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The Lake Erie Monsters played the Toronto Marlies for the third time this season Saturday night at Quicken Loans Arena in front of 6,011 fans. And for the third time this year, the Monsters and goaltender Tyler Weiman came out on top, beating the visiting Marlies, 3-2. In three wins this year against Toronto, Weiman has recorded a shutout and made 100 saves.

“Tyler gave us a chance to win again, which he has been doing all season,” said head coach Joe Sacco. “He came up with some huge saves for us when we needed them.”

The first 20 minutes was highlighted by solid goaltending from both netminders as Weiman turned aside all seven shots from the Marlies and Toronto goalie Adam Munro denied the five shots the Monsters threw his way.

The scoreboard would remain blank until 7:02 of the second, when Codey Burki, in just his second game with the Monsters, would score his first goal in the AHL this season. On the half wall, Phil Dupuis would find Ray Macias coming in from his spot at the point toward the net. Macis fanned on a shot that trickled right to the stick of Burki, who buried it past Munro.

It would only take the Monsters 42 seconds to score again, as Chris Durno would score his fifth goal of the season on the power play. Just a few feet from Munro’s crease, Durno chipped the puck just over the goalie’s glove hand and under the cross bar to give the Monsters the lead, 2-0. Derek Peltier and Marty Sertich earned the assists on the goal.

The Monsters wouldn’t keep their two-goal lead very long, as the Marlies responded 19 seconds later on Tim Stapelton’s fourth goal of the season. From just inside the faceoff circle, Stapelton wristed the puck low past the glove of Weiman to cut the Monsters lead to one.

Just as the Monsters had scored back-to-back goals in a short time span, the Marlies would waste little time doing the same and tying the game. A minute-and-a half after Stapelton’s goal, Jeremy Williams would even the score at two. By himself in the high slot, Williams one-timed a cross-ice feed from Jiri Tlusty low past the blocker of Weiman.

Although the teams combined to score four goals in less than two-and-a-half minutes, it would take another 20 for the fifth and final goal to be scored.

At 9:24 of the third period, Sertich would get the game-winner on the power play. Taking a pass from Peltier, Nigel Williams’ one timer was kicked out by the right leg of Munro in front of the goal. Falling down, Sertich lifted the puck over Munro and a Marlies defender into the top corner of the net, putting the Monsters ahead, 3-2.

Weiman and the Monsters would hang on for the last 10-plus minutes of the game to preserve the win, including the last minute, when Munro was pulled for the sixth attacker, to record back-to-back wins at The Q.

“It’s obviously great to be back, and I’m feeling a lot better,” said Sertich. “We have had a couple of up and down games, but it feels great to win tonight. We are scoring and winning by committee right now, which we need to continue to do all season long.”

The Monsters next game will be at The Q when they take on the Iowa Chops on Saturday, December 6th at 7:30 p.m.

Sights and Sounds

Marty Sertich Interview   Coach Joe Sacco Interview

Quote, Unquote

"We need scoring by committee right now, we need everybody to step up.  We have had a lot of changes in our lineups the last few weeks, and change brings opportunity to our players, and some players took advantage of the opportunities tonight. Durno, Sertich, and Stewart all responded with big games tonight, which made everything contagious for the rest of the team to respond.” - Head Coach Joe Sacco