Despite a remarkable 35-save effort from Monsters goalie Tyler Weiman, Lake Erie dropped a tough 3-2 shootout loss to the Milwaukee Admirals Tuesday night at Quicken Loans Arena. The shootout loss earned the Monsters a point in the standings, putting them over the Toronto Marlies for sixth place in the North Division, and moving to 16-18-0-4 on the year. Milwaukee improved to 19-12-1-5 with the win.

Cedric McNicoll opened the scoring for the Monsters, netting his fifth goal of the season eight minutes in. After Josh Aspenlind’s shot was blocked on a two-on-two break into the zone, McNicoll picked up the loose change and swept it past Admirals goalie Mark Dekanich from the high slot.

But 40 seconds later, the Admirals would tie the game on Dave Scatchard’s ninth of the year. Scored at the 8:24 mark of the first, Scatchard’s goal was assisted by Peter Olvecky and former Monster Chris Mueller, and would send the teams into the second period tied at one.

The game remained knotted at one for the majority of the middle frame, until Monsters veteran defenseman Tom Preissing broke the tie with his third goal of the season with four minutes left in the second period. Taking a pass from Wes O’Neill, Preissing wired a one-timer past the glove of Dekanich from the point. Matt Ford recorded the secondary assist, and has posted a point in the past four consecutive games, notching four points (1G, 3A) in that time.

The Monsters would head into the third period with a 2-1 lead, and would hold onto that lead until Scatchard tied the game with just 90 seconds remaining in regulation. Taking a cross-ice pass from Robert Dietrich, Mark Matheson wired a one-timer that Scatchard deflected past the low glove of Weiman from the high slot, sending the game into overtime.

Forcing overtime, the Monsters earned the guaranteed point due in large part to Weiman, who made 33 saves in regulation, including stopping 13 Milwaukee shots in the third period.

In the five-minute sudden death frame, Weiman made two saves and Dekanich made one stop, sending the game into the shootout. The Admirals then took a 1-0 lead in the shootout, as Cal O’Reilly put a low wrist shot past Weiman’s blocker. Milwaukee would then pad the lead to two after Brian Willsie’s wrist shot missed high on Dekanich and Mike Santorelli put a wrist shot of his own past Weiman’s glove.

T.J. Hensick put Lake Erie on the board in the shootout, backing Dekanich into his cage before burying a wrist shot through the five hole of the Admirals netminder. Weiman would keep the shootout score 2-1, stopping Dietrich, the Admirals third shooter.

The fourth shooters – Lake Erie’s Ryan Stoa and Milwaukee’s Scatchard – would both be denied on glove saves by Dekanich and Weiman, respectively.

Coming on in Dekanich, Lake Erie’s fifth and final shooter, Brett Skinner, faked to his backhand, opening Dekanich’s legs and sliding the puck between the goalie’s fivehole. Coming across his crease, Dekanich got just enough of the puck that it trickled through his legs and mere inches wide of the post, giving Milwaukee the win.

“We just didn’t have it tonight,” said Monsters head coach David Quinn. “We were half a step slow and I thought mentally we were half a step behind as well. We stole a point tonight, which is the first time it’s happened all year. Every point we’ve got we’ve earned. In the course of an 80-game season teams are going to steal points and that’s what we did tonight.”

Weiman ended the night making 35 saves on 37 shots while Dekanich turned away 21 of 23 shots. The Monsters next six games will all be road contests, which is the team’s longest road trip of the year and starts with a game at Copps Coliseum Friday against the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Lake Erie won’t return to The Q until Friday, January 22nd, when they play the Texas Stars at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (216) 420-0000, by visiting LakeErieMonsters.com or by visiting any Northern Ohio Discount Drug Mart.

Sights and Sounds

Head Coach David Quinn Interview