Sloan Stanick (No. 21) winds up to shoot February 6 against the Adirondack Thunder. Stanick leads the Knight Monsters in points this season with 55 and also has a team-high 34 assists.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
The first-year Tahoe Knight Monsters currently hold onto the final playoff position available in the ECHL’s Mountain Division.
In the Western Conference, Tahoe is seventh overall with a record of 30-19-3 (64 points) with a 5-4-1 record over its last 10 games.
Several other members of the conference have heated up, with the Kansas City Mavericks (35-12-4, 75 points) winners of eight of their last 10.
The Iowa Heartlanders (30-16-4, 67 points) have jumped into third place in the conference with an 8-2 clip over their last 10.
Last weekend, the Knight Monsters dropped two of three against the Florida Everblades (36-10-6, 79 points), who currently boast the best record in the ECHL.
Florida won the first two contests of the series by finals of 4-2 and 4-1, outshooting the Knight Monsters 37-25 and 37-20 in those two games.
In Game 3, Tahoe trounced the Everblades, 6-2, behind Bear Hughes’ two goals and one assist.
Isaac Johnson had three assists in the win and Sloan Stanick tallied a pair of assists, as well.
TOP MONSTERS
Goals: Simon Pinard, 24
Assists: Sloan Stanick, 34
Points: Stanick, 55
+/-: Brennan Kapcheck +18
Penalty minutes: Kapcheck, 57
Wins: Jesper Vikman, 18
GAA: Jordan Papirny, 2.64
MOUNTAIN STANDINGS
Tahoe will be at home this weekend against the Western Conference’s worst team, the Allen Americans (13-30-7, 35 points).
The Knight Monsters will play Friday (7:30 p.m.), Saturday (7 p.m.) and Sunday (3 p.m.) at the Tahoe Blue Event Center.
In early December, Tahoe bested the Americans in a two-game series by scores of 4-3, twice.
Tahoe holds a three-point advantage on the fourth and final playoff spot available in the Mountain Division over the Idaho Steelheads (26-17-8, 61 points), who play two games this weekend against the sixth-place Rapid City Rush (22-22-5, 52 points) before tangling next weekend with the top team in the Mountain division, the Kansas City Mavericks (35-12-4, 75 points).
Tahoe and Idaho square off the following weekend — March 14 and 15 in Idaho — in a two-game set.
The postseason begins April 16.
COMING UP
• Friday-Sunday: Allen Americans (13-30-7, 35 points) at Tahoe
The series against the Americans begins Friday, Feb. 28 with a Knight Monsters family four-pack deal, with four tickets and four beanies for $140. The Saturday and Sunday games against the Americans will be part of a “Retro Weekend” promotion.
• March 6, 8 and 9: Rapid City Rush (22-22-5, 52 points) at Tahoe
The series starts Thursday, March 6 with Tahoe’s Thirsty Thursday promotion before continuing Saturday and Sunday. Saturday night will be Star Wars Night and feature the family four-pack for $140, including four light swords.
Sunday afternoon’s contest will be “Bluey Night” and a $200 package includes four tickets and a special meet and greet with Bluey.
• March 14-15: Tahoe at Idaho Steelheads (26-17-8, 61 points).