AHL Hockey: Lake Erie Monsters Lose Final Home Game of the Season

The Lake Erie Monsters closed the doors at Quicken Loans Arena for the year, suffering a 4-1 loss to the Hamilton Bulldogs in front of 15,408 fans.

The fan total set the highest attendance mark of the year for the Monsters.  More impressively, it was the largest crowd at any AHL game this season.

The rowdy crowd showed why hockey and the Lake Erie Monsters will be a success in Cleveland for years to come.  The Monsters, even in defeat, entertained with a great final home effort.  They will close out their season today in Rochester against the Americans.

Wyatt Smith, the team captain and a great leader, was the lone goal scorer for the Monsters.  It seemed appropriate that this quiet lead-by-example captain should have the Monsters' last home-ice goal. Since the Monsters snapped him up, Smith has been one of the most entertaining players on the team.

When he first came up, David Jones went on a scoring tear.  The primary difference?  Wyatt Smith was added to his line.  After Jones went up to Colorado, Jamey Lundmark was the next person going on a scoring binge.  Yup, he was opposite Smith as well. 

The job of captain is to lead, to make your teammates better.  Smith is a born leader.  He’s one person Cleveland hopes to see back again next year.  Well, I take that back.   Hopefully, he’ll be in the NHL.  If not, lets hope he’s a Monster.

The Monsters fell into a 1-0 hole prior to Smith scoring his goal.  Cory Locke scored the first goal with assists from Jonathon Ferland and Cedrick Desjardins.

Smith evened the scoring at 1-1 less than a minute later, with assists from Peltier and T.J. Hensick.  Hensick, a player fans got to watch all season except while he was up in Colorado, was another bright spot fot the Monsters.  He represented Lake Erie at the AHL All Star Game this year in grand fashion, bring home player of the game honors.

The second period saw the Bulldogs break back on top 2-1 early, and defense ruled the rest of the time.  Matt D’Agostini scored this one, with assists from Cote and Locke.

The third period breakout goal for Hamilton was a penalty shot awarded to Kyle Chipchura with just over five minutes left in the game.  That proved to be the backbreaker for the Monsters.

Cory Locke rounded out the scoring for the night after Lake Erie pulled Goalie Mike Wahl in an attempt to catch up.  Locke’s goal, an empty netter, made it 4-1 in a game that was definitely closer than the final score indicated. 

The entire Monsters squad took to the ice after the game, and with raised sticks, saluted the crowd for their support on the season. 

The Monsters led the shot parade this evening 38-29.  Even as the curtain draws on Lake Erie’s first season here in Cleveland, I can’t wait until next year.

Third star of the game  – Lake Erie’s Wyatt Smith

Second star – Hamilton’s Matt D’Agostini

Star of the game – Hamilton’s Cory Locke.