With just under a minute to go, the Monsters were reeling from giving up a two goal lead. Nathan Smith made sure they wouldn’t head to over time for the second day as the Monsters regrouped for a 4-3 win. Lake Erie’s season looks promising with the 2-0 start.
After winning the season opener against the Grand Rapids Griffins in OT, also a 4-3 affair, the Monsters took to the ice less than 24 hours later for a 5:00 Sunday home game against the Toronto Marlies. The Marlies came in 0-1, suffering the reverse fate of the Monsters, an OT loss in their first contest.
This game played out the opposite of the first game with the exception of a slow Monsters start, a plethora of Monster penalties, stellar Monster penalty killing. Lake Erie chased down Grand Rapids on Saturday, but gave up the lead on Sunday. In both cases, though, they found an extra gear when they needed it, emerging with four points against division foes.
The Monsters got on the board first in this one. After killing off a penalty, the Chris Stewart, T.J. Hensick, Jesse Boulerice line all kicked in. Boulerice scored for a 1-0 Monsters’ lead, assists by Hensick and Stewart.
Toronto would answer halfway through the first.
After crushing Lake Erie defenseman Mike Vernace against the boards with a thundering fore check, Torontocenter Andre Deveaux passed one in front to Bates Battaglia and he slammed it through the five hole of Tyler Weiman for the equalizer.
The Monsters regained the lead with 3.46 left; this one on the power play. Hensick made a great pass off the boards to Nigel Williams. Williams was plastered to the ice right in front of the net, squeezing of a weak shot, but the rebound went straight out to Brian Willsie and he poked home his second goal in as many nights for the 2-1 lead.
The first period ended with the Monsters a man down. Brian Willsie took a penalty with 21 seconds left but the Toronto Marlies couldn’t capitalize.
The second period was LOADED with action.
Eleven minutes in, three players left the ice, two of them Marlies. Kris Newbury ended up the worst for wear, tagged with a ten minute misconduct for unsportsmanlike behavior. Boulerice was in the midst of it for Lake Erie, and he’d get his with his own later in the frame.
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