Monsters vs Comets Live Game Updates : Time To Get Back On Track

Photo Credit : Cleveland Monsters

After a disappointing loss to the worst team in the North division, the Cleveland Monsters look to get back on track with a win against the Utica Comets. The Monsters need to be consistently good for 60 minutes to defeat their hungry opponent. 

Fresh off 100 AHL goals, forward Trey Fix-Wolansky is looking to extend his point streak to five games. His 30 points are the best in the league, with Luca Del Bel Belluz sitting behind him in second with 29 points. 

Leading Utica in scoring are forwards Adam Beckman (6-10-16), Brian Halonen (9-5-14), and Nolan Foote (5-9-14).

Officials

Referees : Bobby Jo Love (51), Jared Cummins (2)
Linespeople : Brandon Grillo (79), Josh Cleary (45)

Cleveland Lineup 

Forwards

Rocco Grimaldi - Luca Del Bel Belluz - Trey Fix-Wolansky
Owen Sillinger - Dylan Gambrell - Gavin Brindley
Justin Pearson - Hunter McKown - Roman Ahcan
Max McCue - Joseph LaBate - Cameron Butler

Defensemen

Denton Mateychuk - Madison Bowey
Daemon Hunt - Corson Ceulemans
Stanislav Svozil - Cole Clayton

Goalies

Pavel Cajan - Jet Greaves

Utica Lineup

Forwards
Nolan Foote - Ryan Schmelzer - Adam Beckman
Mike Hardman -Xavier Parent - Brian Halonen
Max Willman - Shane Bowers - Chase Stillman
Samuel Laberge - Filip Engaras - Nathan Legare

Defensemen

Will MacKinnon - Simon Nemec
Daniil Misyul - Nick Desimone
Van De Leest - Dmitri Osipov
Goalies

Nico Daws - Isaac Poulter

Start of the 1st Period - Monsters 0, Comets 0

GOAL - 1st Period, 2:14 - Monsters 1, Comets 0

A rush down the ice toward Comets goaltender Nico Daws led to the Monsters first goal of the night.

Trey Fix-Wolansky passed the puck across the slot to Luca Del Bel Belluz, who was at the left faceoff dot. Del Bel Belluz one-timed the pass into the back of the net.

Rocco Grimaldi had the second assist on the goal. He is on a three-game point streak.

Fix-Wolansky is on a five-game point streak, too.

GOAL - 1st Period, 11:13 - Monsters 2, Comets 0

The Monsters second goal of the night came after a faceoff win from Dylan Gambrell that ended up along the boards. Owen Sillinger dug the puck off the boards and passed it to Denton Mateychuk at the middle of the blue line. He wound up and fired the puck off the left corner of the post. Daws didn't see it coming fast enough to get his glove up to stop the shot.

End of the 1st Period - Monsters 2, Comets 0

Tonight was Pavel Cajan’s first start for the Monsters since two months ago, October 19. His legs were quick, and his puck tracking was sharp throughout the first period.

Strong faceoff wins for Cleveland led to many beautiful plays, one of which ended in the back of the net.

Start of the 2nd Period - Monsters 2, Comets 0

Cleveland started the second period with a man-advantage for 1:38.

GOAL - 2nd Period, 00:57 - Power Play - Monsters 3, Comets 0

Mateychuk scored his second goal of the night off of a feed from Grimaldi. He went forehand, backhand, forehand before firing the puck into the net.

Great work by Grimaldi to get the puck to Mateychuk from the near wall.

GOAL - 2nd Period, 5:56 - Power Play - Monsters 3, Comets 1

A solid faceoff win by Utica put them on the board 5:56 into the second period. Brian Halonen launched the puck between his legs onto Max Willman’s stick. Without any hesitation, Willman launched the puck down the ice past Cajan.

There was nothing Cajan could do to stop the shot. The play unfolded quickly and there was a player from each team blocking his line of vision.

GOAL -2nd Period, 9:46 - Monsters 4, Comets 1

From the right faceoff dot, Dylan Gambrell passed the puck diagonally towards the top of the crease. Gavin Brindley swooped onto the doorstep and tipped the puck into the net.

This is his second goal of the season.

End of the 2nd Period - Monsters 4, Comets 1

Another strong period from Cajan as he stopped 10 of 11 shots. Yet again, his reflexes and puck play were strong.

Defender Stanislav Svozil did a great job of cleaning up the doorstep during the second. He was also a menace in the neutral zone.

Start of the 3rd Period - Monsters 4, Comets 1

3rd Period, 2:30 - Slow Start

A bit of a slow and quiet start to the third for the Monsters. Also, they’ve had a few sloppy and soft passes.

3rd Period, 9:44 - Two Man Advantage Too Much To Hanle?

During the past two weeks, the Monsters had multiple two man advantages that they couldn’t convert into goals. Typically, 5-on-3 is a place where power plays thrived, but not for Cleveland.

GOAL - 3rd Period, 10:35 - Power Play- Monsters 5, Comets 1

Dylan Gambrell launched a rocket down the slot from between the faceoff dots to give the Monsters the 5-1 lead. A beautiful feed by Owen Sillinger brought the shot to life.

GOAL - 3rd Period, 11:06 - Monsters 6, Comets 1

Justin Pearson tipped in a pass from Corson Ceulemans on the doorstep.

The Monsters celebrated their sixth goal of the night with a fight. Ok, Ok, a fight happened because Ceulemans was less than thrilled with the cross check and body slam he received after passing the puck to Pearson.

Final - Monsters 6, Comets 1

Three Stars

1st - CLEVELAND - Denton Mateychuk - 2 goals
2nd - CLEVELAND - Dylan Gambrell - 1 assist, 2 goals
3rd - CLEVELAND - Pavel Cajan - 22 shots faced, 21 saves, TOI 60:00