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Monsters Mash: Barreling Towards Playoffs

Posted on by Elaine Shircliff

The Monsters won three of their four games this past week.

On Tuesday the Monsters pushed the Checkers into overtime. Thanks to a beautiful last minute play by Sonny Milano, Dean Kukan, and Zac Dalpe the Monsters came out victorious. Kukan was the bright spot in the game assisting all three of the Monsters goals.

The Monsters found themselves on the outside looking in on Thursday when the Checkers scored four goals to the Monsters one. The special teams didn’t look great and ultimately led to their demise.

After the home series against the Checkers, the Monsters would pack up and head out on the road. Their first stop was the great city of Chicago to take on the second-place Wolves.

The thought of facing a second place team did not scare the Monsters one bit. They would beat the Wolves, 5-2. The special teams looked great. The Monsters went two for two on the power play. Sonny Milano assisted three of the five goals.

Immediately after the game, the Monsters hopped on the bus and traveled to Iowa to take on the Wild.

Despite the compressed schedule, the Monsters were able to shut the Wild out. Brad Thiessen stopped 19 of 19 shots.

Transactions

Swedish defender, Gabriel Carlsson, was assigned to the Monsters for the remainder of the season on March 31st. He made his debut in the Monsters win over the Wolves on April 1st. Carlsson notched an assist in his debut.

Kole Sherwood was assigned to the Monsters after completing a standout season in the OHL for the Flint Thunderbirds. Sherwood made his debut on April 2nd against the Iowa Wild.

Rankings

Record: 35-28-3-4, 77 points, .550 win percentage, 4th Central, 6th West

If playoffs started today, the Monsters would be playing the Grand Rapids Griffins. However, there are still six games left in the season and the Charlotte Checkers are following close behind. The Wild sit closely behind the Checkers. This will be a photo finish race to the end.

There are only two spots left in the Central division. If the Checkers or Monsters lose their next game, the Milwaukee Admirals will clinch the third spot.

Team Leaders

*note: Since Oliver Bjorkstrand can no longer be sent down to the Jackets his stats are not included in this post. While with the Monsters, he had 14 goals, 12 assists, and 26 points.

Point Scorers

  1. Sonny Milano, 43
  2. T.J. Tynan, 38
  3. Markus Hannikainen, 32

Goal Scorers

  1. Markus Hannikainen, 17
  2. Sonny Milano, 16
  3. Justin Scott, 13

Assists

  1. Sonny Milano, T.J. Tynan, 27
  2. Dean Kukan, 22
  3. Daniel Zaar, 21

Penalty Minutes

  1. Brett Gallant, 111
  2. Jaime Sifers, 70
  3. Oleg Yevenko, 66

Weekly Stats

Shots For 115
Shots Against 99
Goals For 13
Goals Against 2
Penalties/Minutes 22/64 minutes
Penalty Kill 13 for 14
Power Play 7 for 17

Thiessen
Forsberg
1 Games Played 3
1-0-0-0 Record 2-1-0-0
19 Shots Faced 80
19 Saves 72
60:00:00 Time On Ice 182:01:00

Around the AHL

Leaders

Point Scorers

  1. Kenny Agostino, 79
  2. Taylor Beck, 63
  3. Wade Megan, Chris Terry, Travis Boyd, 60

Goal Scorers

  1. Wade Megan, Pontus Aberg, 31
  2. Rocco Grimaldi, 29
  3. Nicklas Jensen, 28

Assists

  1. Kenny Agostino, 57
  2. Travis Boyd, 45
  3. Taylor Beck, 44

Penalty Minutes

  1. Sena Acolatse, 147
  2. Mike Liambis, 145
  3. Tyler Lewington, 142

Goaltenders

  1. Zane McIntyre – 1.91 GAA, 20  Wins, 49 GA, .934 sav%
  2. Troy Grosenick – 2.03 GAA, 28  Wins, 82 GA, .929 sav%
  3. Garret Sparks – 2.03 GAA, 19  Wins, 54 GA, .927 sav%

Suspensions

Ross Johnston of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers was suspended for procuring his 10th fighting major of the 2016-17 season.

Rule 23.7

In regular League games, any player who incurs a total of ten (10) fighting major penalties shall be suspended automatically for the next League game of his team. For each subsequent fighting major penalty, the player shall be suspended automatically for the next League game of his team.

In regular League games, any player who incurs a total of fourteen (14) fighting major penalties shall then be suspended automatically for the next two (2) League games of his team. For each subsequent fighting major penalty, the player shall be suspended automatically for the next two (2) League games of his team.

In any instance where the opposing player was assessed an instigator penalty, the fighting major penalty assessed shall not count towards the player’s total for the purposes this rule.

Max McCormick of the Binghamton Senators was suspended for a game after incurring an infraction on March 29th.

Player Awards

Each team announced their winner of the IOA/American Specialty Man of the Year award for the 2016-17 season. Each winner is in the running for the 2016-17 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award. The Cleveland Monsters winner was Jaime Sifers for his “Sifers Seats for Soldiers” program.

Story Lines

Phantom goaltenders, Anthony Stolarz and Alex Lyon, are helping propel Lehigh Valley towards the 2017 playoffs.

A week ago, Luke Kunin turned pro and is already making a name for himself on the Iowa Wild. On Tuesday, Kunin scored a hattrick.

Todd Nelson has outgrown the shoes Jeff Blashill left behind to fill. Not only did the Grand Rapids Griffins clinch a playoff spot, they are first in the Central division.

Brandon Kisker wrote this lovely article about Andrew Mangiapane’s rookie year.

Talking Points