AHL Cleveland Monsters

Monsters Downed In Overtime By IceHogs

Published on December 8, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release


The Lake Erie Monsters fell to the Rockford IceHogs, 4-3, in overtime at Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday.

The Monsters got on the board first with a Chris Stewart power play marker at the 14:50 mark of the opening period. Stewart's goal, his eighth of the season, was assisted by defensemen Jeff Jillson and Mike Vernace.

The second Monsters marker was scored by Stewart's linemate David Jones. Vernace found Jones on the short side just off a screen to notch Lake Erie's second power play tally of the game at the 16:45 mark.

Rockford found their stride in the second as right wing Jack Skille scored his own power play marker at the 11:02 mark.

Exactly three minutes later, at the 14:02 mark, Rockford struck again on the power play as right wing Troy Brouwer scored his 11th goal of the season.

The Monsters answered precisely two minutes later on a David Jones steal and breakaway that led to his second power play tally of the game at the 16:02 mark. Ray Macias was credited with the assist on Jones's goal. Macias has tallied two points in as many games.

"We have been working hard as a team. We got the puck in deep and made them take some penalties. We capitalized on three power play goals tonight so that was huge for us," said Jones.

A penalty shot that was the result of a Monsters player falling on top of the puck in the crease was taken by IceHog Kris Versteeg and subsequently denied by Tyler Weiman at the 13:51 mark.

The IceHogs came back to tie the game with less than three minutes remaining on a goal by Mike Blunden.

In the overtime period, Rockford wasted no time putting the game to an end as Prestin Ryan scored the game-winner 1:20 into the frame. The goal marked Ryan's third point of the game as he assisted on Skille and Blunden's tallies earlier in the game.

The Monsters cashed in three of the eight power play opportunities that Rockford presented them with on the evening.

"We have been waiting for that to start to click. Tonight we had some good opportunities and the guys responded well. That's got to be part of our game plan because we are having trouble sometimes scoring five-on-five. We have to get some momentum on our power play, so it was nice to see," said Monsters head coach Joe Sacco.

Tyler Weiman finished the game with 43 saves on 47 shots for the Monsters, while the opposing goaltender, Corey Crawford, stopped 28 of 31 shots.

The Monsters get back into action on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. versus the Syracuse Crunch at The Q.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 8, 2007


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