Monsters at Americans Live Game Updates : Looking for Nine Straight Wins

The Cleveland Monsters road the bus and a nine-game winning streak into New York for a Thanksgiving Eve tilt against their nemesis, the Rochester Americans. Cleveland has yet to take home a win against Rochester this season, going 0-2-0-1 in their past three games.

Monsters forward Rocco Grimaldi is on a nine-game point streak with 17 points, almost a two-point per-game average.

Officials

Referees: Adam Tobias (16), Casey Terreri (75)

Officials: tory Carissimo (54), T.J. Dockery (27)

Cleveland Lineup

Forwards

Trey Fix-Wolansky - Luca Del Bel Belluz - Gavin Brindley
Rocco Grimaldi - Owen Sillinger - Mikael Pyyhtia
James Malatesta - Jake Gaudet - Roman Ahcan
Max McCue - - Justin Pearson

Defense

Denton Mateychuk - Madison Bowey
Corson Ceulemans - David Jiricek
Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm - Cole Clayton
Samuel Knazko

Goalies

Jet Greaves (starter) - Zach Sawchenko

GOAL - 1st Period, 2:03 - Monsters 0, Americans 1

After a strong start by the Cleveland Monsters featuring two quick shots at the start of the game, the Rochester Americans took the 1-0 lead 2:03 into the first.

Rochester’s Brendan Warren swept the puck past Jet Greaves from the bottom of the left faceoff circle.

GOAL - 1st Period, 7:15 - Monsters 1, Americans 1

Luca Del Bel Belluz tied the game at one for the Cleveland Monsters with a rebound 7:15 into the first period. Whose shot did he rebound? Rocco Grimaldi.

Grimaldi is now on a 10-game point-streak with 18 points.

GOAL - 1st Period, 10:17 - Monsters 2, Americans 1

After Cleveland forward Gavin Brindley wrestled the puck away from two member of Rochester, a beautiful play was set into motion allowing Justin Pearson to fire a shot down the slot.

Devon Levi initially denied Pearson’s shot entry to the net. However, Pearson is persistent, and quickly fired the blocked shot back into the net.

GOAL - 1st Period, 15:15 - Monsters 2, Americans 2

After being left alone, Jack Rathbone tied the game at two for the Americans with a wind up rocket from just below the blue line.

The play was set in motion after a wonky pass between Gavin Brindley and Owen Sillinger allowed Rochester to steal the puck and turn momentum in their favor.

GOAL- Shorthanded - 1st Period, 19:55 - Monsters 2, Americans 3

As time wound down on the opening period, the Monsters took their foot off the gas a bit allowing Graham Slaggert to find the back of the net.

To make matters worse for Cleveland, they had the man-advantage and should have been able to maintain possession.

End of the 1st - Monsters 2, Americans 3

For the most part, the first period was evenly matched between the Monsters and Americans.

Cleveland made a few fundamental mistakes which led to two of Rochester’s three goals.

2nd Period, 2:30 - Good Gravy Greaves!

Cleveland netminder Jet Greaves started the second period blocking four high danger shots in 2:30.

GOAL - 2nd Period, 2:40 - Monsters 2, Americans 4

Former Monsters’ Captain Josh Dunne extended Rochester’s lead to 4-2 with a shot he tossed over Greaves’ head and then batted down into the net.

This is Dunne’s fourth goal of the season and first goal against his former team.

2nd Period, 5:01 - 9:01 - FOUR MINUTE PENALTY KILLED

Cleveland had a four-minute penalty kill after Luca Del Bel Belluz accidentally smacked a member of the Americans in the face with his stick hard enough to draw blood. The Monsters were able to put a lot of pressure on Rochester’s power play, forcing them to play closer to the boards and away from scoring range.

2nd Period, 18:56 - DANCE PARTY

Cleveland defender Corson Ceulemans boarded one of the Americans causing chaos to ensue on the ice. First, Brett Murray tried to fight Ceulemans but the refs quickly put an end to those shenanigans. Then, Max McCue decided to aggressively dance with Mason Jobst.

Although McCue is a rookie, he stands up for his teammates with the same vigor veterans across the league stand up for the young players on their roster.

GOAL - 2nd Period, 19:24 - Monsters 3, Americans 4

Madison Bowey launched an absolute rocket from below the blueline that Luca Del Bel Belluz was able to tip into the back of the net. After Del Bel Belluz’s goal, the Monsters looked as though a weight had been lifted off their shoulders.

End of the 2nd - Monsters 3, Americans 4

At the beginning of the second, the Monsters were saved multiple times by the defense and Greaves. As time ticked on and penalties racked up, Cleveland found ways to channel their energy into creating meaningful plays.

GOAL - 3rd period, 3:34 - Monsters 4, Americans 4

A takeaway by Cole Clayton after the Monsters lost the faceoff in the offensive zone led to Owen Sillinger tipping Samuel Knazko’s shot into the net for the equalizer.

Gavin Brindley had a smooth pass along the blue line to put the puck on Knazko’s stick. As the game rolls along, Brindley seems to be getting more comfortable on the ice.

GOAL - 3rd Period, 9:30 - Monsters 5, Americans 4

Gavin Brindley scored his first professional goal to give Cleveland the 5-4 lead over Rochester.

The way he executed the wrap around goal was absolutely beautiful. There is no quit in Brindley.

FINAL - Monsters 5, Americans 4

Cleveland earned their first win of the season against Rochester and extended their winning streak to nine games. This is also a franchise record for the Monsters.

Three Stars

1st - Cleveland - Luca Del Bell Belluz - 2g, 0a
2nd - Cleveland -Gavin Brindley - 1g, 1a
3rd - Rochester - Jack Rathbone - 1g, 1a

Unsung Hero

The Unsung Hero award is awarded to the player who made an impact in the game without getting on the scoresheet OR without getting on the scoresheet often.

Tonight, I gave the Unsung Hero award to rookie forward Max McCue. He stood up for his teammates, had multiple takeaways, and had some incredible shot attempts.