Eurolanche

Monsters Win another Wild West Shootout

Lake Erie once a found themselves in the shootout for the second time in back to back nights. Once again Lake Erie was able to win the game off some stellar performances from key players. This makes the Monsters 4-0 in the shootout this year. Giving the Monsters their 5 win in 6 games putting them in the lead for the North Division.

Lake Erie open the scoring in the first with a goal from Luke Walker. He was assisted on the play by Mike Sgarbossa beauty of a pass. The Texas Stars were able to tie the game back up late in the period on a goal by Matt Fraser. The Star heavily outshot the Monsters in the first with 21 shots to the Monsters 4. Still the period ended tied.

The second period started much the same as the first. Bryan Lerg got the lead back for the Monsters. He was assisted on the goal by Sean Sullivan and Karl Stollery. Then once again the Stars tied the game back later in the period with a goal by Tomas Vincour. While this period was more even in shots with both teams registering 12 shots on net. The Stars still held a heavy lead in shots 33-16 going into the third.

The Monsters struck fast and hard in the third with two goals just 14 seconds apart around the 6 min mark. Sgarbossa found the back of the net first with some nifty passing from Lerg and Walker. Then it was Brad Malone turn to score with a helper from Mark Olver to give the Monsters a 4-2 lead. The Stars clawed their way back in late in the game with goals from Cody Eakin and Fraser in the game’s final minutes. After three periods the game was tied 4-4 and for the second night in a row heading to overtime for the Monsters. Texas had the lead in shot 44-24 almost doubling the Monsters.

OT remained scoreless so once again it was shootout time for the Monsters. After already having another record high night for saves with 45 Calvin Pickard stopped 3 of 4 Star shooters. Malone, Lerg, and Olver all scored in the shootout to ensure the Monsters second straight shootout win in back to back nights 5-4. Pickard once again set a new season high for himself with 45 saves on 49 shots. Stars goalie Jack Campbell night was nowhere near as busy making 22 saves on 26 shots.

First Star       LE Calvin Pickard 45 saves

Second Star  LE Mike Sgarbossa 1 goal 1 assist

Third Star      LE Bryan Lerg  1 goal 1 assist