Despite scoring three goals in a five-minute span late in the third period, the Monsters could not overcome the Stars in Texas, falling
5-3 on Friday night. The loss comes just three days after Lake Erie shut out the same Stars, 4-0, in Austin on Tuesday. Friday's loss ended Lake Erie's season-high three-game winning streak, which included back-to-back shutouts in the last two games.
Monsters veterans Darren Haydar and Chris Durno continued their hot play on Friday. Haydar posted a goal and assist in the loss, marking the fifth straight game he has recorded a point (3G, 4A). Durno's assist was also his seventh point in the last five games (4G, 3A).
Texas' power play was their bread and butter on the night, as they were a perfect 3-3 on the man advantage. Lake Erie was 2-7 on their power play, and also scored shorthanded.
Warren Peters got the scoring started for the home team with his power play tally at the 9:45 mark of the first period. He was assisted by Francis Wathier and Aaron Gagnon.
More than a full period of play would pass before the scoreboard would change again. Sergei Korostin put the Stars up 2-0 with his power play goal at 11:50 of the second. Brad Lukowich and Dan Jancevski assisted on the score.
Greg Rallo increased Texas' lead with an even strength, unassisted goal at the 15:39 point. And with that, the second period would end with the Stars ahead, 3-0.
Just 3:10 into the third and final frame, Wathier added extra cushion to the Texas lead, scoring on the power play. Garrett Stafford assisted on the goal.
Eight minutes later, the Monsters offense came to life. Marty Sertich scored on the man advantage at 11:31, assisted by Ryan Stoa and Brian Willsie.
At 13:53, Durno lit the lamp while Lake Erie was shorthanded. Haydar was credited with the assist.
Less than three minutes later, Haydar found the back of the net himself, scoring at 16:27 on the power play. Willsie added his second assist of the night, marking his second multi-point game of the season.
It was also the third multi-point contest for Haydar and fourth for Durno.
Finding themselves down one with just over three minutes left in the game, the Monsters pulled goalie Trevor Cann in favor of an additional attacker with two-and-a-half minutes to go. Unfortunately for them, Lake Erie was unable to capitalize and instead Peters potted an empty-net goal with two seconds left on the clock, ending the game with a Texas 5-3 win.
Cann, who was responsible for Tuesday's shutout in Texas, had 31 saves on 35 shots faced on Friday. Stars netminder Brent Krahn deflected 30 of 33 shots in the Texas win.
The Monsters will return to action on Friday, October 30th when they host the Peoria Rivermen for the first of three games in three days over the weekend at Quicken Loans Arena. Tickets are available by calling 216-420-0000 or visiting LakeErieMonsters.com