The Cleveland Monsters secured a convincing 5-2 victory against Lehigh Valley on February 14, 2024, showcasing their offensive depth with five different players scoring. The win marked an important step for the Monsters as they continue their pursuit for playoff positioning in the American Hockey League.
Will Butcher initiated the scoring with a goal in the first period, giving the Monsters an early 1-0 lead. The visitors maintained this advantage as they entered the locker room after the first intermission. The second period proved to be pivotal for Cleveland as they struck three times, effectively putting the game out of reach for Lehigh Valley.
At the 6-minute mark of the second period, Mikael Pyyhtiä extended the Monsters’ lead with a well-placed shot. Less than a minute later, Hunter McKown added to the tally, making it 3-0. Just before the end of the second period, Justin Pearson found the back of the net, pushing the score to 4-2 in favor of Cleveland.
In the third period, Brendan Gaunce sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, further solidifying the Monsters’ dominance. The team displayed strong offensive coordination throughout the match, effectively capitalizing on their opportunities.
On the defensive end, goaltender Ivan Fedotov was instrumental in the win, making 33 saves to stifle Lehigh Valley’s attempts to mount a comeback. His performance has been a key factor in the Monsters’ recent success as they strive to improve their season record.
With the victory, the Monsters advanced to a record of 24-15-6-1. They will look to build on this momentum in their next matchup against the Wilkes-Barre Penguins on February 15, 2024, where the puck is set to drop at 15:05 local time. The team aims to continue their winning ways as they approach the final stretch of the season.
