Cameron Gaunce’s overtime winner secured a perfect weekend for the Lake Erie Monsters (30-25-2-3), who topped the Charlotte Checkers (31-19-2-6) by a 2-1 score Sunday afternoon at Quicken Loans Arena. The Monsters have played into extra frames in four straight games, winning their last three. The victory also marks the seventh consecutive home ice win for the Monsters, who played in front of 8,539 fans and 500 dogs at Sunday’s “Pucks & Paws” game.

After a scoreless opening period, Charlotte’s Chris Terry streaked up the left wing and fired a puck five-hole on Monsters goalie Cedrick Desjardins to give the Checkers a 1-0 lead at the 9:37 mark. The goal was the lone blemish on Desjardins’ record in the game.

At 15:30 of the middle frame, the Monsters tied the game when Greg Mauldin stole a puck at the Monsters blue line, beat a Checkers defender, and sent it top-shelf on Charlotte goalie Justin Peters for a shorthanded goal. The score would remain 1-1 through the end of regulation.

In the overtime period, Patrick Rissmiller rolled a puck toward the Charlotte goal that was muscled over the line by Gaunce at 1:20 of the extra frame. The game-winning goal was the fourth of the season for Gaunce; Rissmiller picked up the assist.

Cedrick Desjardins improves to 11-6-1 with the win; he stopped 34 of 35 shots. Peters’ record moves to 6-6-2 with the shootout loss; he stopped 24 of 26 shots.

Next up for the Monsters: back-to-back games in Oklahoma City Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m.; part of their last three-in-three of the season. All the action can be heard on AM 1220 WHKW. The weekend road trip concludes with a 5:00 PM game Sunday in San Antonio, again airing on AM 1220 WHKW. The Monsters will return home for a back-to-back set Friday and Saturday, March 16th and 17th.

NOTES: The Monsters are now 10-3-0-2 since the all-star break… With Gaunce’s game-winning goal, the Monsters improve to 11-2-2-0 when a defenseman scores… The Monsters are 18-7-2-3 in one-goal games… The Monsters were 7-7 on the penalty kill in the two wins this weekend against Charlotte… The Monsters have failed to score on the power play in five straight games after missing on three chances Sunday against Charlotte… Greg Mauldin’s shorthanded is the third shorty for the Monsters this season, and first since 12/28/11 against Grand Rapids… The Monsters are 3-1-0-0 against the Charlotte Checkers this season, as the four-game season series comes to a close.


Doug Plagens' Call of the Game