AHL Cleveland Monsters

Coleman's Hot Streak Continues in Win

Published on February 12, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release


Two second-period goals and 39 saves from Gerald Coleman led the Lake Erie Monsters (24-22-2-2) to a 2-1 victory over the Syracuse Crunch (19-22-4-3) Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Monsters are unbeaten in regulation in their last six games; a streak that ties a season high, set between November 10th and November 26th, 2011. The team has won three straight and five of their last six. Coleman's win in net was his third straight; a feat no Monsters goalie had previously accomplished this season.

Following a scoreless first period, the Monsters needed just 1:25 in the second period to strike first. Ryan Stoa received a pass in the right circle from Danny Richmond, and Stoa, the Monsters all-time goals leader, fired a wrist shot that beat Syracuse goalie Antero Niittymaki. Dean Strong also gathered an assist on the goal, Stoa's 10th of the season.

At 10:37 of the second period, Patrick Rissmiller received a pass from Greg Mauldin off the rush in front of the Syracuse net, and sent a puck into the top corner of the goal behind Niittymaki to extend the Monsters lead to 2-0 with another even-strength tally. The goal was the sixth of the season for Rissmiller.

With Syracuse on a five minute power play in the third period due to a boarding major called against Justin Mercier, the Crunch cut the Monsters lead in half at the 7:33 mark. Peter Holland found a rolling puck behind Coleman, and tapped it over the goal line.

That would be the only Syracuse goal, as the Monsters would hold on for the 2-1 victory.

Coleman stopped 39 of 40 shots, and is now 7-2-1 in 10 starts in net for the Monsters. Niittymaki is 0-2-0 on his current conditioning assignment from the San Jose Sharks; he stopped 17 of 19 shots.

Next up for the Monsters: their first meeting this season with the Texas Stars. The puck drops Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena at 10:45 AM.

NOTES: Richmond has at least a point in all five games he has played since joining the Monsters... Rissmiller has the game-winning tallies in each of the Monsters last two games; he scored the game-winner with 2:18 remaining in the third period of Friday night's 3-2 win in Peoria... Coleman's eight straight starts in net is the longest such streak for a Monsters goalie this season; Trevor Cann started seven straight games in net from 12/29 to 1/14... The Monsters are 13-4-0-0 when Stoa scores a point; he now has 49 goals and sits atop the Monsters all-time list... The Monsters finish the four-game season series against Syracuse with a 2-1-1-0 record.

Check out the Cleveland Monsters Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from February 12, 2012


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.

OurSports Central