Houston Aeros Blank Lake Erie Monsters 2-0 - AHL

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com – The Lake Erie Monsters had their hands full with a well balanced Houston Aeros team as they fell, 2-0, at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday night.

Houston winger Ryan Hamilton netted a slapper from the point with the 5-3 man advantage to begin the game. Jon Awe and Serge Payer were given the assists on Hamilton’s 18^th goal of the year at the 6:04 mark of the first.

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The second period was a battle of wills as the physical play came to a head and the scoring came to a lull. Both teams were held scoreless and the game remained at a 1-0 lead for the Aeros.

The third stanza came with much of the same as the teams kept up their physical play. The game as a whole was a defensive battle in which both teams kept the opposing forwards in check.

Houston found some late-period magic as they came up with their second tally of the game at the 16:13 mark of the third period off the stick of right wing Joel Ward. The second Houston marker of the game was unassisted. The Aeros finished the game, 2-0, as they held the Monsters in check throughout the contest.

“We did a good job of keeping them to the outside. They are a team that plays a defensive style of hockey, so they don’t generate a lot of offense. We knew it would be a low scoring, tight affair. We gave ourselves a chance right up until the end when they got their second goal with four minutes left in the game. Overall, I was pleased with the effort tonight,” said Monsters head coach Joe Sacco.

The Monsters out-shot Houston on the night, 25-24. This marks the 12^th time this season that the Monsters have out-shot their opponent.

Monsters netminder Tyler Weiman turned away 22 of the 24 biscuits he saw on the night, while opposing goaltender Barry Brust made 25 saves on 25 shots.

“My teammates played great in front of me. I would like to have that last one back. From a goalie’s standpoint, we like to keep our team in the game,” said Weiman.

The Monsters return to action on Friday at home against the Hamilton Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m. In addition to the action on the ice, catch Josh Cribbs of the Cleveland Browns who will be in the house signing autographs from 6:45-7:15 p.m. Don’t forget that Friday’s game is the final “Dollar Dog Friday” this season, when Sugardale hotdogs and 16-ounce Pepsi products are only a dollar each.

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