Monsters Take Game One in Rockford, 5-2
Published on April 20, 2016 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release
ROCKFORD, IL - In the franchise's first Calder Cup Playoff appearance since 2011, Cleveland's Lake Erie Monsters claimed a 1-0 lead in the team's first-round Central Division Semi-Final best-of-five game series vs. the Rockford IceHogs by virtue of a 5-2 victory on Wednesday at the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, IL.
The Monsters grabbed a 1-0 lead at 8:32 of the first period on Wednesday when Sonny Milano sent a ricocheting puck off the post, and a Rockford defenseman, for his first of the playoffs at even strength on feeds from Ryan Craig and Zach Weresnki. After successfully killing a penalty late in the frame, the Monsters pushed their lead to 2-0 on a one-time crank from Werenski at 19:41, thanks to a visionary setup from Alex Broadhurst and Michael Chaput.
Lake Erie collected the middle frame's lone score at 11:11 when Dean Kukan scalded home a left-circle slapper on the power-play to make it 3-0 Monsters with Oliver Bjorkstrand and Broadhurst posting assists on the play. Lake Erie extended their lead to 4-0 at 9:04 of the third when a power-play marker from Broadhurst developed in the right circle thanks to a nifty passing play by Kukan and Bjorkstrand.
Rockford rallied with back-to-back even strength goals from Tyler Motte at 14:54 and Dennis Rasmussen at 16:18 of the third, respectively, but an empty-net power-play score from Trent Vogelhuber at 18:58, fed by Dillon Heatherington and Chaput, established Lake Erie's 5-2 final margin of victory.
Joonas Korpisalo earned the win in net for the Monsters by virtue of a 28-save performance while IceHogs net-minder Mac Carruth made 21 stops on 25 pucks faced in defeat.
Game three of the Monsters' first-round series vs. Rockford awaits on Saturday at The Q and plenty of great seats remain available, but fans are encouraged to secure their seats quickly to avoid missing out on the return of Playoff Hockey to Cleveland! With Wednesday's game-one Monsters win, tickets to Lake Erie's second home playoff game (either game four of the first round on Monday, April 25th or game one of the second round, time TBD) is NOW ON SALE.
Next up for the Monsters, it's game two of the Central Division Semi-Finals vs. the IceHogs on Thursday with full coverage, live from the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, underway at 8:00 pm on ESPN 850 WKNR and the Monsters Hockey Network.
Tickets for every Monsters home game start at just $10 and are on sale now! Full and partial season ticket memberships are also available and provide you with the best seat locations, custom member benefits and the lowest ticket prices. Group outing and birthday bash packages for 10 or more people are also on sale now. All tickets can be purchased by visiting LakeErieMonsters.com, calling (216) 420-0000, visiting The Q Box Office or any Northern Ohio Discount Drug Mart. Be sure to follow the Monsters on Twitter @monstershockey, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lakeeriemonsters, and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/monstershockey.
American Hockey League Stories from April 20, 2016
- Monsters Take Game One in Rockford, 5-2 - Cleveland Monsters
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- P-Bruins Force Overtime, Drop Game 1 to Penguins - Providence Bruins
- Rangers Recall Seven Players from Hartford - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Canucks Sign Goaltender Thatcher Demko to Three-Year Entry-Level Contract - Utica Comets
- Anaheim Ducks Sign Defenseman Keaton Thompson to Three-Year Entry-Level Contract - San Diego Gulls
- Chicago Wolves Sign Clark for 2016-17 Season - Chicago Wolves
- IceHogs Gear up for Game 1 of Calder Cup Playoffs - Rockford IceHogs
- Sound Tigers Sign Greco to ATO - Bridgeport Islanders
- Red Wings Recall Ouellet - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Albany Devils Going Red for First Round - Albany Devils
- Phantoms Weekly - Phantoms Cap 2015-16 Season on High Note - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Bears Sign Domenic Monardo to Professional Tryout - Hershey Bears
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