Monsters take over first with 4-1 win over Heat

CLEVELAND, OH - The Lake Erie Monsters took over first place in the AHL North Division with a 4-1 win over the Abbotsford Heat at the Q on Thursday Night.

The Monsters are now 24-16-2. Lake Erie outshot Abbotsford 16-9 in the first period, but Quintin Laing’s goal with 14 seconds left in the period gave the Heat a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.

The Monsters outshot the Heat 18-8 in the second period and evened the score 1-1 on Paul Carey’s shorthanded goal at 7:51; it was his eighth of the season and was unassisted

The Monsters scored twice in the first three minutes of the third period to take a 3-1 lead; Brad Malone scored his seventh of the year just 45 seconds into the third, assisted by Bill Thomas; then Gabriel Beaupre (bo-pray) scored his first of the season and first as a pro, assisted by Paul Carey and David van der Gulik

Abbotsford starting goalie Danny Taylor was replaced by Barry Brust after the Monsters’ third goal.Bill Thomas scored his 17 ^th of the season to give the Monsters a 4-1 lead with just under four minutes remaining in the game; assisted by Karl Stollery and Brad Malone.The Monsters and Heat will play again Friday night