On education day, Monsters learn a lesson

CLEVELAND - Despite outshooting Rochester 32-26, including posting 14 shots in the third period, the Lake Erie Monsters (24-18-2-6) fell by a 4-1 score to the Rochester Americans (26-16-2-1) at Quicken Loans Arena before a crowd of 7,248 fans. 

There were approximately 5,100 third grade students from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and other suburban schools in attendance for the annual “Student Education Game.” 

Paul Carey scored the lone goal for the Monsters in the third period, and the Monsters winless streak extended to five games with the loss.

Frederick Roy opened the scoring by tapping in a loose puck in the goal crease at 6:12 of the opening period to give Rochester a 1-0 lead.  At 11:40, the Americans capitalized on a turnover when Phil Varone scored on a shorthanded breakaway, unassisted, to give Rochester a 2-0 lead.

Rochester scored once in the second period when Nick Crawford took a pass in the right circle and sent a puck top-shelf to beat Monsters goalie Calvin Pickard on the power play, giving the Americans a 3-0 lead at 16:19 of the second period.

Carey tapped home a David van der Gulik feed for his 10 ^th goal of the season at 15:47 of the third period to get the Monsters on the board and cut the Rochester lead to two- with an additional assist to Andrew Agozzino.  Rochester cancelled it out by getting an empty-net goal from Varone with 1:03 remaining, resulting in the 4-1 final score.

Pickard stopped 22 of 25 shots in net for the Monsters and is 13-11-3.  David Leggio earned his league-leading 25 ^th win, stopping 31 of 32 to improve to 25-12-1.

The Monsters will now hit the road for a three-in-three this weekend.  They will play in Grand Rapids on Friday, Chicago on Saturday and Rockford on Sunday.