Monsters overthrow Reign, 7-3

Hockey coaches have preached “crash the net” since the invention of ice, and that is exactly what the Monsters did early and often on Oct. 27 to slam the Ontario Reign, 7-3.

Tyler Motte led the way with a hat trick, scoring one goal in the first, one in the second and an empty netter in the third.

A hat trick is so rare in Quicken Loans Arena that the 7,417 fans in attendance weren’t sure what to do. Fewer than 10 hats were tossed on the ice to celebrate.

It was a strange game against a team still looking for its first victory of the season. The Reign, now 0-6, entered the game with only four goals in five games. They were 0-for-19 on the power play.

The Monsters scored three goals in the first period. Ontario coach Mike Stothers switched goalies at intermission and then the Reign scored the first two goals in the second period before the Monsters pulled away again.

The Monsters, 3-2-1-0, scored two short-handed goals, including Motte’s empty netter, one goal on the power play and one with a sixth attacker on a delayed Ontario penalty. The Monsters also gave up a power play goal and one short-handed.

Calvin Thurkauf had two goals for the Monsters. One, the goal scored with a sixth attacker, was a mid-air redirection near the left post on a pass by Paul Bittner from the right faceoff circle.

Carter Camper assisted on Motte’s first two goals.