Tag Archives: Tim Berni

Monsters lose to Griffins 5-3

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The Cleveland Monsters took on the Grand Rapids Griffins, losing their third game over their last five.

It was a Tuesday evening matchup between the Cleveland Monsters and Grand Rapids Griffins. Cleveland has split their last two matchups with Grand Rapids and the Monsters were looking to take a 2-1 lead in their season series.

The 1st period saw both teams scoring in the first 8+ minutes. Grand Rapids struck first and Cleveland tied the game back up just a few minutes later. Tyler Angle (3) scored the first Monsters goal of the game being assisted by Tyler Sikura (9) and Tim Berni (8).

Grand Rapids took a comfortable 3-1 lead in the 2nd period as the Griffins tallied two goals. The second goal came 4:36 into the period as the Monsters were on their first of three penalty kills.

Cleveland was able to draw within one early in the 3rd as Angle scored again for his fourth goal of the year. Carson Meyer (3) was the lone player credited with an assist on the player. Unfortunately this was as close as Cleveland would get as the Griffins would score two more goals in the period increasing their total to 5. The Monsters were able to score once more, Adam Helewka (6) added Cleveland’s final goal with Dillion Simpson (4) and Thomas Schemitsch (5) assisting on the play.

Jean-Francois Berube was Cleveland’s goaltender and it was not a good outing. Berube allowed five goals on 31 shots in the loss. The last time Berube allowed less than three goals in a game was back on November 6 in a 3-2 shootout loss to Belleville.

The Monsters now sit in sixth place in the AHL North Division with 31 points in 30 games. Cleveland will have a chance to regroup this weekend as they head out on the road to face the Utica Comets for a weekend series. 

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 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. 

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. 

Monsters drop season opener to Crunch 6-4

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The Cleveland Monsters were unable to come away with a win in the season opener, falling to the Syracuse Crunch 6-4.

The 2021-22 AHL season kicked off Friday with the Cleveland Monsters playing host to the Syracuse Crunch, hoping to send the home crowd home happy with a win. Unfortunately Syracuse had other ideas as Cleveland was simply not able to keep up with the scoring of the Crunch.

Things started off great in the 1st period, the Monsters took an early 2-0 lead before the midway point. The lead was short-lived however as Syracuse tied things up later in the period Syracuse would add another goal early in the 2nd to take the lead just 2:55 into the 2nd with the Monsters answering just minutes later.

The Crunch were able to go on a second three-goal unanswered spree after Cleveland tied the game in the 2nd. At that point it was just too much for Cleveland to keep up as they were only able to add one more goal before the end of the game.

This game was not about shots on goal as both teams finished with a similar total (SYR 22 – CLE 26). It was about execution in the special teams department. The Monsters converted just one of eight power play opportunities while Syracuse scored once on the power play and also added a shorthanded goal. If a team is unable to convert on their own power play chances while giving up shorthanded goals it will be quite difficult to come away victorious.

Game notes

Daniil Tarasov started in goal for the Monsters, saving 16 of 21 shots on goal. One of Syracuse’s six goals came with an empty net.

Cleveland’s goal scorers were Tim Berni, Jake Christiansen, Adam Helewka, and Justin Scott. Assisting on those goals for the Monsters were Helewka, Christiansen, Tyler Angle, Justin Danforth, Josh Dunne, Tristan Mullin, and Gabriel Carlsson.

Game 2 between Cleveland and Syracuse will take place Saturday at 7:00 P.M. with the Monsters looking for their first win of the season.