Tag Archives: Cole Clayton

Monsters lose to Phantoms in Lehigh Valley 4-2

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The Cleveland Monsters allowed three unanswered goals as they lost to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms by a score of 4-2.

Midway through the 2nd period things appeared to be going according to plan for the Cleveland Monsters. Cleveland held a 2-1 lead over the eighth place Phantoms and were in position to come away with a win in Lehigh Valley. The remainder of the game did not go Cleveland’s way as they allowed three unanswered goals in what would be a 4-2 loss.

It was not for a lack of trying as the Monsters actually held the advantage in the shots on goal department over the final two periods (22-15). An ill-timed tripping penalty on Olivier LeBlanc gave the Phantoms a power play opportunity which proved to be a catalyst for the rest of the game. In less than a 12 minute span of game time, Lehigh Valley scored three times taking a 4-2 lead with just 3:45 elapsed in the 3rd period which end up as the final score.

Scoring for Cleveland was Cole Clayton in the 1st period on one of their two power play chances. It was the first goal of the season for Clayton while Kevin Stenlund (10) and Josh Dunne (4) assisting on the play. The Monsters second and final goal of the game came midway in the 2nd as Tyler Sikura netted his sixth of the season. Thomas Schemitsch (4) and Liam Foudy (10) each were credited with an assist on the play.

Daniil Tarasov retuned to his place in between the pipes after returning to Cleveland from Columbus earlier in the week. Tarasov allowed four goals on 31 shots, just the second time in his last five AHL appearances allowing more than one goal.

The loss now has the Monsters sitting in fourth place in the AHL North Division with 25 points in 23 games. A two game home stand against first place Utica begins Thursday night as they look to snap their current two-game losing streak. 

Monsters crush Crunch 8-3

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The Cleveland Monsters got a much needed win as they dominated the Syracuse Crunch.

Losers of four straight, the Cleveland Monsters desperately needed to get back in the win column. Lucky for Cleveland their opponent was someone who they have had some success against this season, the Syracuse Crunch. The Monsters had back-to-back wins against the Crunch in mid-November and were able to enforce their will yet again in a dominant victory.

It was a four goal onslaught from Cleveland in the 1st period as they were able to build an insurmountable lead. The Monsters were even able to build their lead up to five before temporarily letting the Crunch back into the game. Cleveland surrendered three power play goals in just over five minutes as Syracuse cut the lead to two. The Mosnters were able to regain their composure in the 3rd period, scoring three more times in the 3rd period to cement their 8-3 win.

The impressive aspect of this win is that Cleveland attempted just 16 shots on goal compared to Syracuse’s 35. Cleveland also managed to go 2-4 on power plays while Syracuse went 3-7 in the contest.

Game notes

Goal scorers for the Monsters included Trey Fix-Wolansky (5), Cole Fonstad (2), Adam Helewka (3,4,5), Billy Sweezey (2), Justin Scott (5), and Josh Dunne (4). Helewka’s hat trick earned 1st star honors in the win.

Assisting on goals were Tim Berni (3,4), Sweezey (3), Liam Foudy (9), Kevin Stenlund (8,9), Fix-Wolanksy (3), Helewka (10), Fonstad (1,2), Brendan Gaunce (9), and Cole Clayton (3,4).

Jean-Francois Berube started in net for Cleveland, saving 32 of 35 shots on goal. This was the second straight game for Berube allowing three goals, allowing a total of 18 goals over his past five games.

The Monsters currently sit in third place in the AHL North Division with 25 points with a 5-4-1 record over their past 10 games. Cleveland will travel to Utica to face the Comets Friday as they look to defeat the division leader and close the gap in the standings.

Monsters comeback falls short in loss to Admirals

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The Cleveland Monsters were able to tie things up once, but were not able to come back again in their 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Admirals.

Early in the 1st period it appeared that the Cleveland Monsters were going to have a repeat performance from their 4-1 loss Friday night. Cleveland found themselves down 3-0 15 minutes into the period after Milwaukee scored three times in four minutes. At that moment Cleveland began to stage their first comeback of the evening.

It was Trey Fix-Wolansky getting the Monsters on the scoreboard with less than three minutes to play which jumpstarted a mini goal scoring run. Early in the 2nd it was Emil Bemstrom scoring on a power play to bring Cleveland within one. It was Bemstrom’s first career AHL goal, assisting on the goal was Jake Christiansen (13) and Fix-Wolansky (2). Justin Scott would tie the game two minutes later with his fourth goal of the campaign. Cole Clayton (2) and Jet Greaves (2) were credited with assets on the play, it was the second straight game with an assist for Greaves.

Unfortunately Milwaukee was able retake the lead and expand it two. Josh Dunne attempted to begin another comeback, but his goal 9:51 into the final period was the last for the Monsters. Adam Helewka (9) assisted on Dunne’s goal (3).

Cleveland has now dropped to fourth place in the AHL North Division, trailing third place Toronto based on win percentage (0.625-0.605). The Monsters are off Sunday before returning to action Monday at home as they take on Grand Rapids Griffins.

Monsters lose to Crunch 3-2 in shootout

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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.

The Monsters road trip continues as they head to Hershey to face the Bears in back-to-back contests starting Saturday at 7:00 P.M.