LAS VEGAS THUNDERBIRDS VS. FRESNO MONSTERS
Las Vegas Thunderbirds 2, Fresno Monsters 1
Las Vegas gets back in the win column with a win over the Fresno Monsters at Gateway Ice Center. Thunderbirds defeat Monsters after losing previous two meetings against them.
An opening period goal by Vegas’s Joseph Terrana at 9:47 held the T-Birds up by a goal for the majority of the game. Fresno sustained the pressure for the length of the tilt. They tested Jesper Ahlberg with 21 shots in the first two frames.
Mikhail Gerasin got the Thunderbirds up 2-0 at 6:08 of the third period, but the division leaders were able to answer.
Petr Philippov managed Fresno’s only goal with 1:11 remaining in the match.
FRESNO MONSTERS VS. SAN DIEGO SABERS
Fresno Monsters 3, San Diego Sabers 4
Fresno Monsters 2, San Diego Sabers 1
The battle for first place in the Western Division continued head-on this weekend with the Sabers splitting the series against Fresno in Selland Arena. San Diego finds itself three points behind division leading Fresno.
The Sabers stunned the Monsters igniting the series with three consecutive goals in Game 1. Caleb Travis, Hunter Howe, and Joel Rothman found the goals before Fresno struck back in succession.
Fresno tied the game 3-3 at 18:25 of the third following a pair of goals from Deakan Fielder and Jon Tagoona.
Rothman found his second goal of the game and won it for San Diego at 11:53 of the third period.
San Diego was met with much more push-back in Game 2 as the Monsters were able to muscle out a 2-1 win. A power play goal from William Markstedt put the Monsters up 1-0 early in the opening frame.
San Diego’s Dylan Travis had the lone goal in the second period, which tied the game 1-1. As the Sabers continued to press they proceeded to outshoot the Monsters 20-10 in the third.
But it was Tristan Baker’s effort at 13:26 that found twine to save the Monsters from a two-game setback.