It will be a winner-take-all matchup May 24 at Rocket Arena for the Monsters.
That’s because the Toronto Marlies, while facing elimination, answered the call in Game 4 of their American Hockey League North Division championship series with a 5-2 victory over Cleveland on May 22 at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
The good news for the Monsters is they will have home-ice advantage for Game 5 at Rocket Arena, where a large crowd is expected to be on hand. The puck drops at 3 p.m., and the game will be televised by Cleveland’s WUAB-TV 43.
Cleveland was hoping to advance to the AHL’s final four but it trailed, 2-0, after two periods and 4-0 with a little less than 13 minutes remaining in the game.
The Monsters got goals in the third period by Jack Williams (who finished with a goal and an assist) and Luca Del Bel Belluz, but by that time, it was a bit too late.
The Marlies were outshot, 38-26, but made their shots count.
Ryan Tverberg scored the lone goal of the first period, and after Alex Nylander added a power-play goal in the second period, and it was 2-0 in favor of the home team. Tverberg finished the night with two goals and an assist.
Artur Akhtyamov was outstanding at goalie for Toronto, as he stopped 36 of 38 shots. His counterpart Zach Sawchenko made 21 saves.
Meanwhile, two of the AHL’s final four teams are set. The Colorado Eagles won the Pacific Division Finals, and Chicago the Central Division Finals. Those teams will play each other in the next round, with the winner advancing to the Calder Cup Finals.
On the Monsters’ side of the bracket, Springfield and Wilkes/Barre are tied at 2-2 in their best-of-five Atlantic Division Finals. The winner plays either the Monsters or Marlies in the AHL final four.