Wolves chew up the Monsters, 4-2 THE SCORE

As LeBron James might say if he earned his living on ice skates, the Monsters need a flippin’ playmaker.

The Monsters gave up two goals in the final eight minutes of the third period on Jan. 26 in a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Wolves at Quicken Loans Arena. It was not the result Coach John Madden expected after winning, 5-2, in Milwaukee two nights earlier.

“Turnovers,” Madden said when asked how a 2-2 tie at the end of two periods turned into the 17th loss of the season. “We wouldn’t put the puck deep. WOLVES 4, MONSTERS 2

We wouldn’t stay with the program.

“I realize we’re trying to score goals and win the hockey game, but you have to pick your moments. When the opportunities arise, you have to stay patient. They were the more patient team and they made fewer mistakes in the third period.”

Monsters goalie Anton Forsberg showed frustration on the goal that put the Wolves ahead, 2-1, in the second period. Chicago left wing Brett Sterling got the credit, but the puck bounced off the pants of Monsters defenseman John Ramage into the net.

Wade Megan put the Wolves up, 3-2, at 12:51 of the third period with his 21st goal of the season, but he was in the right place at the right time when the puck bounced off the skate of the Monsters’ Jaime Sifers and into the net.

“You create your own bounces if you stay with the program,” Madden said unsympathetically. “We didn’t and we got outstripped a little bit.”

The Monsters haven’t won back-to-back games for more than a month. They were 8-2 from Dec. 6 through Dec. 30. They are 3-6 in January.

Some big guns are missing from the lineup. Daniel Zaar is out with an arm injury, Ryan Craig has a back injury, Marc-Andre Bergeron has a shoulder injury and Markus Hannikainen is playing with the Blue Jackets.

“When we don’t have our regulars in the lineup, we miss them for sure,” Madden said. “Veteran guys do veteran things. Part of that is staying with the program. It’s a good learning lesson for us.

“Those are just excuses, though. Guys in the lineup have opportunities they might not ordinarily have. We’ll keep on them and try to improve.”

Sifers and T.J. Tynan scored for the Monsters.