Bittner's blast gives Monsters a 3-2 OT win on Monday

Kenai River 2 @ Fresno 3 (OT) – Defenseman Mark Bittner’s first goal of the season proved to be one of the biggest as the Fresno Monsters defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 3-2 in overtime Monday in North American Hockey League action in Fresno.  Fresno improved to 18-13-8, while the Bears fall to 18-15-2. Kenai River is now six points behind the Monsters for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West Division.  After a scoreless first two periods, which saw plenty of great goaltending by Fresno’s Tomas Sholl and Kenai’s Austin Severson, Alex Frere gave the Brown Bears the lead with 12:07 left in the game. Jesse Ramsey assisted.  Zack Wallace tied the game for Fresno with 10:45 to play, then just :49 seconds later, Luke Sandler scored to give the Monsters a 2-1 lead.  Frere tied the game with his second goal of the game with 3:47 to play on an unassisted goal.   That set up Mark Bittner of Fresno, who ended the game 3:51 into overtime with a goal.  Bittner got a feed in the high slot and snapped a shot past Severson’s blocker side for the game-winner and his first goal of the season.  The Brown Bears continued to kill power plays, holding Fresno to 0 for 3, but also continued to struggle on the power play going 0 for 6.  Austin Severson made 24 saves in the loss for the Bears, while Tomas Sholl had 26 saves in the win for the Monsters.  The two teams will face-off again on Tuesday night. Boxscore