Monsters Break Road Losing Streak, Top Milwaukee 4-0

MILWAUKEE – In the fourth of eight meetings between the two teams this season, Cleveland’s Lake Erie Monsters snapped an eight-game road losing streak, the longest streak of its kind in the AHL this year, with a 4-0 win over the first-place Milwaukee Admirals on Tuesday at Milwaukee’s BMO Harris Bradley Center.

With the win, the Monsters improved to 18-12-2-2 overall this season and with a .588 points percentage, remain alone in fifth place in the AHL’s Central Division standings.

After a scoreless first period, the Monsters claimed a 2-0 lead in the middle frame thanks to a shorthanded Manny Malhotra goal at 7:46, assisted by Michael Chaput, and an even-strength Michael Paliotta tally, set up by Kerby Rychel and Chaput at 14:51.

In the third, Rychel and Chaput combined again to assist Dillon Heatherington in posting his second marker of the season at 7:12, making it 3-0 Monsters.

Chaput capped a four-point night with an empty-net score at 18:24, assisted by Paliotta, to establish Lake Erie’s 4-0 margin of victory in their first win of the season vs. Milwaukee and their first win outside Cleveland since November 21st.

Pressed into a starting role due to Monday’s recall of Joonas Korpisalo by the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, Lake Erie goaltender Brad Thiessen improved to 1-0-0 this season in his third appearance of the year by virtue of a 19-save shutout. Meanwhile, Jusse Saros made 19 saves in defeat for the Admirals.

Next up for the Monsters, it’s a Saturday road clash vs. the Grand Rapids Griffins with full coverage, live from Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI, underway at 7:00 pm on 99X and the Monsters Hockey Network.