Utica blanks Monsters at home

The 13,198 fans inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Jan. 31 did not have much reason to cheer as they watched the Monsters get shut out, 3-0, by the Utica Comets, but they had one huge reason to boo loudly and often.

The Comets scored twice in the first period and got outstanding goaltending from Michael DiPietro throughout the game.

Finally, after launching eight shots on net in the first period, nine in the second and two more early in the third without lighting the lamp, Monsters left wing Paul Bittner squeezed a shot

past DiPietro inside the right post. But it did not count, and that is when the crowd let referees Beau Halkidis and Jake Jackson have an earful. The booing continued after the final horn.

“They said it was goaltender interference,” said Monsters coach Mike Eaves, who clearly did not share the opinion of the referees. “It’s not reviewable in our league, so we were caught shorthanded. It’s the referee’s discretion, so that’s what we were told.”

The Monsters had a golden opportunity to get on the board midway through the second period, but could not capitalize on a full two minutes of a five-on-three power play. Fans might want to focus on the controversial no-goal in the third period, but the missed power play chance was a key moment in the game, too.

Still, Eaves focused on the disallowed goal.

“When you talk to the referee, it’s not about the call they made; it’s about the next call,” Eaves said. “You try to get in your favor. It was a turning point in the game, unfortunately.”

The Monsters, stuck in last place in the AHL North, are 20-21-2-2. Their 44 points would be good enough for sixth in the Central Division and seventh in the Atlantic Division, but the North is well-balanced. The Monsters, though last, are only five points behind fourth place Laval, which currently holds the last playoff spot in the division.

“We had some great chances,” Eaves said. “If we had scored on the power play in the second, if that goal had been allowed to stand, it makes for a great finish.

“Overall, I thought the guys had some jump and competes like we do. That’s who we are.”

Veini Vehvilainen faced only 16 shots in net for the Monsters. Three got past him.

The Monsters and Comets faceoff again at 1 p.m. Feb. 1 at the FieldHouse.