Tonight, Lake Erie and Toronto meet for the second time in four days to conclude an eight-game regular season series between the two clubs.

When these two teams met at Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday, April 2nd, the Monsters posted a 2-0 shutout victory, improving to 6-1-0-0 against Toronto this season.

In Saturday’s game, the Monsters took a 1-0 lead when Ben Walter notched a power play tally off assists from Julien Brouillette and Shawn Belle at 13:37 of the opening period.

The game remained scores until there were just six seconds remaining in regulation, when David van der Gulik scored an empty-net goal off an assist from Greg Mauldin.

The Monsters went 1-for-6 on the power play, while Toronto was unable to convert on four chances with the man advantage.

Jason Bacashihua was perfect in stopping all 21 shots faced, marking his third shutout of the season.

At the other end, Ben Scrivens stopped 22 of 23 shots faced.

Marlies Update

The Marlies enter tonight’s game with a 35-31-1-10 record, while they are 20-14-0-5 on the road this season.

Toronto is currently on a 0-3-0-1 slide, holding a 2-6-0-2 record in its last 10 games.

The Marlies are led by center Mike Zigomanis, who has totaled 47 points (14G, 33A) through 64 games played this season.

Defenseman Simon Gysbers is Toronto’s most offensive defenseman, as he’s posted 31 points (7G, 24A) in 57 games.

That’s More Like It

Saturday night’s 2-0 victory in Toronto snapped a two-game winless skid for Lake Erie.

After the Monsters posted a franchise-high eight-game winning streak (March 11-March 26), they were setback 3-2 by Rockford on March 30th and 4-1 to Hamilton just two days later.

The Monsters are now 41-27-3-5 overall, 25-10-0-2 in the North Division and 22-11-2-3 at Quicken Loans Arena.

Between the Pipes

Jason Bacashihua marked his third shutout of the season in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Toronto. All three of Bacashihua’s perfect outings this season have come against North Division teams (Oct. 31 vs. Manitoba; Nov. 17 vs. Grand Rapids).

With six career shutouts in a Lake Erie uniform, Bacashihua ranks second among all-time franchise goaltenders (Tyler Weiman, 13).

To date, Bacashihua ranks 12th among AHL net minders, as he boasts a 21-16-3 record to go along with a 2.35 save percentage and a .914 GAA.

Teammate John Grahame ranks 10th in the circuit with an 18-11-2 record, one shutout, a 2.29 GAA and a .913 save percentage.

Model of Consistency

Center Ben Walter has recorded 28 points (6G, 22A) in his last 20 games, including two eight-game point streaks (Feb. 5-March 4; March 11-March 26).

Walter currently leads the Monsters in points (65), assists (43) and plus/minus (+26) this season.

Pacing Play

David van der Gulik has totaled 20 points (6G, 14A) in his last 15 games.

Greg Mauldin has totaled five points (2G, 3A) in his last five games.

Julien Brouillette rides a three-game assist streak into tonight’s contest.

Broadcaster Ben Holden previews tonight’s matchup: