Monsters vs Phantoms Live Game Updates : Fossil Faceoff
Photo Credit: Cleveland Monsters
After falling to the Cleveland Monsters, 3-2, on Thursday night, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms extended their losing-streak to five games. Cleveland should be prepared for Lehigh Valley to have a strong start to the game as they are desperately trying to move up in the Atlantic Division.
The Monsters are the sole owners of the top spot in the North Division with 34 points. A win tonight will give them a little bit of breathing room from Laval and Rochester who are lurking in second and third.
Cleveland forward Luca Del Bel Belluz is tied for the AHL lead in scoring, 28 points, and is on a five-game point streak with nine points. Look for him to try to extend the point streak tonight.
Officials
Referees : Sean Fernandez (72), Alex Joubert (63)
Linespeople : Bryan Gorcoff (43), Luke Stork (4)
Cleveland Lineup
Forwards
Trey Fix-Wolansky - Luca Del Bel Belluz - Gavin Brindley
Rocco Grimaldi - Dylan Gambrell - Owen Sillinger
James Malatesta - Hunter McKown - Justin Pearson
Roman Ahcan - Joseph LaBate - Cameron Butler
Defensemen
Denton Mateychuk - Daemon Hunt
Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm - Corson Ceulemans
Stanislav Svozil - Cole Clayton
Goalies
Zach Sawchenko - Pavel Cajan
Start of the 1st period - Monsters 0, Phantoms 0
GOAL - 1st Period, 00:41 - Monsters 0, Phantoms 1
It took the Lehigh Valley Phantoms a mere 41 seconds to light the lamp in Cleveland. Luca Del Bel Belluz lazily tried to pass the puck across the ice. Phantoms forward Rodrigo Abols swooped down the slot to intercept the puck and throw it into the back of the net.
1st Period, 10:00 - Speedy Ole!
Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm’s skating speed and skill have improved a lot this season. Tonight he’s been effortlessly speeding down the defensive zone to scoop up cleared pucks and smoothly cutting across the slot to break up Lehigh Valley’s plays.
End of the 1st Period - Monsters 0, Phantoms 1
It took the Monsters a few minutes to wake up during the first period. Passes were soft and plays were fumbled.
By the time Cleveland found their groove, Dylan Gambrell took a late-period penalty that gave Lehigh Valley the momentum. The Monsters successfully killed his penalty but let the Phantoms’ power play get in scoring range too many times to consider it a complete success.
Cleveland goaltender Zach Sawchenko struggled a bit in the first as well. Sawchenko’s reactions on his glove side were a hair too slow.
Start of the 2nd Period - Monsters 0, Phantoms 1
GOAL - 2nd Period, 1:38 - Monsters 0, Phantoms 2
The Phantoms' second goal of the night featured a goalie assist from Cal Petersen. Initially, Cleveland cleared the puck to give Sawchenko some breathing room, but Petersen had plans of his own.
Petersen launched the puck down the ice, and as it careened through the neutral zone Oscar Eklind got a piece of it before it landed on Jacob Gaucher’s stick.
Gaucher sped down the slot and fired the puck through Sawchenko’s five-hole. Sawchenko slammed his legs down in time but left just enough space for the puck to fly into the net.
2nd Period, 12:57 - PROPOSAL!!
Every season someone proposes on the jumbotron and every time I get scared they are will say “no”.
Tonight, the marriage proposal winning-streak continued!
2nd Period, 15:51 - Baller! Shot Caller!
Nothing makes Petersen ball out more than playing against the Monsters. Every time Lehigh Valley plays Cleveland, he unlocks a new skill that prevents the Monsters from scoring.
GOAL - 2nd Period, 17:48 - Monsters 1, Phantoms 2
Rocco Grimaldi fired a shot from above the slot that Dylan Gambrell tipped into the net for the goal.
End of the 2nd Period - Monsters 1, Phantoms 2
During the first half of the second period, the Monsters struggled to get out of the neutral zone. Once Cleveland skated into the zone, the Phantoms smothered the Monsters and forced them back into the defensive zone.
Things turned around in the back half of the period as they were able to draw up meaningful scoring plays.
Start of the 3rd Period - Monsters 1, Phantoms 2
3rd Period, 6:53 - THEY’RE ALIVE
The Monsters started the third period with a pep in their step. They skated around the ice with the same vigor a youth hockey team all hopped up on sugar does, fast but not controlled. It took the Phantoms by surprise causing them to take a step back before matching Cleveland's energy.
GOAL - 3rd Period, 8:42 - Monsters 2, Phantoms 2
Trey Fix-Wolansky dropped to one knee and asked Cal Petersen a very important question, “Will you let me tie the game?”
Petersen said “Yes!”
Fix-Wolansky received a pass from Luca Del Bel Belluz before dropping a knee and firing from the middle of the blue line into the back of the net.
This was Fix-Wolansky’s 100th AHL goal. All of them have been with the Cleveland Monsters.
End of Regulations - Monsters 2, Phantoms 2
Start of Overtime
Cleveland started over time with Joseph Labate, Denton Mateychuk, and Rocco Grimaldi on the ice.
Smart move to put your best faceoff taker, best defender, and best point scorer to start bonus hockey.
End of Overtime - Monsters 2, Phantoms 3
With 2:41 left in overtime, the Phantoms scored to secure the 3-2 win over the Monsters.
This play came moments after Fix-Wolansky was denied a goal.
Final - Monsters 2, Phantoms 3
In Head Coach Trent Vogelhuber’s words, “it was just a so-so game.”
Three Stars
1st - Lehigh Valley - Rodrigo Abols - 1 goal, 0 assist
2nd - Lehigh Valley - Jacob Gaucher - 1 goal, 0 assist
3rd - Cleveland - Trey Fix-Wolansky - 1 goal, 0 assist, 100th AHL goal
