The I-71 Shift: 2017 Week One in Cleveland Monsters Hockey

The I-71 shift will be a weekly feature on the Cleveland Monsters and how they are performing in the American Hockey League (AHL). In our first edition, we will also cover the October 7th game.

After winning the Calder Trophy (AHL’s version of the Stanley Cup) in 2015-2016, the Cleveland Monsters had a disappointing 2016-2017 season. They missed the playoffs through a tie-breaker with the Charlotte Checkers.

Breakdown of the Cleveland Monsters Roster: See Changes Here

Opening Night: Lots of shots, little to show

The Cleveland Monsters started their 2017-2018 campaign the day after the Blue Jackets home opener, October 7th, against the Rockford IceHogs. Rockford is the AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. Prior to the game, the Blue Jackets sent Josh Anderson up I-71 for a conditioning assignment. Anderson needed some in-game action after missing training camp due to a long contract negotiation.

Not even powerful Josh Anderson could make up for the brick wall that was IceHogs’ goaltender Jean-Francois Berube. Berube stopped all 32 shots that came his way. Anderson’s 7 shots were the most any single Monsters player could muster.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much more to report from the Monsters end. The Monsters lost to the IceHogs in a shutout, 4-0.

Canada Road Trip Doubleheader

Cleveland started and ended their week with a pair of games in Canada. Friday and Sunday the Monsters played the Manitoba Moose at the arena they share with the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets, BellMTS Place.

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Friday, October 13th would turn out to be good luck for the visiting Monsters even though the Moose opened the scoring in the first with a barrage of 19 shots on Monsters’ goalie Brad Thiessen.

A trio of Monsters forwards, Calvin Thurkauf, Carter Camper, and Joe Pendenza all found the back of the net in the second period. Central Ohio native Jack Roslovic also scored in the second for the Moose.

The third started with a 3-2 advantage for the Monsters, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long. At 1:42, Moose center Patrice Cormier tied the game up. Luckily for the Monsters, Pendenza scored the game-winning goal less than five minutes later, for a final score of 4-3.

Sunday’s game featured the first professional start for Blue Jackets’ goalie prospect Matiss Kivlenieks. Through the first period, Kivlenieks would allow one goal on ten shots. The Monsters couldn’t match until the second when John Mitchell found a way to get the puck behind Moose netminder Eric Comrie. No additional Monsters could find the back of the net, and they lost to the Moose 4-1 to split the weekend series.

Next: Why You Should Watch the Cleveland Monsters

This Week with the Cleveland Monsters

The Cleveland Monsters are currently 1-2-0-0, but they will have a two-game homestand this weekend against the San Jose Barracuda, who share the same record.

However, the Monsters will have to find a way to work with one less defenseman, as the Blue Jackets recalled defensemen Markus Nutivaara after placing rookie defenseman Gabriel Carlsson on IR.