Monsters at Marlies Preview, Live Game Updates, and Recap - On The Hunt For A Win
Photo Credit: Cleveland Monsters
After dropping back-to-back games against the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Cleveland Monsters head to Canada on the hunt for a win.
Player To Watch
Cleveland forward Luca Del Bel Belluz has been hot all season long for Cleveland. When he turns on the scoring in a game, it’s hard to turn it off. Right now, Del Bel Belluz leads the team with five multi-goal games. He also leads the AHL in scoring with 35 points and is tied for third in the league with 17 goals.
Various Sundries
Cleveland has an astonishing record of 12-2-0-1 when scoring the first goal of the game and are 11-0-0-1 when leading after two periods.
When Del Bel Belluz hahs a goal, the Monsters have a record of 7-2-0-2.
If Owen Sillinger notches a point, Cleveland is probably going to win the game. They have a record of 15-1-0-0 when Sillinger gets a point.
Stefan Matteau, Samuel Knazko, James Malatesta, and Trey Fix-Wolansky are out of the lineup with upper body injuries.
Madison Bowey returns to the lineup today after playing in the Spengler Cup with Team Canada
Officials
Referees : David Elford (56), Alex Joubert (63)
Linespeople : Ryan Jackson (84), Kirsten Welsh (10)
Cleveland Lineup
Forwards
Rocco Grimaldi - Luca Del Bel Belluz - Justin Pearson
Owen Sillinger - Dylan Gambrell - Gavin Brindley
Joseph LaBate - Hunter McKown - Roman Ahcan
Max McCue - Jake Gaudet - Cameron Butler
Defensemen
Daemon Hunt - Corson Ceulemans
Stanislav Svozil - Cole Clayton
Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm - Madison Bowey
Goalies
Jet Greaves - Zach Sawchenko
Toronto Lineup
Forwards
Grebenkin - Shaw - ABruzzese
Nylander - Minten - Steeves
Clifford - Blandisi - Tverberg
Barbolini - Quillan - Solow
Defensemen
Kokkonen - Benning
Rifai -Niemela
Webber - Miller
Goalies
Akhtyamov - Murray
Start of the 1st - Monsters 0, Marlies 0
GOAL - 1st Period, 6:07 - Monsters 1, Marlies 0
Beautiful passing and right timing led to the Cleveland Monsters first goal of the afternoon.
Luca Del Bel Belluz dug a puck off the wall that Justin Pearson could pounce on. Then, Pearson passed the puck to Del Bel Belluz who was in the high slot.
As Stanislav Svozil crossed the blue line, Del Bel Belluz calmed the puck and fired it towards Svozil, who skated to the top of the face-off circle before launching the puck near the net. Toronto defenseman Matt Benning redirected the puck into his team’s net.
End of the 1st Period - Monsters 1, Marlies 0
The Monsters successfully killed off three penalties in the first period. Normally this would be indicative to an aggressive game or undisciplined play. However, two of their penalties were weak calls and the third one could have gone either way.
Cleveland played a solid game for 20 minutes. Passing was crisp and tape-to-tape, their speed was controlled, and they tried to keep plays off the boards.
All around solid period for Cleveland.
Start of the 2nd Period - Monsters 1, Marlies 0
2nd Period, 5:00 - Corson and Jet are a great team
As the Marlies offensive begins to heat up, Cleveland goaltender Jet Greaves is beginning to pull out his best moves to prevent them from scoring. Part of Greaves comfort comes from the strong defense playing in front of him afternoon.
During the first five minutes of the middle frame, Corson Ceulemans provided a lot of relief for Greaves. He even ended up in the back of the net to allow Greaves to move to the top of the crease to clear out a rolling puck.
2nd Period, 12:40 - Not your December 2024 Monsters
It’s no secret that the Monsters struggled in December. They struggled to string together a full game and had to stage multiple comebacks to survive. Since 2025 started, Cleveland has looked like a well-rounded team. They took “New Year, New Me” literally.
Around 12:40 into the second period, fans were treated to solid goaltending from Jet Greaves and fantastic defending from Cole Clayton and Stanislav Svozil. They also had a 30-second delayed penalty because Cleveland grinded hard while trying to score.
GOAL - 2nd Period, 18:17 - Monsters 2, Marlies 0
At center ice, Gavin Brindley chipped the puck to himself and went toe-to-toe with Artur Akhtyamov. Brindley was able to fire the puck off the post because Akhtyamov left over 75% of the net open while trying to unleash a pokecheck.
The play started on the other end of the ice with a faceoff win by the Monsters.
End of the 2nd period - Monsters 2, Marlies 0
Another strong period for the Monsters who were able to keep a cool head as tension began to rise between the two teams.
A full team effort is making tonight a success for Cleveland.
Start of the 3rd Period - Monsters 2, Marlies 0
Cleveland started the third period with a 44 second power play.
GOAL - 3rd Period, 19:04 - Power Play- Monsters 2, Marlies 1
After Cole Clayton allegedly slashed a member of the Marlies, Toronto forward Alex Nylander scored a power play goal to spoil Greaves’ shutout. Toronto pulled Akhytamov for the extra attacker allowing the Marlies to spread across the ice and create a play on the perimeter.
GOAL - 3rd Period, 20:00 - Empty Net - Monsters 3, Marlies 1
Dylan Gambrell picked up a loose puck and skated through the neutral zone before firing it into the net from the near faceoff dot.
Final - Monsters 3, Marlies 1
Cleveland played a full 60 minutes of hockey. Head Coach Trent Vogelhuber has been asking the team to be more consistent and tonight he got his wish.
Three Stars
1st - CLEVELAND - Jet Greaves - 34 shots faced, 33 saves, 59:36 TOI
2nd - CLEVELAND - Dylan Gambrell - 1 goal, 0 assists
3rd - CLEVELAND - Gavin Brindley - 1 goal, 0 assists
What’s Next?
The Cleveland Monsters and Toronto Marlies battle it out again on Sunday at 4pm.
