Throwback: Monsters vs IceHogs Series – 2016-17

Today is the third week of the 2017-18 edition of “Throwback Thursday”. Before the season starts, I’ll review each series from the 2016-17 season. A few weeks out from the start of the season is a good time to give Monsters fans a refresher. Once the AHL season officially starts, I’ll throw it way back and bless you with Cleveland hockey history. Next week will also be the start of regular Monsters coverage. The season is close. Can you feel it?!

Today, I bring you the 2016-17 Cleveland Monsters vs Rockford IceHogs series.

Cleveland Monsters; 39-29-4-4, 86 points, .566 win%, 5^th Central, 9^th West

vs

Rockford IceHogs; 25-39-9-3, 62 points, .408 win%, 8^th Central, 15^th West

Series Record: 4-4-0-0 (H: 3-1-0-0; A: 1-3-0-0)

The Cleveland Monsters kicked the 2016-17 season off with a win against the Rockford IceHogs. Sonny Milano and Alex Broadhurst provided a goal each during the game. T.J. Tynan assisted both of those goals.

The next night, the Monsters added a second win to their season. Aaron Palushaj, T.J. Tynan, and Nick Moutrey came up big with goals. During this game, Monsters fans were able to see a glimpse of what Justin Scott and Jordan Maletta would bring to the table the rest of the season. Leadership, dependability, and playmaking.

A week later, the Monsters would hit the open road and head towards Rockford. Remembering the two meetings before, the IceHogs came out swinging. They would score three goals before the Monsters could get on the board. Yet again, Aaron Palushaj would prove why he was a great pickup for the Monsters. His speed and ability to score goals seemed to give the Monsters a little pep in their step. Even with the help of Palushaj, the Monsters would fall to the IceHogs, 5-2.

A month later, on November 23rd, the Monsters battled from behind to beat the IceHogs 5-4.  Dean Kukan shined bright assisting two goals in the win.

The two teams wouldn’t meet again until after the first of the year. Even though the Monsters were shutout, 1-0, there were a lot of bright spots from the team. They went 4-for-4 on the penalty kill. Rebounds were scooped up left and right. Coach Madden even pulled the goalie for over two minutes without their opponent scoring. It was probably one of the more defensively solid games played during the 2016-17 season.

After a day of rest, the Monsters came back guns blazing to shut out the IceHogs, 2-0.

Brad Thiessen stood tall stopping all 32 shots he faced. Yet again, Alex Broadhurst showed off his skills on the ice by backhanding a shot into the net.

The IceHogs would get their revenge on February 15th shutting out the Monsters, 2-0.  In this game, we saw Blake Siebenaler switch from defender to fourth line winger. Akim Aliu, Kyle Thomas, and Alex Petan struggled a bit with their new squad but by the end of the game, they were just another cog in the machine. Paul Bittner showed a side we weren’t expecting as he took on the role of the rough and tough Brett Gallant.

The Monsters would lose the final game of the series against the IceHogs, 4-1. Markus Hannikainen would score the lone goal.

With this loss, the Monsters and IceHogs would split the series.

Series Stats

IceHogs vs Monsters – Series Stats

Goalie Matchup

IceHogs vs Monsters – Goaltender Stats

Leaders

IceHogs vs Monsters – Leaders