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Recap: Monsters Drop Four Games in a Row

Cleveland Monsters (2) at Belleville Senators (3)

The Cleveland Monsters dropped their fourth straight game last night against the Belleville Senators. On paper, the Monsters were the better team. Despite only being able to fire off 12 shots, the Senators were the better team on the ice.

For much of the first period, it appeared both teams were trying to get into the swing of things. The Monsters struggled to get shots past Filip Gustavsson. While, the Senators didn’t record their first shot on goal until there was 5:30 left in the period.

The second period started with a faceoff win courtesy of the Monsters’ second line. This line consisting of Nathan Gerbe and Mark Letestu centered by Justin Scott is the most solid line for the Monsters. They bring the right amount of aggression and skill to the ice. Even better, the second line picks up rebounds and attacks the net like mad men.

However, one line doesn’t make a whole team.

A little over seven minutes into the second period, the Senators were the first on the board. Julius Bergman fired off a shot which Jospeh LaBate tipped into the net. The lone Monsters’ defenseman, Blake Siebenaler, standing in front of the net looked a little lost as this play shook out.

The Monsters fired back with a goal 11:31 into the period. Vitaly Abramov skated around the back of the net. From below the blue line, he passed the puck to Adam Clendening who was posted at the near faceoff circle. Clendening launched the puck toward the net. It bounced off Gustavsson’s blocker. Abramov immediately scooped it up and passed it across the crease to Nathan Gerbe who slammed it home for the equalizer.

At this point, Sonny Milano was fired up. He did everything humanely possible to open up lanes for his teammates. As well as, try to score a goal. Twice Milano tried to bank a shot off of Gustavasson. Twice Gustavsson managed to stop the pucks from going into the net.

With 1:13 left in the period, Chlapik one-timed a shot into the net to give the Senators the 2-1 lead.

Still fired up from the second period, Milano tied the game 1:50 into the period to give the Monsters some momentum. This was not your average Milano goal. There was nothing fancy about it. The play was simple and it confused Gustavsson.

Milano’s goal fired up both teams.

For the rest of the game, the Monsters and Senators played their hearts out.

However, it would be the Senators who would score the final goal of the game with 8:42 left.

After skating around the back of the net and through traffic, Logan Brown fired a shot which  bounced off of Jean-Francois Berube’s arm into the net. The Monsters were unable to get the game back causing them to drop four games in a row.

The Monsters have a chance to help themselves in the standings on Friday against the Syracuse Crunch. Winning the next two games will be crucial for the Monsters placement in the standings.

3 Stars

1st – Filip Gustavsson (37 shots faced,35 saves, 60:00 TOI)

2nd – Logan Brown (1g, 1a)

3rd – Sonny Milano (1g, 0a)

Game Stats

Monsters Lines

Broadhurst-Dalpe-Korostelev
Gerbe-Scott-Letestu
Milano-MacInnis-Stenlund
Fortier-DeSalvo-Abramov

Monsters Pairings

Cross-Siebenaler
Carlsson-Clendening
Prapavessis-Simpson

What’s Next

The Monsters continue their roadie with back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday.

January 11th @ Syracuse Crunch – 7 pm
January 12th @ Binghamton Devils – 7:05 pm
January 18th @ Laval Rocket – 7:30 pm
January 19th @ Laval Rocket – 3pm