Cleveland Monsters (6) at Texas Stars (5) – Overtime
Attendance: 4,852
Starters
Monsters
A.Broadhurst-Scott-T.Broadhurst
Austin-Cockerill
Kivlenieks
Stars
McKenzie-Dowling-Morin
Bodnarchuk-Hansson
Bow
Monsters Lines
A.Broadhurst-Scott-T.Broadhurst
Gerbe-Vigneault-Schroeder
Bittner-Thurkauf-Hodgson
Kujawinski-Pendenza-Koules
Monsters Pairings
Austin-Cockerill
Gaunce-Collins
Savage-Graves
Goal Recap
After dropping four games in a row on their west coast road trip, the Monsters were hungry for a win. Luckily, what the Texas Stars cooked up was delicious and the Monsters ate every last bite. They even extended their dinner to overtime so they could go back for seconds.
In the end, the Monsters walked away with a satisfying 6-5 win over the Stars.
Nathan Gerbe started the game off with a bang scoring 1:16 into the first period to give the Monsters the 1-0 lead.
Jordan Schroeder forced a turnover in the Stars zone and swept the puck over to Gerbe. From near the left face off dot, Gerbe fired the puck into the net past Landon Bow.
Two minutes and 22 seconds later, the Stars tied things up.
Matiss Kivlenieks was able to stop a quick shot by Roope Hintz. Tyler Kelleher was able to swoop in and slam the rebound into the net.
The Stars took the 2-1 lead 9:29 into the first period.
Sheldon Dries stole the puck from Gerbe and took off down the ice. From the slot, he went topshelf on Kivlenieks.
With 5:20 left in the first, the Monsters tied the game at two.
Schroeder forced another turnover. This time it was in the Monsters’ zone. He passed the puck to Alex Broadhurst who took off down the ice. Broadhurst passed it back to Schroeder who took off down the ice towards Bow. Before entering the crease, Schroeder fired the puck over Bow’s left shoulder.
Four minutes and 10 seconds later, A.Broadhurst extended the Monsters lead to 3-2.
Terry Broadhurst launched the puck from the left faceoff circle through traffic towards the net. Bow kicked the puck to A.Broadhurst who slammed it home for the goal.
The second period was a low goal scoring period for both teams.
Paul Bittner was the lone goal scorer 3:09 into the second period. He picked up a loose puck at center ice, took off down the ice, and through the right faceoff circle before going topshelf on Bow.
Four goals were scored in the third period. One from the Monsters and three from the Stars.
Reece Scarlett kicked the scoring off 2:06 into the third.
Dries skated through traffic and fired just a hair high. Scarlett knocked the puck out of the air and then shot it into the net to put the Stars within one of the Monsters, 4-3.
Two minutes and 15 seconds later, the Monsters extended their lead to 5-3 over the Stars.
Calvin Thurkauf launched the puck from below the goal line to Ryan Collins who was at the blue line. Collins fired the puck towards the net. Hayden Hodgson grabbed a piece of the puck before it sailed past Bow.
The Stars cut the Monsters’ lead to one with 13:51 to play in the third period.
Gavin Bayreuther passed the puck to Matt Mangene. He took off down the ice going from the Stars defensive zone into the Monsters’ defensive zone before passing the puck to Travis Morin. Schroeder was a hair off from stopping the pass. Morin ended up one-timing a shot from the left faceoff dot past Kivlenieks.
As time wound down, it appeared the Monsters were going to finish this game in regulation. The Stars refused to let this game end in regulation.
A battle along the boards led to Roope Hintz scoring the equalizer goal to send the game into overtime.
The Monsters were not having any of this overtime shenanigans and ended things 1:45 into extra time.
Ryan Collins cleared the puck away from Kivlenieks. Gerbe being in the right place at the right time received the puck and dangled his way to the net before scoring on Bow.
But Wait! There’s More
3 Stars
1st – Nathan Gerbe (2g, 1a)
2nd – Alex Broadhurst (1g, 2a)
3rd – Sheldon Dries (1g, 1a)
Game Stats
Captaincy Report
The usual suspects, Alex Broadhurst and Nathan Gerbe, wore the “A” in last night’s tilt. With Zac Dalpe out for the rest of the season, Cameron Gaunce round out the final spot on the leadership crew.
What’s Next
The roadtrip FINALLY ends on Sunday, March 18th at 5pm et against the San Antonio Rampage.
Cleveland returns home on Tuesday, March 20th. They play four games in six days before heading back out West again.