Monsters shut out by Comets 3-0
BY ANDREW GUARINO
HOCKEY WRITER
(CLEVELAND, OH) - The Utica Comets defeated the Cleveland Monsters Friday night from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. It was two points the Monsters badly needed but couldn't get so let's get right into it.
5:08 into the first period, the Comets started the scoring. A loose puck behind the Cleveland net was picked up by Tanner Sorenson who centered it in front to Carter Bancks who then scored. Utica extended their lead to 2-0 at 12:37. Lukas Jasek was in the right faceoff circle and passed down to Nikolay Goldobin who was on the left side of Vehvilainen shot the puck and it deflected off a Monsters defenseman and in the net.
The second period saw tensions rise between the two teams but no goals were scored for either team.
Cleveland thought they cut the lead to one early in the third period but the goal was disallowed for the whistle being blown before the puck crossed the goal line. The only goal that was scored in the third period was a power play goal with a minute remaining by the Comets. Kole Lind one timed a puck from the blue line and the rebound was picked up by Nikolay Goldobin who was able to score.
Looking back on keys to the game. Good special teams, get Vehvilainen back on track and continue the point streak. The Monsters didn't continue the point streak. The power play was awful and is the worst it has looked in awhile, and the kill was 1/3. Veini Vehvilainen looked better tonight than he has in previous starts though.
The Monsters started Veini Vehvilainen in the net and stopped 13/16 shots faced. The Comets countered with Michael DiPietro who stopped all 27 shots earning his first professional shutout. That performance earned him the first star of the game. Second star went to Carter Bancks with a goal and third went to Nikolay Goldobin with two goals.
Next up for Cleveland is a rematch with the Utica Comets on Saturday at 1 pm. Key 1 will be get back to wining as we head into the home stretch of the season every point matters. Key two will get some energy back it was a rough game for the Monsters tonight. Key three will be too not have as many turnovers in our zone..
POSTED 01/31/2020 23:35
Lake County Sentinel
