Sunday's game in Peoria finished up a three-game weekend road trip for the Lake Erie Monsters, one that ended the same way it started: with a shutout loss. The Monsters fell 4-0 to the Rivermen tonight, which came on the heels of a 2-1 overtime loss in Rockford on Saturday night and a 3-0 shutout loss in Milwaukee on Friday night.

The Monsters stay in fifth place in the North Division with a 13-13-3-4 overall record, having lost seven of their last eight. Sunday's loss was the fifth shutout of the season for Lake Erie.

Peoria more than doubled Lake Erie in shots in the opening frame, posting 11 compared to five for the Monsters. The Rivermen were able to capitalize twice, first off the stick of Derek Nesbitt just 2:46 into the first period. Graham Mink and former Monster T.J. Hensick assisted on the power play tally.

Hensick then found the back of the net for himself at 10:23 of the first, assisted by Mink and Nikita Nikitin. Peoria would finish the first 20 minutes up 2-0.

Lake Erie held the Rivermen to only five shots in the second period and registered seven of their own. Still the Rivermen were able to light the lamp, taking a 3-0 lead at the 7:46 mark. Ryan Reaves scored off an assist from Mark Cundari. The second session would end with the Rivermen leading by three.

The third period was much like the first, with Peoria outshooting Lake Erie 6-2, marking the lowest shot output for a period this season by the Monsters.

Anthony Nigro scored on the power play midway through the third, giving the Rivermen the final 4-0 advantage. Cundari and Dave Spina registered the assists.

Lake Erie goaltender Jason Bacashihua recorded 18 saves on 22 shots in the loss. His Peoria counterpart Ben Bishop stopped all 14 shots he faced.

The Monsters will be idle until next Sunday, December 26th, when they travel to Grand Rapids.