The Cleveland Monsters were able to get back on right track with their 3-2 win over the Utica Comets. They were able to salvage their two game set with Utica.
Brad Thiessen got the start in net for the Monsters after Veini Vehvilainen started in Friday’s 3-0 loss. Vehvilainen has allowed 8 goals in starts against Utica and with the quick turnaround going with Thiessen made a lot of sense.
Cleveland listed the following players as inactive: Ryan Collins, Bryan Moore, Justin Scott, Michael Prapavessis, Zac Dalpe, and Markus Hannikainen.
1st period
Cleveland found themselves on the penalty early in the 1st period. Trey Fix-Wolansky was called for hooking, resulting in a two-minute penalty. Utica’s David Pope took advantage of their power play opportunity and put the Comets on top early. Just a case of the Monsters getting in their own way right from the start.
With almost six minutes gone in the first, the Monsters found themselves down a man yet again. Slashing was the call for Cleveland’s Sam Vigneault. This time Cleveland went on the offensive, Calvin Thurkauf scored a short-handed goal to tie the game at 1 with about 13 minutes left in the period. The Monsters returned to full strength shortly after the short-handed goal.
Cleveland found themselves with a power play opportunity after Utica’s Francis Perron was called for hooking. Stefan Matteau was certainly ready to score on the power play, giving the Monsters the lead with his 11th goal of the season.
Immediately after one power play ended, another began. Comets winger Lukas Jasek was also called for hooking. Due to the timing of the penalty (42 seconds remaining in the 1st), it will carry over into the 2nd period.
2nd period
Cleveland continue their power play into the 2nd period and they made the most of it going up 3-1 on Utica. Trey Fix-Wolansky was able to put in an easy chance next to goal thanks to an excellent pass from Marko Dano. Stefan Matteau help set things up by passing to Dano before Fix-Wolansky’s shot on goal.
Matteau would later describe the how everything came together on the power play goal.
Just a few moments later Cleveland found themselves on the penalty kill, Monsters defenseman Doyle Somerboy went into the box for a holding penalty. That put Cleveland in a situation where they needed to ensure that momentum stayed on their side. Cleveland’s penalty kill did just that and prevented Utica from cutting into their two goal lead.
After trading shots on goal for a few minutes, Utica was able strike and cut Cleveland’s lead to just one. Any and all momentum that Cleveland had just disappeared over time as things drew closer to even.
An Adam Clendening slashing penalty with less than 20 seconds left in the 2nd period will have Cleveland in a tough situation to being the 3rd.
3rd period
Cleveland successfully worked around the majority of Adam Clendening’s penalty to start the 3rd period, keeping their slim one goal lead.
Things got really dicey late in the period. Adam Clendening received a delay of game penalty with 1:23 left to play. This put Cleveland in a really tough spot. Utica was already in a position to pull their goalie. Now they had a 6-on-4 advantage with Clendening in the penalty box. Utica’s advantage was short lived however as Kole Lind was called for tripping. This put an end to the Comets two-man advantage and perhaps saved the game for Cleveland.
Cleveland was able to fend off Utica’s last ditch attempts to tie the game and managed to hold on for a one goal victory.
Postgame notes
With the short-handed goal from Trey Fix-Wolansky in the 1st period, Cleveland is now tied for 4th place in that category.
Monsters head coach Mike Eaves referred to their short-handed goals a bonus.
Brad Thiessen saved 26 of 28 shots on goal in his first game action since January 18th, also against Utica.
The Monsters converted both power play opportunities while stopping for of Utica’s five chances.
Cleveland returns to the ice Wednesday, February 5th to take on the Rochester Americans.
