For the second straight game, the Cleveland Monsters found themselves losing in a shootout on the road.
Shootouts have not kind to the Cleveland Monsters early in the 2021-22 season. Friday night was the second straight game which the Monsters lost in a shootout. It was a 3-2 loss in Toronto last weekend and Friday it was a 3-2 loss to the Syracuse Crunch.
The 3rd period began with Syracuse leading 1-0 with Cleveland being dominated in shot attempts (26-16). Both teams attempted 10 shots in the 3rd leading to both teams trading goals back and forth through the fir 6:33. The Monsters got goals from Kevin Stenlund and the recently assigned Justin Danforth while Syracuse’s lone 3rd period goal came from Gabriel Fortier.
After both teams failed to score in overtime, it was time for the shootout. Neither team was able to score through the first two rounds of the shootout but it was Gage Goncalves who got a puck past Daniil Tarasov to score the game-winning goal for Syracuse.
Penalties, penalties, penalties
There were plenty of penalties to around for the Cleveland Monsters Friday night. In all Cleveland had seven penalties totaling 23 minutes in the box. Penalties got started very early and pretty much did not stop at any point.
Tim Berti was called for slashing just 38 seconds into the game setting the tone. Cole Cassels received a five minute fighting penalty at 12:31 in the 1st.
Liam Foudy received two penalties for roughing and Billy Sweezey was sent to the box for fighting at 17:10 in the 2nd. Justin Danforth served Foudy’s second roughing penalty.
Tristan Mullin got a fighting penalty of his own 3:23 into the 3rd, Cleveland’s third fighting penalty of the game. Brendan Gaunce was called for cross-checking with less than five minutes to play in the 3rd period.
Game notes
Scoring goals for the Monsters were Kevin Stenlund and Justin Danforth, both were their first of the season.
Assisting on those goals were Jake Christiansen (4), Danforth (2), Stenlund (2), and Cole Clayton (1).
Daniil Tarasov started in net for the Monsters and saved 36 of 38 shots from Syracuse.
