Monsters plow through the Avalanche

-- Compiled by Scott Harrington for Harrington Sports Media

Ontario Avalanche @ Fresno Monsters

The Fresno Monsters took two of three games from the Ontario Avalanche at Selland Arena, scoring 21 goals in the process.

Fresno 11, Ontario 4 - The Monsters stormed out to a 5-0 lead in the first period and cruised to an 11-4 win in Thursday's series opener. Zack Turpin and Nikita Garin each posted hat tricks for Fresno and Dustin Tuex (1-3-4) had a four-point night.

Fresno only out-shot Ontario by a 38-37 margin but Max Karlenzig was a difference-maker for the Monsters, making 33 saves.

Four different skaters scored for Ontario and Aidan Harding made 13 of his 27 saves in the first period.

Ontario 4, Fresno 2 - Brett Ruiz broke a 1-1 tie with 1.1 seconds left in the second period, then added a second tally early in the third period to give the Avalanche a three-goal lead. They held on for a 4-2 win behind three points (2-1-3) for Ruiz and 25 saves for Connor Duffy.

Gustaf Wranghede and Martin Dlugolinsky scored the goals for Fresno.

Fresno 8, Ontario 2 - Garin notched another hat trick Saturday night, sparking the Monsters to an 8-2 win. Petr Philoppov (1-4-5) and Truex (2-2-4) also had big nights and Karlenzig stopped 15 of 17 shots for Fresno.

Jeremy Van Dyke and Ruiz scored the Ontario goals and Avalanche netminder Kurt Yano made 33 saves.