On Saturday night the Monsters ran into not only the best team in the American Hockey League in the Hershey Bears, but also their former goaltender leading their opponent to a win.  Jason Bacashihua, an original Monsters netminder from 2007-09, was nearly flawless in net for the Bears, giving up only one goal on 25 shots.  Lake Erie fell in Hershey, 4-1, dropping their record to 27-26-0-4 on the year. 

There was only one score in the opening 20 minutes of the game, coming at 5:52 off the stick of Hershey's Oskar Osala.  Kyle Wilson and Steve Pinizzotto assisted on the play, putting the Bears ahead 1-0, a lead they would retain through the end of the first period.

The second period went much like the first, with the Bears putting up the only goal of the frame just a few minutes in.  Jay Beagle scored at 4:23, assisted by Andrew Joudrey, increasing the Bears lead to 2-0.  Just like the first period, the rest of the second went by without any further scoring.

It would be three-quarters of the way through the third period before the score would change.  Captain Brian Willsie finally put the Monsters on the board at the 15:19 mark on the power play.  Tom Preissing and Matt Ford were credited with the assists, cutting the  Hershey lead in half.

Joudrey put the Bears back up by two with a goal only 59 seconds later.  Wilson and Greg Amadio assisted at 16:18, helping Hershey take a 3-1 lead.

Two-and-a-half minutes later, Andrew Gordon iced the game for the Bears with an empty-net goal at 18:49, providing Hershey with the 4-1 win.

Bacashihua finished with 24 saves on 25 shots for Hershey.  Lake Erie rookie netminder Trevor Cann posted 28 saves on 31 shots in the loss.

The two teams will meet again on Wednesday when Hershey comes to Cleveland.