LAKE TAHOE, Nev. – It was another exciting weekend of hockey at the Tahoe Blue Event Center. The Tahoe Knight Monsters, in their inaugural season, have played 56 games, winning 57 percent of them. They now sport a 32-20 record in ECHL, sitting in sixth place in the Western Conference.
Friday – Tahoe Lights up the Night in OT, Defeats Allen 3-2
There’s nothing like a home crowd in Tahoe.
As Slava Demin scored the overtime winner in game one against the Allen Americans, the Tahoe Blue Event Center erupted with an energy that had built over three weeks of no games at home. And more than that, the 3-2 victory was a massive two points for the Knight Monsters and their second straight win.
Simon Pinard and Isaac Johnson scored, and Jesper Vikman carded his second straight stellar performance to lead Tahoe to their fourth home victory in a row.
The fans were eased into the action with a scoreless first period, as neither side was able to get a leg up despite multiple scoring chances. Goaltenders Jesper Vikman and Dylan Wells both stayed sharp in the face of 25 total shots seen, 13 of which coming from Tahoe.
In the second, the action began in earnest. Allen struck twice but Tahoe responded minutes after allowing the second goal with a Simon Pinard goal assisted by Sloan Stanick. It was Pinard’s 25th goal of the season, and a big-time tally after he missed the previous three games with injury.
Tahoe dominated the third period, outshooting the Americans 11-3, and tied up the game under eight minutes in on the power play. After some line shuffling, Pinard won a faceoff to Isaac Johnson, who rifled the puck in just two seconds into the man advantage to even the score at two.
The third period ended with multiple chances for Tahoe, but the buzzer eventually sounded on a knotted-up game to signal overtime.
And it took just two and a half minutes for Demin to send the crowd into a frenzy.
After a breakout from Stanick, Isaac Johnson found Demin wide open in close, and he didn’t miss for his first goal as a Knight Monster and of the season. Demin, who was acquired from the Idaho Steelheads about a month ago, has adjusted well to the Tahoe system and is getting top minutes down the stretch of the season.
Saturday – Tahoe Turns Back the Clock in Game 2 Win
Retro weekend is off to a great start.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters defeated the Allen Americans 2-1 at home, riding a dominant performance by Jordan Papirny and clutch goals from Logan Nelson and Luke Adam. Papirny made 34 of 35 saves, and Adam scored the winner in the third to lead Tahoe to a groovy game 2 win.
In the first, Nelson struck on a beautiful tic-tac-toe goal set up by Patrick Newell and Troy Loggins. It was a byproduct of Tahoe’s commitment to quick passing to get Dylan Wells out of position, and it worked to a tee to give them a 1-0 lead.
Things quieted down after that, and the buzzer sounded to close the first period with Tahoe holding the lead and looking for more.
And they got more, as Luke Adam struck on the power play under five minutes into the frame to double the lead. With that goal, Tahoe has scored a ppg in three straight games and won all three.
Papirny sealed the deal from there in the second, making 11 saves total including one heroic stop just moments after Adam’s goal.
The Americans turned on the jets in the third, firing 15 shots on goal and cutting their deficit in half late with an extra attacker on the ice. Papirny made multiple five-star stops in the period, and flashed out his pad with just seconds remaining to secure the victory and the series win for Tahoe.
With the win, Tahoe has won five home games in a row and are 8-2-1 in their last 11 home games against Mountain Division opponents. And with a Tulsa Oilers loss tonight, they are now second in the Mountain with 68 points.
Sunday – Tahoe Falters in Game 3, Loses 4-1
The Tahoe Knight Monsters fell in game three against the Allen Americans 4-1, snapping their five-game home winning streak. Simon Pinard scored and Jesper Vikman carded another strong start, but it wasn’t enough as Allen got their first win since February 1st.
Allen began the contest hot, outshooting Tahoe 14-5 in the first half of the opening period and scoring first on a sharp-angle shot from JC Brassard. The Knight Monsters tilted the scales back in their favor in the second half, ending the period with 15 shots on goal.
Another defender scored for Allen in the second on a high-slot missile fired in by Jay Powell for his first goal of the season. But Tahoe turned the tables from there, outshooting Allen 14-7 and getting on the board with a Simon Pinard strike.
Pinard’s goal was his 26th of the season and his 17th goal at home this year as well.
The Americans pulled away in the third with two goals, including an empty-netter to seal the game late. And the buzzer sounded on a loss for Tahoe, who will have to wait to eclipse the 70-point mark this season.
Next on the docket for the Knight Monsters are the Rapid City Rush, who come to Tahoe for a three-game series beginning on Thursday, March 6. Puck drop for game one is scheduled for 7 pm. And, after every Knight Monsters home game check out a postgame party at AleWorX Stateline for wood-fired pizza, self-serve beer, and great scenery.
