In their second of three games in three days, the Monsters dropped a 6-2 contest to the Chicago Wolves in front of more than 6,000 Saturday night at Quicken Loans Arena. The Wolves improved to 13-12-0-2 with the win while the Monsters dropped to 8-16-0-3 with the loss. Despite Lake Erie scoring first, the Monsters were unable to stop Chicago, as the Wolves proceeded to rattle off six consecutive goals.

T.J. Hensick opened the scoring for the Monsters, netting his second of the season 6:45 into the first period. Skating up the ice between two Wolves defenders, Hensick caught a pass in stride from Brock Bradford, deked forehand on Chicago goalie Drew MacIntyre, and slid the puck between MacIntyre’s leg and the post. With the goal, Hensick has recorded a point in the past five consecutive games, recording six points (2G, 4A) in those games.

It would take almost 12 minutes for the second goal of the game to be scored, as Brett Sterling’s 13th of the season tied the game at one with a minute-and-a-half left in the first. Standing in the slot, Sterling took a feed from below the goal line from Jason Krog and one timed it past the low glove side of Monsters goalie Tyler Weiman. Johnny Pohl picked up the secondary assist on the goal, a power play tally.

Only two minutes into the second period, Chris Chelios gave the Wolves their first lead of the game, netting his third of the season. In the circle, Tim Stapleton won a clean faceoff draw back to Chelios at the point, and the veteran defenseman put a low wrist shot through traffic and past Weiman.

Less than two minutes later, Kevin Doell would add to Chicago’s lead, netting his third of the season. Taking the puck off the half wall, Doell muscled his way to the net, ripping a wrist shot short side past Weiman. Up 3-1, the Wolves would pad their lead at the 12:44 mark of the middle frame when Nathan Oystrick recorded his second goal of the season. While shorthanded, Chicago came into the Lake Erie zone on a three-on-two break. Oystrick, the trailer, one-timed a cross-ice feed from Joey Crabb, pushing the Chicago lead to three. Doell picked up the second helper on the goal.

Heading into the third period, the Wolves kept the foot on the gas, pushing their lead to 5-1 on Doell’s second of the game and fourth of the season. The recipient of a Monsters turnover, Doell got the puck in the slot, walked in on Weiman all alone, and snapped a wrister past the glove of the stranded goalie 6:22 in regulation’s final frame.

Less than three minutes later, the Wolves lead would be pushed to five, as Paul Postma recorded his second goal of the season on the power play. Taking a pass on the half wall from Oystrick, Postma snuck in on the right side and wired a laser over the shoulder of Weiman. Riley Holzapfel picked up the second assist on the goal, scored at the 9:01 mark of the third.

Battling back, the Monsters would net the last goal of the game at the 15:49 mark of the third, as Patrick Bordeleau scored his first of the season. Taking the puck off the wall, Chris Durno ragged the puck around the top of the crease, getting MacIntyre out of the net. With the Wolves goalie out of his crease, Durno slid a pass to Bordeleau, who pushed the puck into an empty net.

“To me, we have to win tomorrow (Sunday),” said Monsters head coach David Quinn. “You can’t look too far ahead. We have to come here and put forth an effort. We have to skate, we have to be physical, and we have to be ready to go. It’s about what you’re doing right now and how prepared you are and getting better and living in this moment.”

Weiman made 16 saves on 22 shots and Billy Sauer made one save on one shot after replacing Weiman with seven minutes left in the game. MacIntyre turned away 30 of 32 shots.

The Monsters return to the ice to face the Wolves again in less than 24 hours, hosting Chicago at 3:00 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling (216) 420-0000, by visiting LakeErieMonsters.com or by visiting any Northern Ohio Discount Drug Mart.

Sights and Sounds

Head Coach David Quinn Postgame Interview