Monsters Pass Major Test against League-leading Wolves
Cleveland Perseveres with 10 forwards, 8 defensemen
The Cleveland Monsters viewed last weekend’s two-game series against the formerly league-leading Chicago Wolves as a measuring stick of sorts, allowing the club to see how far it had come over a few short weeks since the onset of the AHL season.
If those games were a test, the Monsters passed with flying colors, blitzing the Wolves with three first-period goals in a 4-3 shootout win before a 3-1 victory on Saturday powered by 42 saves from Matiss Kivlenieks.
“It was a great weekend for us,” said Monsters Assistant Coach Steve McCarthy. “Obviously, we were able to get four points, which was a bonus. But as a staff, we loved the effort and competitiveness of the guys.”
The Monsters, who have faced an array of pandemic-related obstacles and challenges in the early going, dressed 10 forwards and eight defensemen on both nights. Needless to say, it was an unconventional way to sweep one of the best clubs in the AHL.
“We had a handful of guys that hadn’t practiced in a week with us and traveled the day of the game,” Cleveland Head Coach Mike Eaves explained. “There was a lot that said we should have just folded the tent, but we didn’t – we went out and competed.”
Following the weekend, the general consensus out of the Monsters locker room is Chicago was far and away the fastest opponent seen to date.
“They are the best team we’ve played in terms of pace,” said Eaves. “On Saturday, I would say we definitely earned that victory. We were more used to their pace [after Friday] and played smarter because of it, and we didn’t give them as many pucks.”
Kivlenieks played like a netminder primed for the next level, moving to 3-0-0 with 76 saves on the weekend, including a perfect 3-for-3 clip in Friday’s shootout against Chicago’s talented group of scorers.
The Monsters have moved up into fourth place in the Central Division at 4-3-1-0 and have a chance to avenge a season-opening 7-3 loss on home ice when they travel to Rochester to battle the Amerks in their lone game of the week on Friday.
While COVID-19 protocols tend to leave fans in the dark when it comes to player status, the Monsters believe they will have a more traditional lineup in Rochester.
“Hopefully, things will be back to normal on Friday,” McCarthy said. “That’s the way things are looking, but we’re taking it one day at a time.”
Eaves and his staff have made one thing clear: if the Monsters are to emerge as a contender in the Central Division, they will do it through hard work.
“We’re trending in the right direction and getting better,” Eaves explained. “The key to the weekend was our work ethic and that is a foundational piece we have. If we can continue to build on that foundation of hard work, that will be a huge part of our identity.”
STILL ROLLING
Cleveland’s power play continues to shine after netting a pair of tallies against the Wolves. On the year, the Monsters rank second in the AHL at 34.6 percent (9-for-26) on the man advantage. Eaves credits a patient, yet purposeful approach for the early success.
“The boys have been taking what they’ve been given,” said Eaves. “Because of that, they’re finding themselves in good opportunities to shoot and they’ve made shots…they’re doing the right things in terms of working hard, working together and using the skills they have.”
McCarthy echoed that sentiment, saying, “Usually when you have success on the power play, you try to get a little fancy, but they haven’t done that. They’ve been very direct, one or two passes and the puck’s going on net.”
Trey Fix-Wolansky, who has forced himself onto Columbus’ radar with a red-hot start, leads the Monsters will four power-play markers while veterans like Nathan Gerbe (1-4-5) and Dillon Simpson (0-3-3) have also racked up points on the man advantage. Rookie Carson Meyer has also played a key role, immediately stepping in and earning playing time on Cleveland’s top power-play unit.
“Sometimes, it just gels,” said McCarthy. “Fixy’s playing really well, you have Carson Meyer playing well. Whoever’s there, they just seem to gel a lot quicker than in years past.”
ANGLE’S BIG WEEKEND
Rookie forward Tyler Angle made his pro debut centering a line with two defensemen serving as his wingers. If those circumstances brought any pregame nerves, the 20-year-old didn’t let them show, finding twine on the first shot attempt of his very first pro shift on Friday night to open the scoring in Chicago.
Angle, who admitted that the early goal was a massive confidence-builder over the remainder of the weekend, earned high praise from his bench boss.
“[Tyler] showed us he can skate, on his first goal he was just flying out there,” said Eaves. “The other thing I really liked was his competitiveness in the corners. To be a good hockey player, you have to have the heart of a wrestler. He was very good in 1-on-1 battles.”
Angle finished the weekend with a pair of goals and an assist, giving the Monsters another dynamic young forward to add to their stockpile.
WELCOME TO CLEVELAND
The Monsters announced the signing of defenseman Ole Bjorgvik-Holm to an amateur tryout contract on Wednesday.
Bjorgvik-Holm, a fifth-round selection by the Blue Jackets in the 2020 NHL Draft, is just 18 years old. He’s spent the majority of the season with Manglerud in his native Norway’s top pro league, collecting a 2-8-10 scoring line over 22 outings.
While his first game in Cleveland will mark his North American pro debut, Bjorgvik-Holm is no stranger to the continent, having spent a year with the Missassauga Steelheads (OHL) in 2019-20 in addition to previous stints with Colorado Thunderbirds AAA and the USHL’s Tri-City Storm.
--- Jared Tennant for Ohio Hockey Digest
