Playing their second straight game, and second of three games in as many nights, the Monsters were outpowered in Peoria on Saturday, falling 5-2 to the Rivermen. 

Peoria got on the board quick, scoring just 2:50 into the game on a Cam Paddock goal.  Curtis Fraser and Jeff Cowan assisted on the score.

The Rivermen took a 2-0 lead less than five minutes later when Chris Porter scored on Monsters netminder Tyler Weiman at the 7:15 mark of the first.  Trent Whitfield and Jeff Woywitka were given the assists on the play.

Lake Erie fought back later in the first stanza, bringing the Monsters to within one on a T.J. Hensick power play goal at 15:49, assisted by Brian Willsie and Derek Peltier.  Hensick has now recorded a point in four straight games and leads the Monsters with 10 points (3G, 7A) on the year. Willsie has notched a point in all seven games of the 2008-09 Lake Erie season, and he currently sits second on the team with nine points (6G, 3A).

After putting up a combined three goals in the first period, it would take almost another full period before either team would find the back of the net again. The Monsters tied the game at 2-2 on a Chris Durno goal at the 14:25 point of the second stanza.  Nathan Smith and Chris Stewart were credited with the assists.

Peoria grabbed the lead back a few short minutes later.  Julian Talbot scored at 18:33 on a power play, helped by Chris Conner.
 
The home team entered the third period with a 3-2 lead, and built on it from there. Connor scored for himself on another power play at 4:45, assisted by Ivan Vishnevskiy and Andy Wozniewski. 

Nicholas Drazenovic secured the 5-2 win for the Rivermen with his power play goal at the 7:08 point of the third.  Steve Regier and Wozniewski assisted on the play. 

Weiman recorded 25 saves on 30 shots faced in goal for Lake Erie, while his Peoria counterpart Chris Holt posted 23 saves on 25 shots.

The Monsters will have a chance to exact quick revenge as they stay in Peoria to face the Rivermen again on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. EDT.