The Fresno Monsters swept the Ontario Avalanche in a three-game series at Selland Arena to stay within two points of Long Beach in the Western Division.
Fresno 5, Ontario 2 – Petr Philippov scored a hat trick – one goal in each period – to lead the Fresno Monsters to a 5-2 win over the Ontario Avalanche at Selland Arena on Thursday.
With the game tied 2-2 in the second period, just after killing off an Ontario power play, Stanislav Danaev poked a loose puck ahead to Jarred Hicks who skated in all alone and scored with a quick shot low stick side, giving Fresno the lead back at 3-2. It held up as the game-winning goal thanks to Tyler Mathews, who allowed just two goals on 31 shots in the Monsters crease.
Jeremy Van Dyke scored both Ontario goals, including the ice-breaker just 1:08 after the opening faceoff.
Will McEwen made 34 saves for the Avalanche.
Fresno 7, Ontario 3 – Martin Dlugolinsky and Joel Brotzge each scored twice during a five-goal second period for Fresno, propelling them to a 7-3 win on Friday.
Ontario scored first again, and led 1-0 after one period on a Justin Davis goal, but the Monsters scored five times in the second period on Avalanche goal Connor Duffy (24 saves), who had stopped all 14 shots he faced in the first period.
Mathews was between the pipes again for the Monsters, making 15 of his 31 saves in the third period to stifle any chances Ontario had to mount a comeback.
Fresno 5, Ontario 3 – Cole Beckman’s goal two minutes into the second period gave the Monsters a 4-0 lead and it stood as the game-winner as Fresno held on for a 5-3 win over the Avalanche on Saturday night, completing the sweep.
Goals by Brett Ruiz and Andrew Olson in the last 4:11 of the game cut a four-goal Fresno lead in half, but it was too little, too late.
Jeremy Velazquez scored two goals and assisted on another for the Monsters.
Gabriel Cognac kicked out all 12 shots Ontario sent his way in the first period as Fresno built their lead. He ended the game with 23 saves.
Kurt Yano made 30 saves for Ontario.