The I-71 Shift: 2017 Weeks 4 and 5 in Cleveland Monsters Hockey

Week 4 would see the Cleveland Monsters have their first three-game week. Week 5 would see the Monsters complete their first of three two-week road trips. Would their recent history of win-lose-win-lose continue or would the Monsters break the pattern?

After losing leading scorer Tyler Motte to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Cleveland Monsters needed to step up and fill his shoes. Helping to bridge that gap, the Monsters signed Terry Broadhurst, brother of current Monsters center Alex Broadhurst, to a professional try-out contract.

Unfortunately, I was a little busy last week, and I wasn’t able to get this weekly Monsters’ post up. So, this week you get a bonus two weeks in one!

Game 8: Monster Mash

On Halloween, the Monsters played host to the Rockford IceHogs. I was lucky enough to be able to attend this game, but I don’t think many other people got the message about the game. I would bet that there were less than 500 fans in Quicken Loans Arena. Come on Cleveland! Get out and support your Monsters!

The Monsters would kill two hard penalties in the first 10:00 of the 1st, but at 13:45, Alex Broadhurst scored his first goal of the season on IceHogs goalie Jean-Francois Berube. Joe Pendenza and Jordan Schroeder provided the assists.

Early in the second, Schroeder would dish the puck off to Sam Vigneault. Vigneault then set up Calvin Thurkauf’s fourth goal on a tap-in after missing his own shot near the net.

Before the period ended, the IceHogs would even things up after getting two pucks behind Brad Thiessen. Carl Dahlstrom and Tomas Jurco would be the beneficiaries of the two scores. The second period ended in a tie.

The Monsters did not stop fighting. The games only power play goal came from Paul Bittner’s first professional goal at 8:37 of the third. The puck was ping-ponging around the front of the Rockford net until it popped out near Bittner, and he buried it with authority.

A poor defensive play with 2:01 left on the clock meant the Monsters would have to play 6-4, but they handled it well. The Monsters kept their poise and killed the penalty off to beat Rockford 3-2. Sitting in the arena, I felt like they had channeled their inner Browns (or old Blue Jackets) and tried to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Related: CBJ Non-Monsters Prospects Update

Game 9: Another Close Game

After a great win against divisional rival Rockford, the Cleveland Monsters traveled west for a two-game series against the Tuscon Roadrunners, AHL affiliates of the Arizona Coyotes.

Tuscon’s Michael Bunting got on the board first on a shot that eluded Matiss Kivlenieks. But, Cleveland scored just minutes later on a play by Brady Austin. Bittner received credit for his second point in as many games on the primary assist.

Both netminders played strong games for the next 53 minutes, so the game needed 3 on 3 overtime to be decided. At 3:56, Carter Camper would net the game-winning goal, his third of the campaign. With Carter’s goal, goalie Kivlenieks earned his first professional win after struggling in the one stat that really matters to start the season.

Game 10: OT Again!

The Monsters played in Tuscon again the next evening. Earning a well-deserved rest, Kivlenieks was given the night off and Thiessen started in net. Things did not start off well for Thiessen, as the Roadrunners’ Mike Sislo struck first and took the early lead. The first period would end 1-0 Tuscon.

Cleveland’s Miles Koules (2) scored the Monsters’ first goal of the game with assists from Thurkauf and Austin. The next four minutes would be exciting, as both teams buried the biscuit on their respective power plays.

First, at 9:08, the Roadrunners would re-take the lead with a shot from Nick Merkley.  Less than a minute later, Tuscon’s Emerson Etem got caught with a slash. That gave the Monsters their third man advantage of the night.

Blue Jackets’ prospect Vigneault took advantage and scored his first goal of the season at 10:30. Dean Kukan and Camper provided the assists on the play.

Neither team was able to beat the other’s goalie for the remainder of regulation, so for the second game in as many nights, extra time was needed to determine a winner.

A minute and a half in, Merkley would score his second of the night. The Roadrunners would win, 3-2.

Game 11: Look Away

The Cleveland Monsters would enjoy a week off between games in Tuscon and Des Moines, where they would play another two-game series, this time against the Iowa Wild, AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild. However, that week off made them appear a bit rusty.

The Wild blasted goals past Kivlenieks all three periods. The first star of the game went to Zack Mitchell with a two goal and two assist kind of night.

Cleveland finally found a bit offense late in the third, thanks to Terry Broadhurst’s goal at 13:45. Unfortunately, it was overshadowed by the Wild’s team performance.  The Monsters fell by the score of 6-1.

Game 12: A Less Wild One

The Monsters didn’t get much time to hang their heads. In normal AHL fashion, both teams played another game the following night in Iowa. This contest proved to be much different from the previous night’s game.

Cleveland would come out ready to play. Austin and Kukan were able to get the puck to Vigneault (2) to open the scoring. The Monsters would also score the game’s second goal with Schroeder’s second of the season. He was assisted by Doyle Somerby and Bittner.

The Wild would quickly tie the game at two by scoring twice in just over a minute. Landon Ferraro scored during the 17th minute, while Zach Palmquist scored the second.

The game was eventually decided in a shootout.  Iowa forward Sam Anas was able to beat Thiessen. None of the Monsters would score in the shootout. Iowa would sweep the series with a second game score of 3-2.

Next: The I-71 Shift: 2017 Week 3 in Cleveland Monsters Hockey

Week 6 in Cleveland Monsters Hockey

On Monday, November 13th, the Blue Jackets recalled Schroeder due to injuries piling up on the NHL roster. Schroeder played Tuesday night in Montreal, but finished the game without any significant impact.

The Monsters next face the Milwaukee Admirals in a three game series.  The first two games will be played during week 6 back in Cleveland.  The final game will be played in Milwaukee during a three-game week 7.

The Monsters need to get back on track this week.  Although their points percentage (how the AHL determines playoff positioning) places them third in the Central Division, the Monsters hold a 5-4-2-1 record (the AHL breaks apart overtime and shootout losses). They cannot afford to continue losing three games in a row.