Monsters Deliver Thrilling 3-2 Overtime Win Against Pens in Outdoor Classic

Photo by David Chopcinski

CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Monsters beat the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins 3-2 in overtime on Saturday evening at the Cleveland Monsters Outdoor Classic presented by Global Transport at FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Cleveland Browns. With the win, the Monsters are now 23-24-4-2 and are currently in seventh place in the AHL’s North Division standings.

The Penguins scored two goals in the opening period from Peter DiLiberatore at 5:42 and Raivis Ansons shorthanded at 15:06 sending the Monsters to the first intermission trailing 2-0. Justin Richards cut the lead in half late in the middle frame with a power-play goal at 19:28 assisted by Owen Sillinger and Carson Meyer bringing the score to 2-1 after 40 minutes. Marcus Bjork tied the game at 1:25 of the third period with helpers from Trey Fix-Wolansky and Jake Christiansen forcing overtime. Bjork struck again 31 seconds into the extra frame off a feed from Josh Dunne securing the 3-2 win for the Monsters for the 22,875 in attendance on the lakefront.

Cleveland’s Jet Greaves made 19 saves for the win while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Dustin Tokarski stopped 28 shots in defeat.

The Monsters host a rematch against the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins on Sunday, March 5, with a 3:00 p.m. puck drop at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Follow the games with full coverage on FOX Sports 1350 ‘The Gambler’, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.

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Scoring:

		1st		2nd		3rd		OT		SO		Final
CLE		0		1		1		1		–		3
WBS		2		0		0		0		–		2

Shots/Special Teams:

		Shots		PP		PK		PIM
CLE		31		1/4		4/4		20 min / 7 inf
WBS		21		0/4		3/4		40 min / 9 inf

Goaltenders:

		Goaltender		Outcome		Saves		GA		Record
CLE		Greaves		W		19		2		12-11-4
WBS		Tokarski		OT		28		3		10-9-5

Cleveland Record: 23-24-4-2, 6th North Division

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Record: 22-23-4-5, 8th North Division

Official Cleveland Monsters Press Release