The North Division finals resume at the Coca-Cola Coliseum tonight (7 ET, 
) as Toronto hosts Cleveland in Game 3.
The Monsters gave up two goals in Game 1, but didn’t let history repeat itself in Game 2, holding off the Marlies with a 3-1 victory to even the series at one win apiece. Roman Ahcan (1-0-1), Mikael Pyyhtiä (2-2-4) and Luca Pinelli (1-1-2) points Cleveland, season Zach Sawchenko (4-1, 1.85, .924) stopped 17 of 18 shots.
A misplayed puck led to a shorthanded goal by Bo Groulx (3-3-6) to cut Cleveland a 2-1 lead late in the second half.
“It’s something we talked about,” the Monsters coach Trent Vogelhuber said. “Emotions are high in the playoffs. When something good or bad happens it’s easy to go with that, and it’s very important not to. We know we’re playing well at that time. It’s a bad bounce, and they get a goal – it doesn’t matter. It won’t affect the way you play. You have to stay active in what you’re doing and trust your process.”
Cleveland killed the Marlies’ power play early in the third period, getting Pinelli’s insurance goal with 7:06 to play and limiting Toronto to 18 shots on goal. It was the fourth straight game the Marlies were held to less than 20 shots.
“You can see it coming again,” Toronto’s head coach said John Gruden said. “It looked like a regular old script. You could play catch many times.”
Monsters ahead Zach Aston-Reese and his wife Alexandra welcome baby boy Oliver on May 8. After sitting out Game 1, Aston-Reese returned to the lineup and recorded an assist in Game 2.
“It was really hard to say goodbye and come back, but I love being around the boys again,” said Aston-Reese, who had family in New Jersey at the time of the birth. “It’s a great locker room. I put on some good skates and I felt good in there.
In the Pacific Division finals, the Colorado Eagles look to close out the Coachella Valley as they take a 2-1 series lead into Game 4 tonight (9:05 ET, ).
The Eagles are seeking their first appearance in the AHL’s Western Conference Finals.
Chase Bradley (3-3-6) had two goals and an assist in Colorado’s 4-1 Game 3 win on Sunday, while Ivan Ivan (1-8-9) had two assists, giving him six points in his last five games.
“Their ability to learn from each other, they are built for the playoffs, the way they play,” Colorado’s head coach. Mark Letestu said by Bradley’s line, Ivan and Jason Polin. “They play a hard, 200-meter game, they are responsible in all areas. They are rewarded right now for that work. It is contagious, when guys play like that, it goes to the whole hockey team.”
Gavin Brindley (2-3-5) added a goal and an assist as well Trent Miner (7-2, 1.18, .950) made 28 saves for Eagles in Game 3; Miner allowed just 11 goals on 221 shots in nine postseason games.
Colorado was without its captain Jason Megna — and his 70 games of Calder Cup Playoff experience — this series after being injured in the previous round.
“There is a real buy in to win here right now in the team,” said Letestu. “When a guy like Megs goes down, there’s no doubt – he’s very important for us – but it’s a team effort. Everyone takes it a little bit harder and gets 60 minutes of effort like we have. [in Game 3].”
Coachella Valley has already won four straight games this season, coming back from the brink to beat Bakersfield and Ontario.
“We’re going to need everyone to jump on board,” the Firebirds coach said Derek Laxdal said. “Colorado is a hell of a team and our guys have done a great job of helping where we are right now.”
