Monsters stay in playoff race

The Monsters’ playoff chances were on thin ice 53 seconds into the second period on April 13, and 17 seconds after that they became even thinner.

In a game the Monsters almost had to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, the visiting Manitoba Moose turned a 1-0 first period lead into a 3-0 advantage 1:10 into the second period. Things looked bleak for the team and the 7,498 fans in The Q, but the Monsters rallied to win, 5-4, in one of the most exciting games of the year.

So now the playoff situation looks like this:

The Monsters are 39-284-4, giving them 86 points. They host Manitoba on April 14 to finish the season.

Charlotte is 38-28-4-4, giving them 84 points with road games in Grand Rapids and Chicago remaining.

If the Monsters beat the Moose again and the Checkers lose one of their final two games, the Monsters clinch the final playoff spot in the Central Division. The Monsters could also get in with an overtime or shootout loss if Charlotte does no more than split the last two games.

The Monsters have one regulation loss in the last 13 games. Coach John Madden was not pleased about falling behind 3-0 quickly. But to rally back and win took poise, and the Monsters showed that in one of the most important games of the year.

“A lot of credit goes to these guys,” Madden said. “They’ve practiced hard. They’ve been committed. They’re working hard in the games. They’re playing for each other. They’re doing all the right things.

The Monsters stormed back from the 3-0 deficit with four straight goals in the second period. The first three in the streak were all on the power play – Alex Broadhurst at 8:46, Dean Kukan at 10:49 on what was actually a pass that went off the stick of a Moose player, and a shot by T.J. Tynan at 12:42.

Joe Pendenza gave the Monsters a temporary lead exactly two minutes later on a shot under the crossbar on a pass from Sonny Milano.

Manitoba tied the game before the period ended, then Markus Hannikainen, trailing Sam Vigneault, took a pass from him and scored the tying goal from the left faceoff circle at 8:34 of the third period.

Anton Forsberg was in goal for the Monsters. He has been in net for 10 of the victories in the hot streak. He did not falter when down three goals. He had to make a left pad save of a shot by Jack Roslovic with three seconds to play. The final horn sounded and Roslovic slammed his stick on the glass in frustration.

“For me, it’s all about going for the next puck,” Forsberg puck. “I can’t do anything else. Even if I have 40 shots and no goals and 15 shots and three goals, it’s the same thing. You just have to work for the next one.”

Forsberg is 27-16-4-4 this season.