Monsters Drop Season Finale To Manitoba 1-0; Playoff Hopes Rest In Chicago

CLEVELAND, Ohio- The Cleveland Monsters suited up for their regular season finale, hoping to do their part to get into the Calder Cup Playoffs and clinch the final Central Division spot.

The game started off very defensive-minded and that would be the theme of the night, as though the teams combined for 18 shots on goal, both defenses put the clamps down and did not allow a lot of rebounds or good looks for the opposing offenses. A turning point in the intensity of the game would be when Alex Broadhurst went to set up the offense from the blue line. Broadhurst was checked from behind and Zac Dalpe dropped the gloves to defend his teammate. After all the madness, the teams would head into the break scoreless.

The second period became fight night at The Q when Vitaly Abramov was targeted for the second night in a row with a blindside hit in neutral zone. Punches were thrown on each side and Darren Kramer and Head Coach Pascal Vincent were ejected. The score was still even at zero after the middle stanza.

The Moose would claim victory with a top-shelf goal over Forsberg’s right shoulder fourteen seconds in. The Monsters couldn’t find the back of the net even after a bunch of good looks in the frame.

For the Monsters, they must wait and see if Chicago can defeat Charlotte in regulation. That’s the only way they can get in to the postseason.