Nick Michaels
Cleveland, Ohio.
On Wednesday night at Rocket Mortage Fieldhouse was the host of a crucial game three in a best of five divisional series between Cleveland and Belleville. With the series tied at 1-1 heading into game three, the Monsters were hoping to win their second playoff game in a row after dropping game one in Belleville. Game three was also the perfect time for the Monster's biggest crowd of the year with nearly 13,000 fans in attendance and they didn't have to wait long to roar.
The Monsters started off the first period with a bang with two goals within five minutes of each other from Mikael Pyyhita and David Jircek. Belleville would answer immediately with 4:05 left in the 1st off a Josh Currie goal making the score 2-1 after one. The defensive integrity would kick in for both teams in the 2nd and 3rd periods. The next score wouldn't come until 13:52 left in the 3rd by Belleville’s Donovan Sebrango, forcing the game into not one but two sudden death overtime periods. The first OT period provided so many opportunities for both teams but Cleveland’s goaltender Jet Greaves held strong with 44 saves on the night to put his team in position to score the game winner in the second OT period. Backing up his goalie’s outstanding play was Owen Sillinger who would deliver the goal to end the game with 15:19 left in double overtime making the final score 3-2.
The Cleveland Monsters now have a 2-1 series lead over the Senators in the North Division semifinals and can close things out Friday night back at home in downtown Cleveland. Owen Sillinger talked about the team’s resilience and patience all night followed by his goalie’s impressive performance, “Jet is the backbone of this team, he doesn’t always get the credit he deserves.”
As far as the game winning shot goes, “he (goalie) gave me an inch on the open net and I took it”.
See full comments from Sillinger, Reaves, and head coach Trent Vogelhuber below.
The Monsters will have the opportunity to advance to the North Division finals of the Calder Cup playoffs Friday night in a crucial close out game against the Belleville Senators at 7pm.
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