Lake Erie's skaters -- notably, center Patrick Rissmiller -- play lean and mean in thumping the Chicago Wolves, 6-3, Friday night at The Q.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — After completing a largely successful stretch of eight games in 11 days, the Monsters had five days off.
They did not get fat during the break.
Lake Erie's skaters -- notably, center Patrick Rissmiller -- played lean and mean in thumping the Chicago Wolves, 6-3, Friday night at The Q.
Rissmiller notched a natural hat trick over the first and second periods and finished with four goals. And get this: He is not even property of the Monsters or their parent, the Colorado Avalanche.
Rissmiller's rights belong to the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers, whose AHL affiliate is Chicago. Rissmiller had played in six games for the Wolves this season before the Thrashers reassigned him. He joined the Monsters on Nov. 20.
Rissmiller set a franchise record for goals in a game and tied a franchise record with five points.
Lake Erie went 5-2-0-1 during the meat grinder that ended with a victory last Saturday against Oklahoma City. The five-day break was its longest since having six days off between the second and third games of the season, Oct. 9-16.
The Monsters (12-9-2-2) showed some rust early in the first period, falling behind, 1-0. Once they kicked it into gear, though, they were relentless.
Lake Erie scored five straight goals before Chicago caused a bit of a stir beginning midway through the third. The Wolves scored twice and created a 6-on-4 in the final minutes thanks to a penalty and pulled goalie.
Rissmiller's fourth goal was an empty-netter.
The Monsters did not simply win a game; they handled a nemesis. The Wolves (11-13-1-0) had prevailed in the previous three of the four-game season series, including 6-5 in overtime Nov. 5 at The Q.