CLEVELAND – Chicago was shut out for just the second time this season in falling to Lake Erie 5-0 in a Central Division clash at Quicken Loans Arena Thursday night. The victory gave the Monsters a sweep of the midweek, two-game series.
Lake Erie (26-16-4-3) opened scoring at 4:08 of the first period on Steve Eminger’s wrist shot that beat goaltender Jordan Binnington short-side through a screen. It was Eminger’s second goal in just his third game with the club.
Eminger helped set up the Monsters’ second goal at 6:47 of the second period, feeding Daniel Zaar at the top of the face-off circle for a one-timer. Zaar found an opening between the pads for his team-leading 12th marker of the season.
Lake Erie finished by scoring short-handed goals within a span of 61 seconds late in the third period. Two of the goals occurred on an empty net when the Wolves pulled Binnington for an extra skater. Manny Malhotra was credited with a goal when he was pulled down by defenseman Andre Benoit on a breakaway at 17:57, which was followed by Nick Moutrey’s empty-netter at 18:23. Trent Vogelhuber scored from the slot at 18:58 to seal the win.
Chicago (22-21-2-2), which finished 0 for 7 on the power play, produced its best scoring opportunities in the second period, as Jeremy Welsh was stopped point-blank at the doorstep, and Ty Rattie was denied by goaltender Brad Thiessen on a wraparound attempt. Rattie finished with a team-high 4 shots on goal.
Binnington (10-9-3) finished with 26 saves while Thiessen (8-2-2) made 24 saves to record his 23rd AHL career shutout.
The Wolves continue their road trip Saturday in Winnipeg, taking on the Manitoba Moose in a 2 p.m. faceoff from the MTS Centre.
MONSTERS 5, WOLVES 0
Chicago 0 0 0 – 0
Lake Erie 1 1 3 – 5
First Period—1, Lake Erie, Eminger 2 (Roy, Chaput), 4:08. Penalties—Heatherington, Lake Erie (interference), 11:40; Moutrey, Lake Erie (holding), 18:16.
Second Period—2, Lake Erie, Zaar 12 (Eminger, Chaput), 6:47. Penalties—Milano, Lake Erie (high-sticking), 1:05; Thiessen, Lake Erie (delay of game), 4:17; Vaughan, Chicago (hooking), 7:07; Anderson, Lake Erie (high-sticking), 8:59; Caron, Chicago (interference), 9:27; Rattie, Chicago (goaltender interference), 14:10.
Third Period—3, Lake Erie, Malhotra 3 (Heatherington), 17:57, en, sh; 4, Lake Erie, Moutrey 5 (Chaput), 18:23, en, sh; 5, Lake Erie, Vogelhuber 9 (Tynan, Eminger), 18:58, sh. Penalties—Nightingale, Chicago (slashing), 4:57; Nightingale, Chicago (roughing), 7:03; Anderson, Lake Erie (roughing), 7:03; Schmaltz, Chicago (holding), 8:40; Moutrey, Lake Erie (slashing), 15:16; Hannikainen, Lake Erie (interference), 17:05.
Shots on goal —Chicago 7-10-7—24; Lake Erie 4-14-13—31. Power plays—Chicago 0-7; Lake Erie 0-5. Goalies—Chicago, Binnington (26-29); Lake Erie, Thiessen (24-24).
Referees—Mike Langin and Ben Moser. Linesmen—Ray King and Zach Roberts.
