Monsters Top Stars in a Wild One, 6-5
Mar 15, 2018|
Three Stars: Shots: Goaltenders: |
CEDAR PARK, Texas - After 84 shots and 10 goals combined, including one in the final seconds to force overtime, Nathan Gerbe had the final word with the game-winner to give the Cleveland Monsters a 6-5 win over the Texas Stars on Friday night at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
Gerbe's breakaway goal 1:45 into overtime was his second of the night after he opened the scoring just over a minute into the game. Roope Hintz forced the game to overtime with 6.4 seconds left in regulation for his 16th of the season for the Stars (32-22-7-3). Alex Broadhurst finished with three points (1-2=3) for the Monsters (21-32-5-3).
Texas hosts the Manitoba Moose Saturday night at 7 p.m. CST.
Trailing 4-2 entering the third, Reece Scarlett forced his way to the front of the net two minutes in and scored the pull Texas within one. Shortly after, Hayden Hodgson deflect home Cleveland's fifth goal of the night to make it a two-goal cusion again, but Travis Morin snapped a shot from the left circle at 6:09 for a power-play tally and another one-goal deficit.
With the goaltender pulled and time ticking away on regulation, the Stars pulled the puck out of a scrum on the right side before Colin Markison poked it through the right circle and Hintz finished off the play on a backhand shot to beat Matiss Kivlenieks on the short side and force the extra frame.
Things started fast as both team's combined for five goals in the opening period. Gerbe scored 1:16 into the night to put the Monsters in front but Texas answered with back-to-back goals to take a 2-1 lead. Tyler Kelleher tallied his first as a Star on a rebound chance three minutes in and Sheldon Dries scored his fourth shorthanded goal of the season midway through.
Jordan Shroeder and Alex Broadhurst each scored in the late minute of period one to put Cleveland back in front, 3-2. Paul Bittner tallied the second period's only goal with a power-play strike at 3:09.
Landon Bow suffered the loss with 37 saves. Kivlenieks was 36 of 41 in the win.
Texas finished 1-for-6 on the power play. Cleveland was 2-for-5.
Photo Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars