Monsters Bounce Back with Shutout Win
Published on January 1, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release
After falling to the North-Division leading Bulldogs in Hamilton on Thursday night, the Lake Erie Monsters spelled revenge with a 3-0 victory in a rematch at Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday. Goaltender John Grahame recorded 30 saves for his first shutout of the campaign, backstopping Lake Erie's third shutout of the season.
With the win, the Monsters improve to 15-15-3-4 overall and 10-4-2-2 at home, while moving into a tie with Grand Rapids for fourth place in the North Division.
Lake Erie jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a power play tally at the 8:37 mark of the first period. Patrick Rissmiller snapped a shot from the right circle that was tipped in by Ryan Stoa. Stoa's goal came as his fourth point (2G, 2A) in as many outings and his 11th goal of the season, which ties the team lead. Ben Walter also assisted for his 17th helper and 26th point of the season, both of which lead the Monsters. Walter extended his current point streak to four games (1G, 3A) with the assist. Rissmiller leads the Monsters with nine power play points (3G, 6A) on the season, while he's totaled six points (1G, 5A) in his last four games.
After the opening 20 minutes, the Monsters led by a 1-0 score and a commanding 11-5 shot count.
Lake Erie pushed its lead to 2-0 at 4:47 of the middle frame, when Mike Carman scored his fifth shorthanded goal of the season. Justin Mercier assisted for his second point (1G, 1A) in his last three games. Carman leads AHL rookies in shorthanded goals (5) and points (5). Overall, Carman is tied for first in the league in shorthanded tallies, while his five shorthanded points rank second.
With just 1:20 remaining in the period, the Monsters extended their lead to 3-0 when Julian Talbot set up Matt Ford's 11th goal of the season. Ford ties Mark Olver and Stoa for the team lead in goals, while Talbot's 16th helper of the season ranks second on the club. Defenseman Kevin Montgomery also assisted for his fourth in his last three games.
The Bulldogs registered 12 shots to Lake Erie's eight in the middle period.
A scoreless third period saw 13 Hamilton shots, compared to Lake Erie's eight, resulting in the final 3-0 score.
Hamilton goaltender Robert Mayer finished with 24 saves on 27 shots.
Grahame's shutout improves his record to 4-5-2.
The Monsters were perfect in killing off all seven of Hamilton's opportunities with the man advantage. Lake Erie has notched five power play goals in its last 16 chances with their own man advantage (31.3%).
The Monsters have outscored their opponent by a combined 12-3 count in their last three home games.
Lake Erie will ride its season-high, three-game home winning streak into a 7:00 p.m. tilt with the Rochester Americans on Tuesday, January 4th at Quicken Loans Arena. The Monsters beat the Amerks 4-1 at The Q on Wednesday, December 30, 2010.
American Hockey League Stories from January 1, 2011
- Monsters Bounce Back with Shutout Win - Cleveland Monsters
- Aeros Rally in Final Minute, Beat Rampage 4-3 - Houston Aeros
- Last Minute Rally Puts Aeros over Rampage 4-3 - San Antonio Rampage
- Islanders Acquire Defenseman Ty Wishart - Bridgeport Islanders
- Manitoba Drops New Year's Day Clash with Chicago 3-2 - Manitoba Moose
- Former Amerk Spoils New Year's Celebration in Rochester - Rochester Americans
- Lightning Acquire G Dwayne Roloson From Islanders - Norfolk Admirals
- New Year, Same Result Against Rivermen - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Falcons Start 2011 With Impressive Win - Springfield Falcons
- Wolves Ring In New Year With 3-2 Win In Manitoba - Chicago Wolves
- Paetsch Paces Crunch to 4-1 Win Over Rochester - Syracuse Crunch
- Monarchs Drop New Year's Ball - Manchester Monarchs
- Bulldogs Shut out by Monsters 3-0 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Whale win over Bruins - Connecticut Whale
- Allen Opens 2011 With Fifth Shutout - Peoria Rivermen
- Greg Moore Game-Winner Extends Streak - Adirondack Phantoms
- Admirals Comeback Falls Short in 4-3 Loss to Penguins - Milwaukee Admirals
- Brust the Difference as Senators Blank Checkers, 3-0 - Charlotte Checkers
- Late Goal Downs Devils in Adirondack - Albany Devils
- Aeros Sign Jed Ortmeyer - Houston Aeros
- P-Bruins Fall to Whale 6-2 - Providence Bruins
- Game Night: Amerks, Crunch Ring in the New Year Tonight at Blue Cross Arena - Rochester Americans
- Anaheim Reassigns Defenseman John de Gray from Elmira to Syracuse - Syracuse Crunch
- Canadiens Assign Brett Festerling to Bulldogs - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Falcons Host the Monarchs Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- Omark Assigned to Oklahoma City; Belle Recalled by Edmonton - Oklahoma City Barons
- Barons Notes for December 28 - Oklahoma City Barons
- Preview: Aeros, Rampage Kick off 2011 - Houston Aeros
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