The Tahoe Knight Monsters hit the ice last Wednesday for their forty-first game of the season, taking on the Bloomington Bison in a matchup with meaningful standings implications for both clubs. Tahoe, the ECHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights, came into the night sitting third in the Western Conference’s Mountain Division with a 22-14-4 record. After suffering back-to-back losses to the Kansas City Mavericks, the Knight Monsters were eager to reset and find their way back into the win column as the midseason grind continued. Bloomington, meanwhile, entered the contest holding down third place in the Western Conference’s Central Division. The Bison, ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers, carried a 19-15-4 record into the game along with some momentum after picking up a victory over the Indy Fuel. With both teams occupying similar positions in their respective divisions and looking to climb higher in the standings, each side pushed to build consistency during the heart of the season.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters skated into this matchup determined to put an end to a two-game skid following back-to-back losses to the Kansas City Mavericks. Even with the recent stumble, Tahoe remained in a solid spot in the Mountain Division standings and viewed this game as an opportunity for a reset. Re-establishing their pace and puck-possession game was a priority, as sustained offensive-zone pressure and finishing chances had been harder to come by in their recent outings. Against a Bloomington team known for its structured defensive play, execution would be key. Special teams also loomed large, with the Knight Monsters aiming to make the most of their power-play opportunities while sharpening up on the penalty kill. The Bloomington Bison entered the night with momentum after earning a win over the Indy Fuel. The New York Rangers affiliate has made a habit of keeping games tight this season, leaning on balanced scoring and responsible play in their own zone. That formula has allowed Bloomington to stay competitive deep into the third period on most nights. Both teams were sitting in similar positions within their respective divisions and battling to strengthen their playoff footing. For Tahoe, it was about proving they could respond to adversity, especially on the road. For Bloomington, it was a chance to collect points against a strong Mountain Division opponent and keep building confidence. All signs pointed to a physical, playoff-style game where attention to detail (from faceoffs to special teams to late-game execution) could ultimately decide the outcome.
#34 Jordan Papirny got the start in net for the Tahoe Knight Monsters. It was his eighteenth game in net this season for Tahoe. Dryden McKay got the start in net for the Bloomington Bison. It was his nineteenth start this season for Bloomington, and his twenty-third ECHL game played this season.
Four minutes into the game, the Tahoe Knight Monsters took the lead. The goal was scored by #65 Devon Paliani. His goal was assisted by #94 Kevin Wall.
Ten minutes into the first period, #18 Seung Jae Lee scored to tie the game for the Bloomington Bison. The tying goal was assisted by #20 Tanner Schachle and #91 Brandon Yeamans.
With under six minutes left in the first period, Anthony Collins of Tahoe was called for fighting. At the same time, Jacob Böll of Bloomington was called for fighting. From Langley, British Columbia, forward Anthony Collins, at 36 years old, is 6ft 2in, and weighs 216lbs. From Kokkedal, Denmark, forward Jacob Böll, at 30 years old, is 6ft 5in, and weighs 238lbs. It was a solid fight. Collins had a lot more quality hits. Böll struggled to land his hits or even get hits despite his height advantage.
With under five minutes left in the first period, Mikael Robidoux of Bloomington was called for tripping. With under two minutes left in the first period, Zakary Karpa of Bloomington was called for high-sticking. The game was tied at 1-1 after the first period.
With under nine minutes left in the second period, #91 Brandon Yeamans scored to give the Bloomington Bison the lead. His goal was assisted by #59 Zakary Karpa.
The Bison led the game 2-1 going into the third period.
Three minutes into the third period, Blake Wells of Tahoe was called for roughing. With under ten minutes left in the game, 13 Sullivan Mack scored to give the Bloomington Bison a two-goal lead. His goal was assisted by #32 Mikael Robidoux.
With under three minutes left in the game, the Knight Monsters pulled their goalie for the extra attacker. #15 Eddie Matsushima would score an empty net goal for the Bloomington Bison. His goal was assisted by #5 Lou-Félix Denis. The Bison had a three-goal lead with just over a minute left in the game.
With under a minute left in the game, Devon Paliani of Tahoe was given a ten-minute misconduct for inciting. The final score was 4-1, Bloomington Bison.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters came into this one with hopes of ending their recent skid, but the Bloomington Bison had other plans. After an early strike from Devon Paliani, giving the Knight Monsters the lead, the Bison answered quickly, thanks to Seung Jae Lee’s first professional goal to tie the game heading to the second period. From there, Bloomington seized control. The Bison’s structured defensive game and opportunistic scoring showed up, as they capitalized on key chances to build a lead. Brandon Yeamans gave Bloomington the lead in the middle frame, and the Bison tacked on two more third-period goals to close it out. On the positive side for Tahoe, Paliani’s goal and the effort to start strong showed the offense can generate opportunities. Tahoe then struggled to sustain pressure and convert chances consistently after the first period, allowing Bloomington to dictate much of the game flow. In the bigger picture, this loss highlights a few things for the Knight Monsters: they need to tighten up defensively on the road and find more consistent finishing through sixty minutes if they want to climb back in the standings. For the Bison, this win reinforces their balanced approach and ability to respond when tested, especially in front of their home crowd.
The Bloomington Bison had one more shot. The Tahoe Knight Monsters had 28 shots on goal. The Bloomington Bison had 29 shots on goal. The Bison had the better shot percentage. The Kngiht Monster had a 4% shot percentage. The Bison had a 14% shot shot percentage. The Knight Monsters had one more power play. The Kngiht Monsters were 0-for-2 on the power play. The Bison were 0-for-1 on the power play. Both teams were 100% on the penalty kill. The Knight Monsters had eight more penalty minutes. The Knight Monsters had 17 penalty minutes. The Bison had 9 penalty minutes. #34 Jordan Papirny saved 25 of 29 shots for a save percentage of 86% for Tahoe. #30 Dryden McKay saved 27 of 28 shots for a 96% save percentage for Bloomington.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters have a record of 22-15-4 with 48 points in 41 games. The Tahoe Knight Monsters are still in nineth place in the ECHL. The Knight Monsters have slipped to fifth place in the ECHL Western Conference. The Knight Monsters are still in third place in the ECHL Western Conference Mountain Division. The Knight Monsters are 12 points away from the top spots in the ECHL, the ECHL Western Conference, and the Mountain Division. The Knight Monsters are 7 points away from second place in the Mountain Division. The Knight Monsters are 2 points ahead of fourth place. The Knight Monsters are in danger of slipping into fourth place. Tahoe are still 9 points into a playoff spot. They are not in danger right now of slipping out of a playoff spot.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters are set to face the Fort Wayne Komets in their forty-second game of the season. The puck is dropping on Saturday, January 31st, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
Zac Electrifly 
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