Monsters maul Marlies for fourth straight

The Monsters are on fire after beating the Toronto Marlies, 5-1, on Nov. 26, and the only reason they aren’t in first place is because they are chasing the best team in the American Hockey League.

A crowd of 8,026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse was in a festive holiday mood while watching the Monsters win their fourth straight game and for the fifth time in the last six games. They scored twice in the first period and three times in the third and once again got outstanding goaltending from Daniil Tarasov to run their record in the AHL North to 9-3-1-3. The Utica Comets lead the division with an AHL-best record

of 13-1-0-0.

Toronto scored its only goal in the second period when the Monsters strayed from what has been successful for them in the hot streak. Instead of attacking the net, they seemed to direct their energy toward getting physical with the Marlies.

“We thought the second period was one of the worst we’ve played in a while,” assistant coach Mark Letestu said. “We got away from our game. We started to get a little spread out. The decision making and execution with the puck wasn’t great, but that’s going to happen. We’re not going to be perfect all the time.

“It was good to see the group settle down and put together a really solid 20 minutes to finish out against a team that’s tough to play against and one we needed two points against.”

Five players scored goals for the Monsters. Brett Gallant and Tyler Sikura squeezed the puck past Toronto goalie Michael Hutchinson in the first period, both on shots near the crease and both from passes near the right corner from Kevin Stenlund, who was sent down to the Monsters from Columbus on Nov. 19.

Liam Foudy made it 3-1 with an unassisted goal on a backhand shot around Hutchinson’s left pad 2:44 into the third period. Jake Christiansen scored his fifth goal of the season on a blast from the left point that eluded

Hutchinson, and Trey FixWolansky finished out the scoring with a power play goal to make it 5-1.

Stenlund picked up his third assist of the night on Christiansen’s goal. He would rather be playing for the Blue Jackets, obviously, but he isn’t pouting.

“He clearly can make plays,” Lestestu said. “That’s something he’s shown he can do for a while at this level. We moved him to center where he’s a little more comfortable. His game seems to be translating. It’s not only on the scoresheet, but he’s defensively responsible. It makes our lineup a little deeper, a little longer. He’s been a welcome addition. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that since he’s been here the team has taken off.”