Despite a 12-game winning streak, the Fresno Monsters had to figure they were going to be knocked from their perch atop the Western Division just based on the number of games in hand the Long Beach Bombers have over them. But Fresno sped the process along by losing three games in three days last week.
The three losses – which came against three different teams in three different cities – were all against Western Division foes. Fresno did pick up one point in the standings for taking Friday’s contest in Valencia to overtime before eventually dropping the 3-2 decision to the Flyers.
Fresno then allowed 10 goals in a loss to third-place San Diego (a potential playoff opponent) before closing out the weekend by getting doubled up by the Ontario Avalanche, 6-3.
Unfortunately, the Monsters will not be able to get right back up on the horse and get the bad taste of last weekend out of their mouth. They do not play again for three weeks, returning to play out their last five regular season games on the road in March.
Goaltender Tyler Mathews saw his personal seven-game win streak snapped with an 0-1-1 weekend, but he did extend one streak – he has posted a single-game save percentage of .900 or better in nine consecutive appearances, posting a 7-1-1 mark with a 2.53 goals-against average and .934 save percentage in that span.
1998-born forward Blair Maguire has recorded seven points (3-4-7) in 10 games with Valencia. He had 12 points (3-9-12) in 25 games with the El Paso Rhinos to start the year.
--- Compiled by Scott Harrington for Harrington Sports Media