For the second consecutive night the Valencia Flyers got a first period goal from Edy Keshishian and outstanding goaltending throughout from Taylor Nelson, and for the second consecutive night the opposition stormed back to win by a score of 5-1.

 

Keshishian once again notched a goal in the first period to pace Valencia to an early lead, but the Flyers failed to hold up to a Fresno onslaught in the final two periods and dropped their second in a row as their season dwindles down.

 

The win gives Fresno the season sweep of Valencia, winning all six games on the season against the Flyers. It’s not just another win for the league-leading Monsters however, as the victory puts a bow on an immaculate inaugural season and clinches the WSHL Western Division Title for Fresno.

 

The Flyers welcomed in the Monsters for the final time this season, as Fresno had taken the previous two games in Valencia in close contests. A large part of the Monsters’ traveling fan base made the trip south to accompany their team in its quest for the league title.

 

Early on the Monsters’ faithful had very little to cheer about, other than the stellar play of goaltender Brent Hollerud. The Flyers came out of the gate running and put plenty of pressure on Fresno in the first period, taking the crowd out of the game, at least for the mean time.

 

The Flyers continually swarmed in the Fresno zone and forced Hollerud to make big save after big save, as the Monsters’ netminder found a Flyer on the doorstep after nearly every stop.

 

All the hard work to begin the game did not go to waste, as the Flyers third line worked hard in the Fresno zone and got the home team on the board first with 9:02 remaining.

 

Tyler McGreevy took the puck hard to the Fresno net and had it knocked off his stick in the slot. Linemate Joey Cicoria spun and sent a backhand toward Hollerud, which was deflected in by Edy Keshishian from the side of the net. Keshishian’s 6^th of the year and second in as many nights gave the Flyers the 1-0 lead and hushed a sizable Fresno cheering section.

 

Valencia did not take the foot of the pedal after the goal and pressed on, keeping Hollerud and the Monsters’ defense on their heels nearly all period long.

 

John Dove and Bryan Fiol both had great chances nearing the end of the period, but Hollerud stood tall and kept his squad trailing by a goal after the opening twenty minutes of play.

 

In what many would consider Valencia’s best all-around period of the season, the Flyers led in nearly every category. They out-shot Fresno 16-11, out-chanced the league-leaders 9-2 and even out-hit the Monsters 24-16. Taylor Nelson was not tested much in the first period between the pipes for Valencia, but when called upon the veteran netminder had no problem turning away the vaunted Fresno attack.

 

The second period was a completely different story for the Flyers, as Fresno turned the proverbial table on the upstart home squad.

 

The Monsters came out much like the Flyers did in the first, and were able to put constant pressure on the Valencia d-men and goaltender throughout the period.

 

Taylor Nelson came up big on multiple occasions, robbing Evan Ohngren on a chance from the slot and stoning Rob Kolander on a clear-cut breakaway attempt just about half-way through the period.

 

Fresno would finally get on the board, over half-way through the game, while on the power play in the second period.

 

Finnish-Flash forward Jouni Elo took a pass from Don Coyle out of his own zone and blazed past Todd Graham at the Valencia blue line. Elo went wide and snapped a wrist shot from the bottom of the right circle that beat Nelson over the shoulder to tie the game at one. Elo’s 19^th of the season came on the power play at 9:27 of the period, with Coyle garnering the lone assist.

 

From that point on it was all Fresno, as the Monsters picked up their play and started to force Flyer mistakes.

 

With 3:35 left in the period, Elo would strike again for his second of the game and 20^th of the season to give the Monsters the lead heading into the break.

 

Elo took the puck over the Flyers’ blue line one-on-two and backed off Nick Miner. He took a long wrister from just inside the line that seemed to pick up speed and surprise Nelson. The puck found twine behind the Valencia netminder and sent the Fresno crowd into a frenzy. Defenseman Brett Blomgren received credit for the only assist, on a goal that hurt the Flyers, coming so late in the period.

 

Shots and chances in the second period both were in favor of Fresno, 22-11 and 9-2 respectively. The Flyers kept up their hitting game still and led 24-21 in the second twenty. The Monsters put one goal on four chances up on the power play, while the Flyers failed to convert on two chances.

 

A quick goal to start the third period for the second night in a row, all but put it away for Fresno with plenty of time still left.

 

Newly acquired defenseman Cody Osburn’s long wrist shot handcuffed Nelson and found its way home to make it 3-1 Monsters just 2:50 into the third.

 

Osburn’s second of the year came from Trevor Tracy and Justin Wilmers, both of whom played their minor hockey in Valencia.

 

The Flyers attempted to counter the continual Fresno fore-check in the third period and were successful in drawing a number of penalties. For the second night in a row however, the Flyers drew blank with the man advantage. This time notching only four shots on eight chances, while marking only four shots over nine chances with no goals the night before against Phoenix.

 

With 10:05 left in regulation, Jouni Elo would all but put it on ice with his third goal of the game and 21^st of the season.

 

With Fresno again swarming, Taylor Nelson made a good stop on Trevor Tracy through traffic. Elo picked up the puck at the base of the right circle and spun and shot all in one motion. The wrister squeaked through the pads of Nelson and gave Fresno a commanding 4-1 lead. Tracy and Brent Putney assisted on Elo’s hat-trick goal. Although it was interesting with all the Fresno fans in attendance, not one of them felt the need to part ways with their cap after Elo lit-the-lamp for the third time.

 

Just about two minutes later the Monsters would put an exclamation point on the win, as Rob Kolander notched his 30^th of the season, at even strength with 8:37 remaining.

 

Off a set faceoff play, Thomas Freeman won the drop forward and stepped around the Valencia center-man in one quick motion. Freeman snapped a pass cross-crease to Kolander who was waiting at the side of the net and wasted no time in banging it home.

 

Fresno would go on to hold and take the win 5-1 and lock up the WSHL Western Division in their first year in existence; a huge feat to say the least.

 

The Flyers played well and had Fresno looking a bit worried early, but were unable to keep up when the Monsters turned it up after the first period.

 

Final shots were 40 a-piece, while Valencia led in chances 15-11 and hits 61-50.

 

Brent Hollerud, who graduated from nearby Hart High School last spring, took the win in net for the Monsters. The Minnesota native stopped 39 of 40 and upped his record to a glistening 14-2-0 on the season.

 

 Taylor Nelson again played more than well enough to keep his team in the game for Valencia, but took the loss for the second night in a row. Nelson stopped 35 of 40 and stood on his head at times, but saw his record drop to 2-4-2.