The Monsters opened the weekend with a game against the top team in the AHL, the Toronto Marlies. Early in the first, out of a board battle, Michael Chaput found Alex Broadhurst who drove to the net and put the puck past the Marlies goalie. After that, it was all Marlies. They scored three straight before the Monsters started a comeback. First, early in the third, TJ Tynan found Michael Paliotta who shot and, well, I don’t think anyone in the building knew he scored off of it including Marlies goalie Antoine Bibeau. Just over three minutes later, the Monsters struck again when, on a four on two, Chaput found Mark Cundari in the slot who scored to tie it at three. Unfortunately, the Marlies scored early in OT on the power play to clinch the win and the AHL’s trophy for being the best team in the regular season. Anton Forsberg made 28 saves in the loss.
Now for a scary moment that happened in the game. In the second period, forward Brett Gallant collapsed on the Monsters bench and was taken to a local hospital. It was announced post-game that Brett was alert and conscious. We’re all hoping for the best – including a complete recovery – for Gallant.
The next night it was off to Rochester with a roster that received a few reinforcements that had been in Columbus. Oliver Bjorkstrand and Josh Anderson joined up with the team after playing in the Jackets’ game in Buffalo. In the first, with the Monsters trailing 1-0, Trent Vogelhuber opened the scoring with his 11th of the season out of a scramble in front. The Amerks responded by scoring a late first period goal. The Monsters then allowed an early second period goal before the Zaar would take things over. Midway through the second off a three on two, Daniel Zaar finished after a scramble that the announcers didn’t even think he’d scored. Later in the second, Broadhurst drove in and whiffed on a shot but he got the puck to Zaar who fired a missile to tie the game and send it into overtime. In OT off a faceoff, Zach Werenski fired a wristshot that beat the Americans goalie for his first pro point and goal. Forsberg made 28 saves in the win. Here’s Tony Brown’s call of Werenski’s goal because first pro goals are more fun with some enthusiasm.
Closing out the weekend in Cleveland, the Monsters faced a rematch of Saturday’s game and it didn’t go well. The Monsters lost by a score of 2-0. Joonas Korpisalo returned to the Monsters ice, along with the rest of the Monsters that had been playing in Columbus, but only made 13 saves in the loss.
As for next week, the Monsters finish off the season with another three in three starting off with a playoff preview against Grand Rapids and then finishing off the season with a pair against Charlotte.
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