AHL Cleveland Monsters

Monsters Can't Solve Americans, Fall in Buffalo

December 28, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release


The Lake Erie Monsters (15-14-2-1) fell to the Rochester Americans (15-11-2-1) by a 4-1 score Friday night at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. The game was played in front of a sold out crowd at the home of the Americans' NHL parent club, the Buffalo Sabres. The loss snaps the Monsters streak of four games unbeaten-in-regulation and the Monsters are winless (0-2-1-0) against Rochester in three meetings so far this season. With assists in the game, Andrew Agozzino and David van der Gulik stretched their point streaks to seven and six games, respectively.

Cody Hodgson scored the game's first goal for Rochester on a five-on-three power play at 14:48 of the first period, giving the Americans a 1-0 lead.

Rochester scored twice in the second period - one from Mark Mancari (2:10), and another power play goal from Hodgson (7:52) - before the Monsters eventually found the back of the net. Dean Strong banged home a rebound from the top of the crease at 8:33 of the period with assists going to van der Gulik and Agozzino on the power play. The goal was Strong's first of the season.

Rochester's Nick Tarnasky added a goal in the third period (11:54) to regain a three-goal lead for the Amerks, and the game ended with Rochester winning 4-1.

Sami Aittokallio stopped 21 of 24 shots and takes the loss, falling to 9-8-0. Aittokallio was relieved in the third period by Calvin Pickard in net; Pickard stopped five of six shots in 20 minutes. David Leggio is 14-8-1 after the win in net for Rochester; he stopped 36 of 37 shots.

The Monsters are back in action Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena against the Hamilton Bulldogs.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2012


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