Throwback: Monsters vs Rampage Series 2016-17

Today, I’m kicking off the 2017-18 edition of “Throwback Thursday”. Before the season starts, I’ll review each series from last season. I figure 30 days 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.

Let’s kick things off with the Monsters less than stellar series of the season against the San Antonio Rampage. Then, we’ll work our way up to the awesome and thrilling parts of the 2016-17 season.

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

vs

San Antonio Rampage; 27-42-5-2, 61 points, .401 win%, 8^th Pacific, 16^th West

Series Record: 0-4-0-0 (H: 0-2-0-0; A: 0-2-0-0)

Last season, there was one team the Cleveland Monsters were unable to beat. The San Antonio Rampage managed to sweep the Monsters

Yes, the Monsters of yore swept the current Monsters.

Yes, the last team in the Western Conference swept the Monsters.

Yes, the Rampage were the third to last team in the AHL.

No matter how passionate, hard, or crisp the Monsters played, the Rampage seemed to always find a way to shut them down.

Alex Broadhurst and Cody Goloubef came up big in the first two games of the series. On October 27th, 2016, Broadhurst was the primary assist on Gouloubef’s empty netter. This goal rallied the troops a bit. However, the Monsters energy was so contagious it fired up the Rampage, as well. In the end, they would fall to the Rampage, 4-2.

The next night both Broadhurst and Goloubef set Justin Scott up for his first professional goal. It would be the lone goal for the Monsters in their loss to the Rampage.

A month later, despite a strong showing in both games, Goloubef was traded to the Colorado Avalanche. In return, the Monsters received veteran defenseman Ryan Stanton.

The two teams wouldn’t face off again until March 12th.

The Monsters knew they had their work cut out for them since the Rampage were on a lose streak and hungry for a win at home.

Sonny Milano and Joe Pendenza were the bright spots in this game. Both were constantly looking for ways to turn nothing into something for the team. Pendenza ended the game with one goal and one assist. Milano notched an assist on Pendenza’s goal.

This was also the game where Monsters fans were able to see the amount of skill Zac Dalpe possesses. Especially when he took a penalty in the third to prevent the Rampage from taking an even bigger lead. Unfortunately, this is where we also learned the penalty kill still had a bit of work to do. The Rampage ended up scoring on the penalty kill. They would also go on to beat the Monsters, 4-3.

Two days later the Monsters and Rampage would play for the last time during the 2016-17 season.

A turnover in the first 33 seconds of the game led to the first goal of the game for the Rampage. They would go on to score a second goal three minutes later.

Now, this is where the Monsters really shone. They didn’t allow a single goal in the second period.

Remember the penalty kill I told you about? The Monsters were given four penalties in the second, including one which left them down a man for 30 seconds. All four penalties were successfully killed. I’ll take little victories wherever I can get them.

The success of the second period wasn’t enough. The Monsters would end the game getting shutout and swept by the Rampage.

The Rampage and Monsters will meet again in the 2017-18 season. Believe me, I’ll be watching both teams closely. Especially, the penalty kill. Maybe this upcoming season the Monsters will sweep the Rampage.

Series Stats

Rampage vs Monsters – Series Stats

Goalie Matchup

Rampage vs Monsters – Goaltender Stats

Leaders

Rampage vs Monsters – Leaders