Sunday, November 11,2007

The 2-7 Lake Eerie Monsters faced an uphill battle taking on the undefeated Toronto Marlies as they tried for the second time in two nights for their first home win of the season. Not only was Toronto one of two undefeated teams left in the AHL, the other being Chicago , they also had the October player of the month on their roster in defenseman Derrick Waiser.

This one looked like some bad blood existed prior to the game. This was their third meeting of the season, the first two both swinging Toronto 's way. Cody McLeod of the Monsters challenged Kris Newbury to a Mexican standoff 59 seconds into the game. While no punches were thrown, both skaters were given 5 minutes for fighting right out of the gate. Lake Eerie had a jump in their step that was missing during the first period of Saturday's contest, and through the first five minutes, most of the action was in their offense end of the ice. Even so, the first non-fighting penalty of the day went against # 11 of the Monsters, Cody McCormick, for interference roughly five and a half minutes in. The Marlies could only manage one shot on goal and with 11 seconds left, picked up a penalty of their own by Jeremy Williams for Crosschecking. What a difference a day makes as # 23 David Jones blew by the Marlies defense and shot high over Justin Pogge's shoulder for the first score of the evening. Four shots, one goal. We are talking hockey!! Immediately thereafter, number 77 Staffen Kronwell of the Marlies was called for tripping, putting the Monsters right back on the power play. They capitalized yet again after controlling the entire tempo. This goal was not the finesse of the first, rather a grind it out rebound stuffed in at close range by #8 Cody McLeod. The Monsters power play, almost non-existent the night before, was now two for two. Not bad for a team ranked 23 rd in the league. The Marlies looked liked they'd expected a pushover and were getting dished quite the opposite.

The second goal woke the Marlies up from their slumber and their skaters picked up the pace. The Monsters Steve Margenson took a bad hooking call at 15:51 of the first, putting a league sixth ranked power play group in Toronto on the power play, yet the penalty kill and stellar goaltending of Jason Bacashihua left Lake Eerie on top after one 2-0. Shots on goal were surprisingly close at 12-10 in the Monsters favor even though the Monsters controlled the puck most of the period.

The second period opened with a momentum shift toward the Marlies. They kept the puck in the Monsters end of the zone most of the first three minutes, the Monsters did manage one quality scoring chance on a breakout. Toronto killed their own momentum on a penalty by Jeremy Williams. The Marlies capitalized shorthanded by left winger Robbie Earl from the right side, just over the left of Bacashihua's stick hand. Seconds later, the score was even at 2-2 as Williams scored again, this time over the glove side of Bacashihua. The comfortable 2-0 lead the Monster sat on just six minutes prior was gone!! It was the Monsters turn to take momentum, as multiple shots on goal were turned away. With 11:35 left in the periot, Center Darryl Boyce of the Marlies took a slashing penalty in the Marlie end of the ice, and the Monsters went on the attack. While an excellent power play, it yielded no goals, and the puck swung right back to Toronto . Tempers flared yet again with #4 Mitch Love dropping his gloves and goading #17 David Ling of the Marlies. Ling got an unsportsmanlike conduct. Love got no love and a delay of game, so a four-on-four ensued. Toronto had the better skating, but the Monsters passing trumped the skating, and the two minutes went by with only the Monsters mustering a few scoring chances. The Marlies pressed hard, and the Monsters broke out with the puck, skated the length of the ice, and scored!! 3-2 Monsters. Great stuff in goal that unfortunately was immediately answered by the Marlies with 3.33 left in the second period by # 2 Bryan Muir. Assist to # 25Ben Ondrus. And so ended the second period.

Third period opened with the Monsters getting a great chance to take the lead on an Alex Foster penalty. The Marlies were up to the task of the penalty kill, and ended up with a power play of their own with 4:30 gone on a high stick from #8 Cody McCleod. David Ling had a nice slap shot for the Marlies that was stopped stone cold by the glove of zJason Sacashihua. The Monsters had two short handed chances of their own, neither resulting in the goal air horn going off. With 12:04 left in the third, the sound everyone wanted to hear went off. GOAL!!! #22 Steve Margeson took it to the house, and the Monsters led 4-3. Assists were rung up by #8 McLeod and #11 McCormick. Now all the D had to do was hold Toronto eleven measly minutes!! A turnover in front of the goal looked bad for the Monsters, but they came away unscathed. The Monsters, to their credit, stayed on the offensive, and it cost them. 10:28 into the third #35 Jason Bacashihua gave up a rebound that the Marlies #11 Kris Newbury slammed home for the equalizer. Less than a minute later, #23 Alex Foster scored a goal that should have been stopped, and the Toronto Marlies were back on top 5-4. Well, if nothing else, you could say the game was exciting!! The big hits started ringing in now, boards echoing through the "Q" namely coming off the shoulders of Johnny Boychuk. With 1:30 left in the game, the Monsters could not get the puck out of fheir own end so goalie Bacashihua had to stay. He finally cleared when the puck went to Toronto 's end for a face off. The six-on-five was thwarted by a broken stick, and the Marlies, won 5-4. Shots on goal ended in favor of the Marlies 38-34. You'd have never known these two teams were at opposite ends of the spectrum in the standings. Lake Eerie played a great game. Other than the two times they gave up goals back-to-back they played a great game. Next game is November 15 th . Be there, support hockey in Cleveland , and you are guaranteed a fun time.