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AHL Cleveland Monsters

Third Period Comeback Attempt Too Late as Monsters Lose to Rochester

March 3, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Monsters News Release


After giving up four straight goals over the course of 20 minutes during the second and third periods, the Lake Erie Monsters (26-23-2-7) were unable to complete a comeback attempt on Sunday, falling 4-2 to the Rochester Americans (28-22-2-1). A crowd of 8,136 at Quicken Loans Arena - including 500 dogs, as part of the day's "Pucks & Paws" promotion - saw Lake Erie score twice late in the third, but it wasn't enough.

Luke Walker had a goal and an assist in the third period, while Andrew Agozzino's goal vaults him into the Monsters scoring lead with 39 points. Sami Aittokallio returned in net, seeing his first action since January 26th. Rochester takes the third spot in the North Division with the win, switching position with the Monsters following Sunday's game.

Following a scoreless first period, Rochester scored twice in the second. The first was netted by Luke Adam, as he delayed in front of the Monsters net and sent a wrist shot past Aittokallio at 5:45. Mark Mancari's shot from the left wing deflected into the Monsters net at 10:55 to give the Americans a 2-0 lead.

Rochester's Maxime Legault scored twice in the first 5:07 of the third period to extend Rochester's lead to 4-0, before Walker came up with the puck in the Rochester zone off a turnover. Walker sent a pass from the right circle to the far post, where Agozzino tapped in his 14th goal of the season at 13:12 to make the score 4-1.

With 1:19 left in regulation, Walker used his speed up the right wing to create a shooting lane, and Walker sent a puck short-side over the left shoulder of Rochester goalie David Leggio for his seventh goal of the season. Mike Connolly assisted on the goal, which would be the final tally in the hockey game.

Aittokallio stopped 22 of 26 shots in the loss; his personal record falls to 11-9-1. Leggio is 28-17-1 after stopping 38 of 40 Monsters shots.

The Monsters are back in action Tuesday at 7:00 PM when they host the Peoria Rivermen at The Q.

NOTES: The Monsters were 0-3 on the power play and are 0-8 on the power play over their last two games; both losses... The Monsters were 1-2 on the penalty kill, and are now 22-25 on the penalty kill over the last six games... Mike Sgarbossa's six-game point streak came to a close in the loss to Rochester; Sgarbossa had four goals and 10 points over the six-game streak, which stretched back to January 18... The Monsters Daniel Maggio and Tyler McNeely each registered five-minute major penalties for fighting in the loss... The Monsters are now 0-4-1-0 against Rochester this season, and will meet once more on April 5 in Rochester, NY... The Monsters home record moves to 12-12-1-4.

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