Blue Jackets extend Liam Foudy

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have agreed to a two-year $1.5 million contract extension with forward Liam Foudy. Foudy’s deal will be a two-way for this upcoming season while 2023-24 is strictly one-way.

Liam Foudy spent the majority of his time last season with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters with just one lone appearance in Columbus. In 29 games Foudy scored seven goals and assisted on 12 others before his season came to a premature end due to injury. Foudy is still just 22 years old and has a lot of hockey in front of him. That being said being able to take that next step into becoming a NHL regular will be crucial. Foudy has been significantly more productive in Cleveland than Columbus (as expected). At some point a determination will have to come if the 2018 18th overall pick will be a key player for the Blue Jackets or the Monsters. The former is the preference while the latter is still useful for their AHL outfit.

Two Monsters added to Blue Jackets Taxi Squad

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Two members of the Monsters have been added to the Taxi Squad of the Columbus Blue Jackets while another was reassigned to Cleveland.

Just one day after a couple of roster moves were made in Cleveland, two more Monsters have been added to the Taxi Squad of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Liam Foudy and Jake Christiansen are now on the Taxi Squad while Columbus has assigned Cam Johnson back to Cleveland.

The Blue Jackets are currently navigating an injury and COVID situation which has resulted in the club sending players up and down from the Taxi Squad. Columbus plays their next game Thursday in New Jersey while Cleveland will play Friday in Milwaukee. Making these type of moves now provides flexibility for the parent club while their AHL affiliate has to make things work on the fly.

Monsters chased by Comets in 3-2 OT loss

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The Monsters had a chance to defeat Utica, but the Comets came through late handing Cleveland a 3-2 overtime loss.

It was the final minutes of regulation and the game was tied at 1, overtime appeared inevitable. But then a clutch goal from Brendan Gaunce gave the Monsters a 2-1 lead with less than a minute and a half to go. Suddenly things changed, it seemed like victory was assured and Cleveland would take down the Comets. Problem was Utica had other ideas. Less than a minute after Gaunce’s goal there were two events that would shape the game.

At 19;22 elapsed in the 3rd period the Comets tied the game at 2.

At 19:42 Kevin Stenlund received a two-minute slashing penalty giving Utica a power play. 

The latter would prove to be the nail in the coffin as just as Cleveland’s penalty kill nearly did the impossible of stopping a power play in overtime, Utica scored and the Monsters existed the ice and could only possibly be thinking about how close they were to winning this game.

Game Notes

Kevin Stenlund scored in the 1st period to tie the game at 1 and send the crowd into a frenzy on Teddy Bear Toss Night.  It was Stenlund’s third of the season with Liam Foudy assisting on hi1 11th.

Gaumce’s goal late in the 3rd was his eighth of the year with Trey Fix Wolansky (4) and Cole Fonstad (3) assisting on the goal.

Daniil Tarasov was in net, saving 23 of 26 shots on goal. The month of December has not been kind to Tarasov as he has allowed seven goals in two games while allowing 2.67 goals over six games in November.

The Monsters remain in fourth place in the AHL North Division with 26 points in 24 games. Cleveland will have a few days off before welcoming the Chicago Wolves to town on Wednesday

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 fall to Comets 3-1

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The Cleveland Monsters traveled to Utica to take on the Comets, but they were no match for the AHL North Division leaders.

Coming to Utica to face the Comets was also going to be a difficult matchup for the Cleveland Monsters. There is a reason why Utica leads the division while Cleveland sits 11 points back while playing two more games. The Comets demonstrated throughout the contest why the lead the AHL North as the Monsters were handed a 3-1 loss on the road.

Utica scored three times, twice in the 1st and once in the 2nd to cement their lead as Cleveland was unable to find the scoreboard until late in the contest. Liam Foudy scored his sixth goal of the season with just 1:34 left to play. Assisting on Foudy’s goal was Justin Scott (4) and Olivier LeBlanc (1).

The Monsters only had one power play opportunity in the contest and they were unable to take advantage. Meanwhile Utica had three chances, converting in the 2nd period.

Jean-Francois Berube was in net for Cleveland, saving 29 of 32 shots on goal in the loss. This was the third consecutive game in which Berube gave up three goals.

The Monsters have a quick turnaround as they travel to Lehigh Valley to take on the 3-11-4-1 Phantoms Saturday, a good opportunity to get a much needed win. 

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 lose to Griffins 4-1

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The Cleveland Monsters found themselves down early yet again and were not able to end their losing streak against Grand Rapids.

It was deja vu for the Cleveland Monsters as they were down big yet again in the 1st period. After losses to Milwaukee Friday and Saturday which found Cleveland being down three goals or more in both contests, in happened yet again Monday evening against the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Grand Rapids scored three times in the 1st period, all around five or so minutes apart. Cleveland was just not able to keep the Griffins off the scoreboard in the 1st. The Monsters were able to avoid the shutout in the 2nd period as Tyler Sikura scored his fifth goal of the year. Sikura was assisted by Liam Foudy (8) and Giovanni Vallati (1) in the lone highlight for Cleveland.

The Griffins would score a cheap empty net goal with 16 seconds left to make it 4-1, the only goal that did not count against Jean-Francois Berube. Berube would save 25 of 28 shots on goal, the fourth straight game allowing three goals or more.

Cleveland continues to sit in fourth place in the AHL North Division with 23 points in 20 games. The Monsters are 5-4-1-0 in their last 10 as they found themselves in a holding pattern. A trip to Syracuse to take on the seventh place Crunch Wednesday could provide the elusive win they are in search of.

Monsters defeat Marlies 6-5 in overtime

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It was a productive trip north of the border for the Cleveland Monsters as they defeated the Toronto Marlies in overtime.

Finding themselves down 4-1 late in the 2nd, the Cleveland Monsters managed to outscore the Toronto Marlies 4-1 in order to force overtime. In the overtime period it was a clutch power play goal from Tyler Sikura to seal the Cleveland victory.

Even though the Monsters held a massive edge on the shots on goal department through the first two period (33-19), they were only able to score twice during that time. Overall Cleveland outshot Toronto 47-28 as they attempted 12 shots in the 3rd and two in overtime.

After two games which saw Daniil Tarasov only allow one goal in each, Tarasov allowed five on 28 shots in the win. This was the third time this season that Tarasov allowed five goals in game, both games were losses (6-4 to Syracuse, 6-2 Belleville).

Scoring notes

Jake Christiansen (4) scored the first goal of the game, giving the Monsters an early lead 4:12 into the 1st period.

Down 4-1 late in the 2nd, Liam Foudy scored his fourth goal of the season with the recently assigned Kevin Stenlund assisting on the goal (3).

Brendan Gaunce scored 23 seconds into the 3rd to bring Cleveland a within one goal. It was the seventh goal of the season for Gaunce who got some assistance from Trey Fix-Wolansky (1) and Tyler Angle (12).

Just over five minutes later Carson Meyer (5) tied the game. Adam Helewka (6) and Christiansen (9) were credited with assists on the goal.

After giving up the lead midway through the period, it was Fix-Wolansky coming to the rescue as he scored his second goal of the campaign with just 1:39 left to play. Fix-Wolansky got some help from Gaunce (5) and Stenlund (4) on the game-tying goal.

In overtime it was Tyler Sikura who redirected a shot from Christiansen into the net giving the Monsters the win. Christiansen (10) received an assist as did Gaunce (6).

The Monsters return home Friday to take on the Marlies at home before returning to Toronto Saturday for their third matchup in as many games. 

Monsters defeat Crunch 2-1 in overtime

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The Cleveland Monsters got back into the win column as they came away with a 2-1 win over the Syracuse Crunch in overtime.

Coming off a shutout loss to the Rochester Americans to close out their road trip last weekend, the Cleveland Monsters were looking to reverse their fortunes against the Syracuse Crunch at home. A few minutes into the game it appeared it would be a goal-scoring frenzy as both teams scored really quickly. Shawn Element gave Syracuse a 1-0 lead just a minute into the game while Thomas Schemitsch answered about a minute later. Even though both teams came out guns blazing, neither team was able to find the back in the net again in regulation.

This led to a decisive overtime period, a much better proposition that going into a shootout (an area that the team has struggled in this season with three losses). Just as the game began, it was a goal 1:08 into the period with gave the Monsters a 2-1 win over the Crunch. Tyler Angle was able to break the tie in the extra period securing the victory.

Game notes

The goals from Schmeitsch and Angle were the first of the season for both players. Jake Christiansen assisted on both goals for assists seven and eight on the year while Liam Foudy tallied his fourth on Schemitsch’s goal.

Daniil Tarasov saved 21 of 22 shots on goal in his sixth start of the season. Tarasov’s 0.955 save percentage was the best of the season up to this point.

Looking ahead

The Monsters are in third place in the AHL North Division with 16 points, trailing Toronto and their 12 points based on win percentage. Cleveland will face Syracuse again Friday before heading out on the road to face second place Toronto.

Monsters fall short in overtime to Bears

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The Cleveland Monsters were not able to close out their road trip with a win in Hershey, losing to the Bears in overtime 4-3.

This was the second game between the Cleveland Monsters and Hershey Bears to need (at least) overtime to decide the winner. Unlike the night before, there was no need for a shootout that lasted eight rounds as Hershey  scored the game-winning goal 3:27 into the extra period.

The Monsters actually got off on the right foot, taking advantage of a power-play opportunity to get on the board first. It was Josh Dunne scoring his second of the year with Liam Foudy (2) and Tim Berti assisting on the goal.

Early on in the 2nd period it was Hershey’s turn to score. The Bears scored twice in a one minute and 45 second span as Daniil Tarasov was unable to stop their attack. Cleveland would answer later in the period to tie the game at 2 thanks to Jake Christiansen’s third goal of the season. Tyler Sikura (3) and Adam Helewka (4) assisted the then game-tying goal.

22 seconds into the 3rd period saw the Monsters retake the lead. Liam Foudy scored his third goal of the campaign with Tyler Angle being credited with his eighth assist, tied for third in the AHL. About 12 minutes later the Bears would tie the game again as they managed to score on a power play.

Both teams would attempt two shots on goal in the overtime period with the Bears coming out victorious.

Currently Cleveland is in 2nd place in the AHL North Division behind Utica based on win percentage. The Monsters return home next Friday to take on the Belleville Senators as they look to get back on track.