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AHL Cleveland Monsters

Back-to-Back heartbreak for Monsters

November 11, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release


Back-to-back nights of back-to-back heartbreak as the Monsters fell to the Marlies, 5-4, at Quicken Loans Arena.

For just the second time in a game at home this season, the Monsters started the game off with a tally. Ray Macias and newly acquired goalie Jason Bacashihua found speedy David Jones open on the power play. Jones cashed in Bacashihua's pass from Macias for his fifth goal of the season and his seventh point in the last eight games. Bacashihua's assist is the first ever for a goaltender in Monsters franchise history.

"If I can get a full head of steam going and get the puck at full speed, I think I have an advantage over most players out there. Even if I can get a half step, I just try to drive the net. I'm not forced to score goals, so I just skate hard and finish checks and I think it's the easiest thing I could do out there," said Monsters right wing David Jones.

To follow up the Jones goal, Cody McLeod hustled to a busted breakaway from the right slot. McLeod held off his defender to beat Marlies goalie Justin Pogge glove side. The goal marked the Monsters first two-goal lead of the season at home.

"Our first period was probably our best period of the year so far. We came out against one of the better teams in the league and dictated the play the way we wanted to. The guys did a good job of executing the game plan in the first period," said Monsters head coach Joe Sacco.

Needless to say, a swift pep talk must have taken place in the Toronto locker room as a new team seemed to take the pond in the second.

The first Marlies goal by left wing Robbie Earl at the 4:21 mark was on a short-handed break. The second variety was an unassisted tally by Jeremy Williams, his third of the season.

With less than five minutes in the period, Lake Erie center Matt Hussey got the jump on a lead pass from T.J. Hensick and buried one past Pogge.

Just 0:33 seconds later, Marlies defenseman Bryan Muir posted his first tally of the season past Bacashihua.

At the 7:56 mark of the third, Steve Margeson blasted home an emphatic wrister on a feed from McLeod. The goal was Margeson's second tally in as many games.

It took Kris Newbury and the Marlies only minutes to ruin the Monsters hopes as they found the back of the net twice in a two minute stretch. Newbury's game-tying goal was assisted by David Ling and Jaime Sifers. The game-winner was posted by Alex Foster, his third of the season.

"I think we played hard tonight. But we've got to find a way to win when we are up on a team. We were up 2-0 tonight and we've just got to find a way to win. We can't get used to this. We can't be happy with this," said Lake Erie forward Cody McCormick.

In his Monsters debut, Jason Bacashihua denied 33 of the 38 shots he faced, while Pogge turned away 30 of 34.

The Monsters face the Quad City Flames on Thursday in a pay back game at The Q, as they look to avenge their Saturday night shootout loss.

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