Evan Brophey netted the first Monsters hat trick of the season and Ryan Stoa scored for the second straight night to propel the Monsters (6-9-1-0) to a 4-1 Brophey’s first of three goals game on a one-timer in front of the Rampage net at 3:50 of the opening period. Greg Mauldin found Brophey open in front, and the center wasted no time in picking up his third goal of the season. Patrick Bordeleau also assisted on the goal, earning his first point of the season.

Just over five minutes later, Luke Walker led a rush on the left wing, dished to Brad Malone, who found a streaking Stoa in the slot. Stoa one-timed Malone’s pass by San Antonio goalie Jacob Markstrom for his second goal of the season, and second in as many nights.

Brophey capped off the explosive first period for the Monsters with his second goal of the game, and fourth of the season, at the 14:13 mark of the first. On what was a highlight-reel play, Mauldin forced the puck deep into the offensive zone, finding David van der Gulik behind the net. van der Gulik, in turn, cut behind the goal, and sent a no-look backhand pass onto the stick of Brophey, who wasted no time in making the score 3-0 in favor of the Monsters.

The Monsters extended their lead to 4-0 at 14:42 of the second period when Brophey picked up the rebound from a Tyson Barrie point shot to complete his hat trick. Brophey’s third goal of the night, and team-leading fifth of the season, came on the power play, with an assist also going to van der Gulik, who has back-to-back two-point games.

San Antonio’s Bracken Kearns redirected a Mike Kostka point shot at 7:32 of the third period on a power play to cut the Monsters lead to three goals, but that would be all the scoring in the game.

Desjardins stopped 27 of 28 shots in improving to 3-2-0 on the season. He has now won back-to-back games, and started back-to-back games for the first time this season. Markstrom stopped 26 of 30 shots for the Rampage; he is 0-2-0.

The Monsters stay at Quicken Loans Arena for two games in three nights against the Peoria Rivermen beginning on next Thursday. The game gets underway at 7:00 PM, with all the action airing live on WHKW-AM 1220.

NOTES: David van der Gulik has four multi-point games in his last five games played; he leads the Monsters with 13 points in 11 games this season… Prior to Brophey’s hat trick, the last Monsters hat trick came on 12/3/10, courtesy of Patrick Rissmiller against the Chicago Wolves, who actually had four goals in that game… Greg Mauldin has three assists in his last two games… Rookie forward Brad Malone has points in back-to-back games for the first time in his pro career… Luke Walker has a two-game assist streak… The Monsters failed to register a win against San Antonio in four meetings last season, but have won the first two meetings this season… San Antonio is now affiliated with the Florida Panthers after a six-year partnership with the Phoenix Coyotes; the Monsters were 7-1-0 against former Panthers affiliate Rochester last season… The Monsters upcoming two games against Peoria will be the club’s first meetings with a Midwest Division foe.