Connolly, who began the season with a lower-body injury, made his season-debut for the Monsters.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 1, 2012


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