Cleveland Monsters (2) at Tucson Roadrunners (3) – Overtime
Attendance: 4,021
Starters
Monsters
Broadhurst-Pendenza-Schroeder
Ramage-Gaunce
Thiessen
Roadrunners
Merkley-Strome-Crouse
Clendening-Campbell
Miska
Goal Recap
A little over six minutes into the game, Tyler Gaudet skated around the back of the Monsters’ net looking to score backdoor. When he realized going backdoor wasn’t a possibility, Gaudet passed the puck to Mike Sislo who one-timed it from the left faceoff dot past Brad Thiessen.
The Monsters would tie things up seven and a half minutes into the second period. Miles Koules scooped the puck up from the far wall and tossed it towards Hunter Miska. It’s amazing the puck went into the net considering the odd angle it was shot from.
Not even a minute and a half later, Nick Merkley was left alone in front of Thiessen and slammed home the puck for the Roadrunners lead.
Halfway through the period, Dean Kukan launched a shot from the blue line towards Miska. Sam Vigneault deflected the puck into the net to tie things up for the Monsters.
The third period came and went without a goal. For the second night in a row, the Monsters and Roadrunners headed to overtime.
A minute and a half into overtime, Thiessen skated to the far left wall and tried to clear the puck. A quick thinking Merkley barreled down the ice, scooped up the puck, and fired it into the unattended Monsters’ net.
The Roadrunners skated away with the overtime win.
But Wait! There’s More
Quick Thoughts
- Doyle Somerby knows how to hold someone against the boards during a battle without taking a penalty. This allows his teammates to have quick access to the puck without joining the battle.
- After a slow start to the season, Paul Bittner is finally top speed. Over the past few games, Bittner has laid out multiple scoring opportunities for his teammates. He also has consistently been placed in the right place at the right time. I’m looking forward to what Bittner will bring to the ice the rest of the season.
- Joe Pendenza continues to be a force to be reckoned with this season. He has been phenomenal at outmuscling the competition and attacking the net.
- Calvin Thurkauf has a wicked slapshot. In the third period, he fired the puck so hard at Miska it knocked his goalie mask off. /
3 Stars
1st – Nick Merkley (2g, 0a)
2nd – Mike Sislo (1g, 0a)
3rd – Hunter Miska (23 shots faced, 21 saves, TOI: 61:30)
What’s Next
The Monsters head to Iowa to take on the Wild on November 11th and 12th.