Monsters Hold on for Win in Rockford
Published on February 8, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release
Despite allowing a pair of goals in the final two minutes of play, the Lake Erie Monsters (22-22-2-2) held off the Rockford IceHogs (20-23-1-4) behind 40 saves from Gerald Coleman, preserving a 4-3 victory in Rockford Wednesday night. Four different Monsters tallied goals, as the Monsters extend their unbeaten-in-regulation streak to four games.
Following a scoreless first period in which Coleman made 17 saves, Mark Olver received a pass from Ryan Stoa and fired a puck by Rockford goalie Carter Hutton to give the Monsters a 1-0 lead 91 seconds into the second period. David Liffiton also assisted on Olver's second goal of the season.
Justin Mercier extended the Monsters lead to 2-0 when he received a pass from Brad Malone, faked to his backhand, and sent a puck over the goal line at 12:50 of the second period. The goal was Mercier's third in two games and 11th of the season.
Ben Smith answered for Rockford on a power play just over three minutes later on a back-door one-timer, sending the game into the second intermission with the Monsters leading 2-1.
At 5:48 of the third, Evan Brophey received a Patrick Rissmiller pass in front of the Rockford net and beat Hutton from the top of the goal crease to regain a two-goal lead for the Monsters. Brophey's 13th of the season was a power play goal, and was also assisted by Danny Richmond.
Malone found a bouncing puck at the side of the Rockford net at 10:47 of the third period and slipped the puck home to give the Monsters a 4-1 lead. Richmond and Luke Walker assisted on the goal, Malone's seventh this season.
Dylan Olsen scored on a one-timer from the high slot for Rockford and Jimmy Hayes from in-close, both in the final two minutes of the game, but the Monsters were able to hold on for a 4-3 win.
Coleman made his sixth straight start in net, and with 40 saves on 43 shots improves his individual record to 5-2-1. Hutton is 10-7-2 for Rockford after stopping 28 of 32 shots.
The Monsters return to the ice Friday night in Peoria when they visit the Rivermen to finish up a four-game road swing; the puck drops at 8:35 and all the action can be heard on ESPN 850 WKNR. The Monsters return home Sunday for a 3:00 PM faceoff with the Syracuse Crunch, with the action being carried live on ESPN 850 WKNR.
NOTES: Luke Walker's three-game goal streak snapped in the win in Rockford, but his assist gives him a four-game point streak... Danny Richmond's two assists give him his first multi-point game as a Monster; he now has a goal and four points in his first three games with the team and at least a point in each of his first three games with the club... Evan Brophey has a four-game point streak after his goal against Rockford... the Monsters power play is eight for its last 36 attempts... Coleman is 3-0-0-1 over his last four starts for the Monsters.
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