Affiliates IX: Cleveland Monsters and more (All Affiliate Talk Here)

[Monk]

Pyyhtia quietly up to 3 goals in 6 games so far.

The goalies never hear him coming

 

[ThirdPeriodTurtle]

Alright the picture is pretty clear now. Laval and Cleveland battle for the last playoff (play-in) spot.

Laval 70 games played, 72 points
Cleveland 69 games played, 71 points

Laval plays Toronto on Wednesday and Syracuse on Friday.
Cleveland plays Utica on Friday, Rochester on Saturday and Rochester again on Sunday.

Looks like pretty even matchups and all the opponents have basically clinched a playoff spot (and of course it's Utica who still needs a point to clinch - hopefully Laval loses on Wednesday so Utica clinches before the Friday game), but the schedule is a bit brutal for the Monsters, especially if some players are called up to Columbus on Friday and then returned for the weekend games.

Anyhow just like the tank race, this race is going to be a photo finish too and most likely decided by our Sunday game against Rochester (edit: at home luckily). Hopefully Pyyhtiä keeps up the scoring then!

 

[Jackets Woodchuck]

Sunday's in Cleveland.

 

[ThirdPeriodTurtle]

Halfway through the 3rd and Syracuse is winning over Utica (so Utica needs a point against the Monsters to clinch) and Laval is winning over Toronto, which will put them 3 points ahead with 2 more games played. Monsters will potentially need to win all three of their remaining games to pass Laval (if Laval also wins their last game). Sounds like a tall order...

Edit: Yeah ended with the above. Friday against Utica is a must win for the Monsters (maybe give them an OT to let their guard down).

 

[Monstershockey]

Monsters tied at 0 so far. Outshooting Utica 15-8 but can't get a goal. They are 0-5-2 against Utica this year. Laval winning their game. A win by them forces the Monsters to win all 3.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Laval really got hot. Probably too big of a task for the monsters honestly

 

[Monstershockey]

Game tied 1-1. They are crediting Christainsen with the goal, but it looked like it may have been deflected in front. Unassisted.

Edit: Cole Sillinger has been thowing some hits around and finally earns himself a penalty they don't need. Hopefully they kill it. And they do. Hopefully no more dumb penalties.

 

[Monstershockey]

Monsters down 2-1 with 10 minutes left.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

CBJ ended the monsters season. And ended their own tank. Ironic

 

[ThirdPeriodTurtle]

Laval has a lot of names I recognize from the Canadiens roster some weeks back. Harvey-Pinard obviously the biggest name, but also some others like Ylönen who had some nice assists for Canadiens too... Just a minute left to play and barring a miracle that's Cleveland's season done.

 

[Monstershockey]

Monsters lose 2-1. Season pretty much over. Laval lead down to 4-3, if they get a point, season over. 0-6-2 against Utica this year sank them. Had they got half those points, they would have had the playoff spot already. Exactly why you have to get every point you can, even the "loser" points.

 

[SavesEmNot]

Monsters lose 2-1. Season pretty much over. Laval lead down to 4-3, if they get a point, season over. 0-6-2 against Utica this year sank them. Had they got half those points, they would have had the playoff spot already. Exactly why you have to get every point you can, even the "loser" points.

Sorry we had to keep taking your players.

 

[Monstershockey]

Sorry we had to keep taking your players.

Honestly, that isn't what did them in. There were plenty of good chances for points throughout the season that they left out there. Would it have been nice to get Angle's goal in Utica tonight? Sure. They still had plenty of good AHL talent on the roster though, and very well could have won tonight. Just wasn't in the cards. Appreciate the sentiment though.

 

[Monstershockey]

TFW with an assist today, gives him 71 on the year and sets a new single-season team record for points. Did it in just 60 games, and is tied for 6th in the league for points. Good for him. I'm sure he would rather have a playoff spot. Finish the year at home tomorrow, not a bad year, but could have been better.

Edit: Oh yeah, they won 4-3. Day late, and a dollar short.

 

[stevo61]

I see Svozil had 2 assists, 2 shots and was a +2

 

[Monstershockey]

I see Svozil had 2 assists, 2 shots and was a +2

I missed the game, but it looks like he did well.

 

[Doggy]

I see Svozil had 2 assists, 2 shots and was a +2

I hope that game in Columbus was worth it because he might have helped Cleveland in that 2-1 loss to Utica Friday night. The difference between a couple NHL games and potentially a whole bunch of AHL playoff games. The injuries in Columbus killed Cleveland this year but still think the personnel could have been managed better all around.

 

[EyeceWarrior]

Are Monsters games ever on the radio?

 

[Monstershockey]

Are Monsters games ever on the radio?

Way at the end of the AM dial. 1350 The Gambler. Pretty sure you can stream it through the Monsters app. All games are there.

 

[EyeceWarrior]

Way at the end of the AM dial. 1350 The Gambler. Pretty sure you can stream it through the Monsters app. All games are there.

I got it thanks. I'm listening on 1360s website

 

[Ice9]

With so much young talent needing more play and inserted into high pressure situations I believe the organization handled the Monsters last weeks or so horribly. Whoever that blame falls on they need to explain it.

 

[stevo61]

With so much young talent needing more play and inserted into high pressure situations I believe the organization handled the Monsters last weeks or so horribly. Whoever that blame falls on they need to explain it.

They had an entire season to get themselves in a playoff position and not in a spot where they have to go on a winning streak to make it. They called up mostly depth pieces but the team still lost, oh well. Probably costs them another week or so of game action and gets the guys who need it into the gym sooner

 

[Jackets Woodchuck]

If the offseason gym time is more imprtant than extra ice time, maybe a permanent tanking philosophy (i.e. sign the worst vets you can) might be the way to go re: the Monsters.

 

[Monstershockey]

Chris Clark Always Ready for the Unexpected

A Q and A with Monsters GM Chris Clark discussing how he deals with a depleted roster and where he finds players to fill in the gaps.

fullpresshockey.com

 

[ThirdPeriodTurtle]

^^ Wish that interview was longer, very interesting to hear how it all works on the Monsters side. Certainly sounds like they understand and accept their development/call-up nature very well despite not being owned by the Jackets.