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A day after a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Rochester Americans Saturday night, the Lake Erie Monsters responded with a 2-1 victory over the Peoria Rivermen Sunday afternoon at Quicken Loans Arena. It was the Monsters third game in as many days and fourth contest in five days. The team started the weekend with a 3-1 win over Toronto on Friday.

The Monsters got on the board first on Sunday, scoring at 8:44 of the first period when Bryan Marshall scored his first goal of the season, and as a professional, on the power play. Standing on the goal line, Marshall received a pass from the top of the faceoff circle from Marty Sertich. Looking toward the middle, Marshall threw the puck at the feet of Peoria goalie Chris Holt and watched it pinball off a skate in front and deflect between the feet of the Rivermen netminder. Chris Durno was credited with the secondary assist, his team leading 10th of the season, giving the Monsters a 1-0 lead.

The Monsters would add to their lead at almost the same time in the second, 8:45 in, on Nigel Williams’ second goal of the season. Racing down the ice on an odd man break, Codey Burki waited for Williams, the trailer on the rush, to catch up with the play. Sprinting up the ice, Williams caught Burki’s pass, cut down the middle of the Peoria zone and buried the puck between the legs of Bishop. Chris Mueller was credited with the second assist on the goal.

“It was a nice play by Codey Burki,” said head coach Joe Sacco. “Nigel did a nice job of jumping into the play and reading it while Codey showed some good poise and made a nice pass. Nigel has a good shot and when he gets it off quickly it is effective.”

Although the Monsters had a comfortable two-goal lead going into the third, the Rivermen would respond quickly, as Jim Jackson scored his second of the season just 3:47 into the final period. With the puck on his stick just above the faceoff circle, Jackson put a slap shot on net that, after deflecting in front, beat goaltender Tyler Weiman.

“It went off a skate in front and there was nothing we could do,” said Weiman. “It was just one of those unlucky bounces.”

Weiman responded well after surrendering the only Peoria goal of the night, shutting down the Rivermen the rest of the way to preserve the win, advancing the Monsters to double digits in the win column with 10. “Tyler came up with some big saves for us again and he did it at the right time,” Sacco. “Tyler has been very consistent.”

The Monsters will play seven of their next eight games on the road and return only once to The Q before New Year’s. The road trip kicks off Wednesday, December 17th in Toronto at 7:00 p.m. and the eight-game span concludes on New Year’s Day at 4:00 p.m. at San Antonio. The team will play one more game at The Q this year when they host Toronto on Friday, December 26th at 7:30 p.m.

Sights and Sounds

Bryan Marshall Interview   Coach Joe Sacco Interview

Quote, Unquote

"There was not much action the whole game and I think even in the third they limited us to very few shots. Give the guys all the credit in the world because our penalty kill was outstanding and also I don't know how many shots we blocked tonight, but everyone sacrificed their body. Having 20 guys buy into the system is huge.” - Goaltender Tyler Weiman