AHL Cleveland Monsters

Monsters Win Third Straight, Top Wolves 3-2 in OT

February 9, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release


CLEVELAND - In the fifth of eight games between the two teams this season, Cleveland's Lake Erie Monsters defeated the Chicago Wolves on Tuesday at The Q in overtime by a final score of 3-2. With the win, the Monsters' third consecutive victory, Lake Erie improved to 25-16-4-3 overall this season and with a .594 points percentage, currently ranks alone in fourth place in the AHL's Central Division standings.

The Wolves claimed a 1-0 lead late in the opening frame on Tuesday, when Danny Kristo notched his 15th of the season at 17:43 of the period at even-strength. As time wound down in the first, Alex Broadhurst and Daniel Zaar combined to set up Oliver Bjorkstrand for a five-on-three power-play goal that tied the game at one with just 18 seconds remaining in the period.

The middle frame's lone goal went Chicago's way at 15:35 when Kristo powered home his second marker of the game at even-strength to make it 2-1 Wolves, but in the final period, Bjorkstrand struck again at 2:28 with a turnaround slapper, fed by Markus Hannikainen and Dillon Heatherington, to tie the game at two and force a sudden-death, three-on-three overtime period.

Just 1:14 into the extra session, a swift breakout from Zaar to Heatherington sent Hannikainen hurtling into the offensive zone with enough momentum to launch a left-circle wrist shot that beat Chicago goaltender Jordan Binnington for Hannikainen's sixth goal of the season and a 3-2 Monsters victory.

Lake Erie net-minder Brad Thiessen improved to 7-2-2 in net for the Monsters by virtue of a 22-save performance, while Binnington's 26 stops weren't enough for the Wolves. The Monsters' Tuesday win propelled Lake Erie into fourth place in the Central Division, and into the Central's final playoff spot, for the first time since December 31st.

Next up for the Monsters, it's a Thursday rematch vs. the Wolves with full coverage, live from The Q, underway at 7:00 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.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 9, 2016


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