Captain Clutch! Miller delivers OT winner as Chops top Monsters

12/06/2008 9:13 PM - Thanks to an overtime goal from Drew Miller, a shorthanded goal from Andrew Ebbett and 26 saves from David LeNeveu, the Iowa Chops posted a thrilling 2-1 OT win against the Lake Erie Monsters on Saturday night at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. After dominating much of the 1st period, which included a 15-9 shot advantage, for the 10th time this season the Chops would score first thanks to a shorthanded goal by Andrew Ebbett who received a great saucer pass from Brendan Mikkelson to race in on a breakaway and beat Monsters goaltender Tyler Weiman between the blocker and the body for the 1-0 lead. Chops goaltender David LeNeveu stopped all nine shots that came his way. The 2nd period saw the Monsters finally take advantage of a power play as a drive from the point was tipped in by Marty Sertich, who was all alone at the back post to lift one upstairs over an outstretched LeNeveu. The Chops managed six shots in the period and had a few great chances at the end of the period, but Tyler Weiman made a few good saves in front as the Chops power play tried to regain the lead to keep the game tied 1-1 after two periods. The 3rd period was back a fourth, but the Chops continued to pressure the net. The Chops fired in a season-high 16 shots in the 3rd period and 37 shots through regulation, but could not get the puck past Weiman. On the other end, LeNeveu kept his team in the game with several key saves. In the overtime, some hard work at the point by Brennan Evans to keep the puck in the offensive zone got the puck down low to Ebbett, who fed Miller in the high slot and Miller wristed a shot past the catching glove of Weiman for the game-winner and his team-leading 11th goal of the season. The Chops outshot the Monsters 38-27 and will face the Monsters again on Sunday, December 7th at 5:00pm (4:00pm central) at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

AND FOR ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW

In the 100th game of their franchise’s history, the Lake Erie Monsters lost to the Iowa Chops, 2-1, in overtime Saturday night at Quicken Loans Arena.

The game was highlighted by another solid performance from Monsters goaltender Tyler Weiman, who made 36 saves on 38 shots.

“Tyler was great again,” said Monsters center Marty Sertich. “The last few games he’s played for us he’s been great. They could have had more goals, but he played really well.”

Weiman and the Monsters defense started the game out well. The team killed off a two man advantage early on and Weiman stopped 14 shots in the opening frame.

However, the Chops opened the scoring, finding the back of the net at 12:01 of the first period. While shorthanded, Iowa’s Brendan Mikkelson floated a pass that touched down right on the stick of Andrew Ebbett, who was sprinting down the middle of the ice. The Chops forward was all alone on Weiman and beat the Monsters goalie to give the Chops a 1-0 lead.

The lead would last for about a period before Sertich cashed in on the power play at 11:42 of the second. From the point, defenseman Ray Macias fired a slap shot that Sertich deflected past the glove of Chops goalie David LeNeveu. Chris Durno earned the second assist on the goal.

The game would remain tied for the rest of regulation as both goaltenders turned in solid performances to keep their teams in the game. Weiman made 16 saves in the third period and LeNeveu turned aside 13 shots in the last frame of regulation.

But the game would end at 2:52 of overtime, when Chops forward Drew Miller beat Weiman to end the game.

“We hadn’t played in a week and we came back rusty, but Tyler kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win,” said head coach Joe Sacco.

Lake Erie won’t have too much time to dwell on the loss. The team will turn around in less than 24 hours and host Iowa again at The Q Sunday at 5:00 p.m.

“That’s a very good hockey team we played tonight,” said Sacco. “We need to come out strong tomorrow and let Iowa know we’re ready to play."