The Lake Erie Monsters opened their 5th Anniversary Season in Cleveland in front of a raucous 13,021 fans on Friday night, the most for a home opener since the team’s inaugural season in 2007. Unfortunately the Monsters (0-1-0) fell behind by a 2-1 score in the second period, and that’s how the score stayed as the visiting Abbotsford Heat (1-0-0) emerged with the opening night victory at Quicken Loans Arena. The Monsters are now 3-2 in both season openers and home openers.

Newcomer Hugh Jessiman made an early impression on the fans in attendance when he engaged Abbotsford’s Guillaume Desbiens in a fight during his first shift as a Monster. Just moments later, however, it was Dustin Sylvester scoring on a rebound power play goal to give Abbotsford the 1-0 lead at 5:07 of the opening frame.

Less than six minutes later, the Monsters netted the equalizer. With Mauldin providing the traffic in front of the Heat net , Stefan Elliott unleashed a shot from the top of the right circle that managed to deflect off Mauldin and into the goal. Mauldin was issued credit for the goal, with Elliott and Cameron Gaunce registering assists.

Greg Nemisz picked up a rebound at 12:05 of the second period with Abbotsford on another power play to give the Heat a 2-1 lead. Desbiens and former Monster captain Ben Walter earned the assists on the goal, which proved to be the eventual game-winner. Both Heat goals came on the power play.

Trevor Cann turned away 29 of 31 shots in the net for Lake Erie; he falls to 0-1-0. Leland Irving stopped 22 of 23 in the victory; he is 1-0-0.

The Monsters and Heat will meet again at The Q Saturday evening. The puck drops at 6:00 p.m. The Monsters homestand continues when they host Rochester next Friday night, October 14th.