For the second game in a row, the Monsters were heavily outshot.  And for the second game in a row, the goaltending and offensive efforts combined for a Lake Erie win.  The Monsters defeated the Admirals in Norfolk, 3-2, on Friday, despite getting outshot, 44-34.  Tyler Weiman recorded 42 saves in the win, the most he has recorded all season, on the same day he was named to the AHL All-Star Game.  

In the Monsters last game, a 5-1 win in San Antonio on Wednesday, Lake Erie was outshot, 52-20.  The goaltending tandem of Weiman and Jason Bacashihua, combined with the hot sticks of the offense, led the team to a win nevertheless.

Lake Erie jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead over the Admirals on Friday. Darcy Campbell got the scoring started at 4:36 of the first, assisted by Nathan Smith.

Fellow All-Star Kyle Cumiskey, playing in his first game since a January 5th callup to Colorado, increased the Monsters lead with his goal at the 7:01 mark of the opening frame.  T.J. Galiardi and Chris Durno assisted on the score.

The Monsters would hold their 2-0 advantage through the first period, but then it would not take the home team long to get rolling.

Zenon Konopka got the Admirals on the scoreboard just 1:26 into the second period, assisted by Steve Downie and Ty Wishart.

It would take more than a period of time before the score would change again, and when it did, it was all tied up.

Justin Keller got his team back in the game with his goal at 9:53 of the third period, evening the score at two goals apiece.  Brandon Segal and Vladimir Mihalik were credited with the assists.

Not wanting the game to go to overtime, the Monsters regained their lead, and for good, at the 14:11 mark.  Nigel Williams scored, helped by Phil Dupuis and Durno.  Dupuis has now been back for two games since a recent callup to the Avalanche, and has recorded assists in both games.  With Durno's two assists on Friday, he posted his sixth multi-point game of the season.

The Monsters would survive the remainder of the third and leave Norfolk with the 3-2 win.

Weiman had 42 saves on 44 shots in the victory.  Norfolk goaltender Karri Ramo recorded 31 saves on 34 shots.

It was a chippy game on both sides, as the teams combined for 64 penalty minutes, which ties a season high for a Lake Erie game this season.  The Monsters accounted for 43 of those minutes, the most from the team all year.  Of the 17 total infractions in the game, seven were for fighting or roughing.  Tom Fritsche personally racked up 20 minutes in the box for game misconduct, the most minutes by an individual Monsters player in a game this season. 

Judging by the heated nature of Friday's game, it may be a good thing it was the last time the teams will meet the season.  They split the season series, 1-1, with each team winning on the road.

Lake Erie finishes a four-game road trip in Philadelphia on Saturday before the All-Star break.