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Lake Erie didn´t make playoffs.
With their first opportunity to control their own destiny coming in their last game of the regular season, the Monsters faltered. As a result, their season is over.
The effort was there Saturday night against the Rochester Americans. So were the competitive fire, determination and grit. The goals, though, were not. Rochester, behind a terrific performance from goalie David Leggio, defeated the Monsters, 2-1, in front of 12,410 at The Q.
The Monsters (37-29-3-7) knew entering the game that they would be playing in front of a large crowd because of the annual "Fan Appreciation Night." The crowd got even bigger -- and the noise level even higher -- with the reality that a victory would clinch a playoff spot.
Based on Lake Erie's victory Friday over Hamilton and several other results among contenders, the Rochester game had become a win-and-in. A loss in regulation, or overtime or shootout, would have meant the Monsters needed a lot of help.
The Americans could not clinch with a victory, but they desperately needed one. The Monsters did not get the help. After the loss, contenders Milwaukee and Charlotte leaped over Lake Erie with victories.By the end of Saturday night's play, four teams -- Rochester, San Antonio, Milwaukee and Charlotte -- had joined four teams already in as the eight required to lock out the Monsters in the Western Conference.
"It's too bad, because I thought we could have done some damage in the playoffs," Monsters coach David Quinn said. "I'm so proud of the way we competed," Quinn said. "We gave a great effort. But at the end of the day, it's all about capitalizing on your opportunities, and we didn't do it."
Quinn lamented two missed open nets on back doors, and a couple of shots that drew iron. "It would be one thing if we didn't create chances," Quinn said. "We created chances. We did everything but score."
The Americans took a 2-1 lead at 4:14 of the third. Luke Adam went high glove side on goalie Cedrick Desjardins with a wrister from the slot.
Adam began the season with the Buffalo Sabres and scored six points in his first four games. He was assigned to Rochester on Feb. 11. Leggio made several spectacular saves in the final minutes.
"Down the stretch, we spent a lot of time in their end," Quinn said. "They did everything to defend, if you know what I mean." Quinn would have liked to have heard a whistle at some point. "When you're able to hold and hook and grab and claw . . ." Quinn said. "But give them Credit. They defended hard."
Saturday's game featured two of the AHL's best teams since late February. In their previous 21 games, the Monsters were 11-4-1-5; the Americans, 11-5-4-1.
Early in the first period, Desjardins made two excellent saves. His counterpart, Leggio, came up big several minutes later.
Leggio also got help from his cage, which rejected a shot by Cameron Gaunce that Monsters faithful thought was good. Referee Chris Ciamaga immediately signaled no good.
At 7:52, Rochester center Paul Szczechura beat Desjardins from in tight for his 21st.
With six seconds left in the first, Americans defenseman Ryan Grimshaw was whistled for delay of game. It proved costly at the beginning of the second period, when the Monsters' power-play unit took advantage of fresh ice. Patrick Rissmiller's wrister upstairs beat Leggio at 0:10. Later in the second, Monsters winger Greg Mauldin's shot hit the post.
-- by Dennis Manoloff for cleveland.com --
Eurolanche.com, Worldwide, eurolanche@eurolanche.com
15/04/2012 - 20:00
Lake Erie Monsters miss out on playoffs
Lake Erie didn´t make playoffs.With their first opportunity to control their own destiny coming in their last game of the regular season, the Monsters faltered. As a result, their season is over.
The effort was there Saturday night against the Rochester Americans. So were the competitive fire, determination and grit. The goals, though, were not. Rochester, behind a terrific performance from goalie David Leggio, defeated the Monsters, 2-1, in front of 12,410 at The Q.
The Monsters (37-29-3-7) knew entering the game that they would be playing in front of a large crowd because of the annual "Fan Appreciation Night." The crowd got even bigger -- and the noise level even higher -- with the reality that a victory would clinch a playoff spot.
Based on Lake Erie's victory Friday over Hamilton and several other results among contenders, the Rochester game had become a win-and-in. A loss in regulation, or overtime or shootout, would have meant the Monsters needed a lot of help.
The Americans could not clinch with a victory, but they desperately needed one. The Monsters did not get the help. After the loss, contenders Milwaukee and Charlotte leaped over Lake Erie with victories.By the end of Saturday night's play, four teams -- Rochester, San Antonio, Milwaukee and Charlotte -- had joined four teams already in as the eight required to lock out the Monsters in the Western Conference.
"It's too bad, because I thought we could have done some damage in the playoffs," Monsters coach David Quinn said. "I'm so proud of the way we competed," Quinn said. "We gave a great effort. But at the end of the day, it's all about capitalizing on your opportunities, and we didn't do it."
Quinn lamented two missed open nets on back doors, and a couple of shots that drew iron. "It would be one thing if we didn't create chances," Quinn said. "We created chances. We did everything but score."
The Americans took a 2-1 lead at 4:14 of the third. Luke Adam went high glove side on goalie Cedrick Desjardins with a wrister from the slot.
Adam began the season with the Buffalo Sabres and scored six points in his first four games. He was assigned to Rochester on Feb. 11. Leggio made several spectacular saves in the final minutes.
"Down the stretch, we spent a lot of time in their end," Quinn said. "They did everything to defend, if you know what I mean." Quinn would have liked to have heard a whistle at some point. "When you're able to hold and hook and grab and claw . . ." Quinn said. "But give them Credit. They defended hard."
Saturday's game featured two of the AHL's best teams since late February. In their previous 21 games, the Monsters were 11-4-1-5; the Americans, 11-5-4-1.
Early in the first period, Desjardins made two excellent saves. His counterpart, Leggio, came up big several minutes later.
Leggio also got help from his cage, which rejected a shot by Cameron Gaunce that Monsters faithful thought was good. Referee Chris Ciamaga immediately signaled no good.
At 7:52, Rochester center Paul Szczechura beat Desjardins from in tight for his 21st.
With six seconds left in the first, Americans defenseman Ryan Grimshaw was whistled for delay of game. It proved costly at the beginning of the second period, when the Monsters' power-play unit took advantage of fresh ice. Patrick Rissmiller's wrister upstairs beat Leggio at 0:10. Later in the second, Monsters winger Greg Mauldin's shot hit the post.
-- by Dennis Manoloff for cleveland.com --
Eurolanche.com, Worldwide, eurolanche@eurolanche.com
15/04/2012 - 20:00
