Cleveland tops Texas, 5-2, at FieldHouse

The Monsters scored three goals in the first period and two more in the third period to beat the Stars.

With 20 minutes to play in their third game with the Texas Stars in a fourday span at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Monsters would not let deja vu all over again.

The Monsters led Texas, 3-0, after one period on March 28 but the lead shrank to 3-2 heading into the third.

A 3-0 lead on March 27 evaporated to 3-2 in the second period. The Stars went on to win, 4-3. Coach Mike Eaves complained about bad bounces. Players and fans complained about bad officiating.

There was no collapse less than 24 hours later.

The Monsters took a 4-2 lead on Evan Polei’s second goal of the game 7:46 into the third period and then Tyler Sikura removed all doubt with an empty-netter with 2:59 to play.

“Naturally, when you’re up 3-0, you kind of lay off the gas pedal,” defenseman Gavin Bayreuther said on Zoom after the game on March 28. “A couple things happen and it’s a one-goal game.

“We learned from yesterday and played hard. We played well tonight and played as a team. That’s the most important thing and that’s why we were successful today.”

The Stars won the third period on March 27. The determined Monsters won it in the rematch, and not just on the scoreboard. They controlled both blue lines and kept the puck in the Texas end most of the third period.

The team-play Bayreuther talked about was evident on Polei’s second goal. Carson Meyer had the puck and skated around Texas defenseman Dawson Barteaux. Instead of shooting, he passed the puck to Polei, a stride behind him on the right, with Sholl hugging the left post anticipating a shot by Meyer.

Polei snapped it inside the right post to beat Sholl cleanly.

“We talked about it on the bench (after the goal),” Polei said. “Carson was going down and I was following the play. I got open and when he made that toe drag around the D-man, I yelled, ‘Cars! Cars!’ He said, ‘It’s a good thing you called for it, because I had no idea you were there.’ So it’s good it worked out the way it did.”

Polei’s first goal of the game and second of the season was a back-hander over Sholl’s right pad for a 3-0 Monsters lead 11:08 into the first period. Tyler Sikura and Nathan Gerbe scored earlier in the period for Cleveland.

Brad Thiessen stopped 24 of 26 shots by the Stars. The veteran goalie is 3-4-1-0 on the season.

The Monsters (6-5-1) won the series opener on March 25 when they beat the Stars, 3-1.