Sabers Drop Tough Series Against Monsters

by James Karr

Game 1: San Diego Sabers 3 at Fresno Monsters 9 - Final

The San Diego Sabers kicked off their series against the Fresno Monsters on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at Gateway Ice Center in Fresno, CA. Despite a strong start with early goals from Paganini and Ouellet, the Sabers faced challenges throughout the game. The Monsters secured a dominant 9-3 victory, showcasing a powerful offensive performance. San Diego's Ouellet contributed another goal, but it wasn't enough to overcome Fresno's seven-goal onslaught in the third period.

Game 2: San Diego Sabers 0 at Fresno Monsters 4 - Final

The second game of the series saw the Sabers struggle to find the back of the net, and the Monsters claimed a shutout victory with a 4-0 final score. Fresno's Persson led the charge with two goals, contributing to their win.

Game 3: San Diego Sabers 5 at Fresno Monsters 11 - Final

In the final game of the series, the Sabers faced a challenging contest against the Monsters. Despite a spirited effort, the Monsters dominated with an 11-5 victory. San Diego's Heskett and Ouellet showcased their offensive prowess with goals, but Fresno's Persson and company proved too formidable. The game featured a total of 29 penalty minutes, highlighting the intensity of the matchup.

Series Recap:

The San Diego Sabers faced a tough weekend against the Fresno Monsters, with a series of setbacks that included injuries and challenging on-ice battles. The Monsters demonstrated their offensive strength, outscoring the Sabers in each game. San Diego looks to regroup and refocus as they prepare to travel to Ontario to take on rivals the Jr Reign.

Notable Performances:

San Diego Sabers' Top Scorers:

  • Mario Paganini (2 goals, 1 assist)
  • Tristan Frizado (1 goal, 2 assists)
  • Justin Ouellet (2 goals)

Fresno Monsters' Top Scorers:

  • Jacob Persson (6 goals, 4 assists)
  • Sean Tellez (2 goals, 4 assists)
  • Andrei Kabataev (1 goal, 4 assists)

Goaltender Highlights:

  • San Diego Sabers: Vedernikov (51 shots-42 saves), May (4 shots-0 saves), Perry (13 shots-8 saves)
  • Fresno Monsters: Jourden (19 shots-16 saves), Degenstein (47 shots-42 saves)