Cleveland Monsters (3) at Chicago Wolves (5)
Attendance: 9014
Starters
Monsters
T.Broadhurst-Dalpe-A.Broadhurst
Gaunce-Murray
Kivlenieks
Wolves
Sterling-Megan-Pulkkinen
Garrison-Casto
Dansk
Monsters Lines
T.Broadhurst-Dalpe-A.Broadhurst
Gerbe-Camper-Schroeder
Milano-Pendenza-Koules
Thurkauf-Vigneault-Moutrey
Monsters Pairings
Austin-Cockerill
Savage-Collins
Gaunce-Murray
Goal Recap
Eight goals were scored between the Cleveland Monsters and Chicago Wolves tonight. Three were courtesy of the Monsters. Five were from the Wolves.
The Chicago Wolves kicked off the scoring tonight 2:57 into the game.
Wade Megan takes off down the ice with the puck. Upon crossing center ice, he passes the puck to Teemu Pulkkinen who spots Kevin Lough. From between the faceoff circles Lough fires the puck past Matiss Kivlenieks.
Nathan Gerbe picked up a loose puck and backhanded it topshelf to tie things up at one for the Monsters with 6:55 to play in the first.
With 33 seconds left in the first period, the Monsters took the 2-1 lead after Ryan Murray fired home a Jordan Schroeder rebound from the top of the crease.
The Wolves tied the game at two a little over two minutes into the second period.
TJ Tynan picked a bouncing puck up off the boards and fired it over to Tomas Hyka who was waiting in the middle of the ice. He fired the puck to Beau Bennett who launched it into the net from the faceoff dot.
The Monsters took the 3-2 lead 8:02 into the second period.
Nick Moutrey blocked Oscar Dansk’s view to give Sonny Milano a clean shot at the net.
With 3:14 left in the second, the Wolves tied the game at three. Brett Sterling skated past the goal and out of scoring range. So Brady Austin and Kivlenieks thought. They both relaxed a bit and Sterling backhanded the puck over Kivlenieks’ pad and into the net.
Tynan and Hyka set up a nice play to allow Zac Leslie to give Chicago the 4-3 lead with 3:18 to play.
With 34 seconds left in the game, Wade Megan sealed the deal for the Wolves by scoring on the Monsters’ empty net.
But Wait! There’s More
Quick Thoughts
- All four lines were rolling this afternoon. Every line produced scoring chances but Oscar Dansk kept reading them like a children’s book. The only issues they had tonight were keeping people out of the net (yes, you read that right) and having the speed/energy to chase down an opponent who was on a breakaway.
- Nick Moutrey is great at figuring out where to put his body to block a goaltender’s line of vision. I’m sure the Monsters are loving having Moutrey back in the lineup.
- Sonny Milano did a fantastic job of forcing turnovers. For someone who just came back from an injury, he was incredibly aggressive today.
- Ryan Murray is a better stickhandler than I though. He also knew how to be in the right place at the right time. Tonight’s play was remniscent of Murray’s time in the WHL.
- There were a lot of great looks on net when the third line (Milano, Pendenza, Koules) and the first pairing (Austin,Cockerill) were on the ice at the same time.
- Matiss Kivlenieks stopped a lot of point blank shots with confidence tonight. It’s good to see his confidence growing with each passing game.
- Did you notice a Broadhurst brother didn’t score or assist a goal tonight? Weird, huh? Let me tell you, Alex Broadhurst tried his hardest to get on the scoreboard. He pulled out some incredible passes and shots but nothing went in. They either missed the goal by a hair or Dansk stuffed him. I have a feeling A.Broadhurst will have a scoring chip on his shoulder when Wednesday’s game rolls around. /
3 Stars
1st – Zac Leslie (1g, 0a, Game Winning Goal)
2nd – Teemu Pulkkinen ( 0g, 2a)
3rd – Oscar Dansk (22 shots faced, 19 saves, 60:00 TOI)
Game Stats
Captaincy Report
Alex Broadhurst, Carter Camper, and Nathan Gerbe all wore the “A” in this afternoon’s tilt.
Penalty Book/Milestones
This was the first AHL game that Ryan Murray has ever played in. His first period goal was Murray’s first career AHL goal.
Nathan Gerbe scored his first goal of the season in the first period.
Sonny Milano’s goal was his first goal of the season as a Monsters.
What’s Next
The Monsters head home to take on the Stockton Heat on Wednesday, February 21st and Friday, February 23rd at 7pm.
Get to Quicken Loans early on Friday! It’s Carter Camper bobblehead night.