Monsters Face Possible Elimination on Thursday Night
Photo Credit : Cleveland Monsters
Hershey Bears (6) at Cleveland Monsters (2)
Attendance: 14,675
Officials
Referees : Beau Halkidis (48), Jordan Samuels-Thomas (42)
Linesperson: Joseph Mahon (89), Luke Pye (42)
Cleveland Lines
Sillinger - Gaunce - Pyyhtia
Malatesta - McKown - Fix-Wolansky
Pearson - Dunne - Whelan
Cleveland Pairings
Svozil - Jiricek
Aboril - Bjork
Knazko - Sweezey
Hershey Lines
Snively - Lapierre - Frank
Limoges - Huntington - Dube
Miroshnichenko - Roe - VEcchione
Trineyev - SUtter - Rybinski
Hershey Pairings
Ness - McIlrath
Day - Iorio
Massie - Priskie
The air was full of excitement in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday night as the Cleveland Monsters battled it out against the Hershey Bears in game three of the Eastern Conference Finals. Across the plaza, the Cleveland Guardians, who currently sit first in the MLB’s American League Central Division, looked to add another sweep to their 2024 season. A mixture of Monsters and Guardians fans decked out in their favorite team’s gear walked to their games with a pep in their step.
Hershey took the 1-0 lead over Cleveland 12:43 into the first period when Chase Priskie’s shot down the high slot slowly bounced underneath Jet Greaves. Within the first six minutes of the second period, Ethen Frank extended the Bears’ lead over the Monsters to 2-0. Both goals were scored on the power play. Luckily, for the Monsters, Alex Whelan cut Hershey’s lead in half, 2-1, when he lofted the puck from the top of the faceoff circle almost a minute later.
The same unfortunate scenario was happening next door at Progressive Field as the Guardians gave up three runs in the third inning to go down 3-0. By the end of the fourth inning, they were able to get within two of the Kansas City Royals, 5-3.
Then, the comeback at Gateway Plaza began.
At the bottom of the seventh inning, Tyler Freeman hit a drive into deep left field that ended up in the bleachers giving him a two-run home run and tying the game at five for the Guardians. Mere moments later, Trey Fix-Wolansky tied the game at two for the Monsters with a power play rocket fired from below the blue line.
The roar of the crowd at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse was full of life and almost blew the roof off the place. You would have thought Cleveland had just won the Calder Cup.
Due to a fielding error by Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr, the Guardians took home the 8-5 win over the Royals. Progressive Field was filled with excitement and happiness.
There was magic in Cleveland.
Until there wasn’t.
In the final three minutes of the second period, Hershey scored three goals in two minutes and 14 seconds to take the 5-2 lead. Cleveland got inside their own heads during the third period and struggled to mount a comeback and ended up losing 6-2.
Part of Cleveland’s demise was due to the team not being able to keep their emotions in check. Yes, the officials paid them no favors but had the penalty kill played a tighter game, it’s likely there would not have been a four-goal deficit at the end of the game.
It’s also important to note, Hershey was able to get inside of Cleveland’s head many times throughout the game causing the Monsters to retaliate in front of the ref's eyes. In the postgame presser, Head Coach Trent Vogelhuber stated it’s important to balance their feelings in intense situations. “You have to play hard and also harness some of those emotions,” said Vogelhuber. “You can’t just try to hurt someone. There’s still rules. It’s playoffs but there’s still rules.” He went on to acknowledge the fact that these emotions “come from a place of caring.”
Unbridled emotions are new territory for the Monsters. Leading up to this series, cooler heads prevailed. Rarely did they buy into the debauchery other teams were selling. So, why is this series different from the rest of the regular season and playoffs? At first Coach Vogelhuber responded, “I don’t know. You’d have to ask the guys.” He then looked towards the locker room, breathed in, and looked back at the media before saying “I think you can want something too much to a point. That’s where some of that immaturity comes up, I think in that moment. I think that was the difference for me in the tale of the two teams.”
The 2023-24 Cleveland Monsters are a young team. They are inexperienced and they are immature. This is what makes this deep run in the postseason so incredible to watch. One day we, players included, are going to look on this run and realize how truly special it has been this season.
So, soak it in and enjoy. It’s not going to last forever.
Quote of the Night
“We’ve had an outstanding season up to this point. Whether it’s one game left or 11, we just have to play in a way that makes our season proud. You can’t go down like we did in the third today. The group cares about each other. So, whether we have one more or 11, play for each other like you have all year. So, you’re proud of the way you played, regardless. You can lay your head on your bed after Thursday night’s game, and whether we have more hockey or not, you should be proud of the way you play.” - Cleveland Monsters Head Coach Trent Vogelhuber
3 Stars
1st - Ivan Miroshnichenko (Hershey - 1g, 2a)
2nd - Ethen Frank (Hershey - 1g, 1a)
3rd - Joe Snively (Hershey - 1g, 1a)
What’s Next
Cleveland faces a possible elimination game on Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 7 p.m. in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. If the Monsters win, they will push the series to a game 5 which will be played in Cleveland on Saturday, June 8.
Lose and Hershey moves onto the 2024 Calder Cup Finals against the winner of the Milwaukee Admirals and Coachella Valley Firebirds series.
