The Cleveland Monsters shook off a rocky start and turned in a resilient, well-rounded performance Saturday night, skating out of Allentown with a 4-2 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. It was a night that saw momentum swing wildly, special teams play a pivotal role, and a few standout performances - both good and not-so-good - from players on both sides.
A First Period of Missed Marks and Missed Opportunities
Things got off to a less-than-ideal start for Cleveland. Despite opening the scoring less than a minute into the game, thanks to a low-percentage shot from Will Butcher that somehow beat Phantoms netminder Carson Bjarnason cleanly, the Monsters were clearly second-best for much of the opening frame.
Lehigh Valley responded with energy and pressure, outshooting Cleveland 10-4 over the latter half of the period. Oscar Eklind tied things up by crashing the net and cashing in on a rebound - a classic example of what happens when you go to the dirty areas.
And with under two minutes left in the first, Tucker Robertson turned in the highlight of the night with a filthy wrister that roofed over Ivan Fedotov and got stuck under the bar. That gave the Phantoms a 2-1 lead and all the momentum heading into the second.
Fedotov Holds Firm as the Monsters Flip the Script
If the first period belonged to the Phantoms, the second was all Cleveland. The Monsters came out of the intermission looking like a different team, and they didn’t waste time turning the tide.
After Helge Grans took a cross-checking penalty early in the period, Cleveland’s power play went to work. Mikael Pyyhtia finished off a crisp sequence with a one-timer that tied things at 2-2. Moments later, a brutal turnover by Grans led to an unassisted goal from Hunter McKown, who picked off the puck and buried it to give Cleveland a 3-2 lead.
That sequence - two goals in less than a minute - completely flipped the game on its head.
And just when it looked like the Phantoms might respond, their special teams let them down again. With Cleveland killing a penalty, Bjarnason misplayed a clearing attempt, and Justin Pearson made him pay with a short-handed tally. Suddenly, it was 4-2 Cleveland, and the air had been sucked out of the PPL Center.
Bump Returns, Still Shaking Off the Rust
Saturday also marked the return of winger Alex Bump to the Phantoms’ lineup after missing 17 of the last 18 games. The coaching staff didn’t ease him back in - Bump was slotted right onto the top line and showed flashes of why he’s such a promising piece.
He had a strong shift midway through the first, generating a solid wrister that Fedotov turned aside. Later, he nearly beat the Cleveland netminder stick-side but missed just wide.
Still, it was clear Bump was knocking off some rust. He took an elbowing penalty in the second and didn’t register a point, finishing with two shots on goal and two minutes in the box.
The tools are clearly there, but this was a game about getting his legs back under him.
A Forgettable Night for Kyrou
Not every All-Star performance translates into a strong post-break showing, and that was the case for Phantoms defenseman Christian Kyrou. He had a tough night, plain and simple. While his offensive instincts showed up in flashes - including a decent sequence on the power play - he struggled in his own end.
Kyrou finished with no shots on goal and was a -3 just 35 minutes into the game. It wasn’t the kind of impact the Phantoms were hoping for from one of their most skilled blueliners.
Ginning’s Subtle Value
On the flip side, Adam Ginning quietly had one of those games that coaches love. He won’t show up on the scoresheet, but his decision-making and poise with the puck stood out. One moment in particular - when he opted to reset instead of forcing a risky breakout during a line change - showed the kind of maturity that could earn him a call-up if the Flyers face injuries on the back end.
He also registered three of Lehigh Valley’s 15 first-period shots, showing he’s not afraid to get involved offensively when the opportunity presents itself.
Cleveland Closes the Door
The third period was a masterclass in shutdown hockey from the Monsters. They didn’t give Lehigh Valley much of anything until the final few minutes, when the Phantoms pulled Bjarnason and threw everything they had at Fedotov. Phil Tomasino had the best chance of the period, but Fedotov was square to the shot and turned it aside.
With the net empty and time winding down, Brendan Gaunce sealed the win with an empty-netter to make it 4-2.
Final Thoughts
This was a tale of two teams going in different directions over the course of 60 minutes. Lehigh Valley came out flying, but Cleveland weathered the storm, capitalized on mistakes, and executed when it mattered most - especially on special teams.
For the Phantoms, it’s a frustrating loss, especially after such a strong first period. But the return of Alex Bump and the continued growth of players like Ginning are positives to build on. For the Monsters, it’s another example of how quickly a game can turn when you stay composed, get good goaltending, and make the most of your chances.