The final page in the Monsters’ storybook season did not conclude with everyone living happily ever after.
The Monsters fought back from a 3-0 series deficit in the AHL Eastern Conference finals to tie the series, 3-3, and set the stage for a Game 7.
James Malatesta scored with 4 minutes, 52 seconds left in regulation of Game 7 on June 12 at Giant Center in Hershey, Pa., to force overtime for the fourth time this series and set the stage for another fantastic finish. But it was not to be.
At 7:38 of overtime, Garrett Roe, from just outside the left circle, lifted a shot over Monsters defenseman Jake Christiansen and under the crossbar to send the Bears to the Calder Cup finals against the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
“We didn’t finish the way we wanted, obviously, but I wouldn’t change a thing with this group,” Coach Trent Vogelhuber said in a postgame television interview with Monsters’ play-by-play announcer Tony Brown. “They laid it on the line for each other. I’m so proud and thankful for all of them.”
The Monsters were the aggressors in the third period, outshooting the Bears, 14-3, and in overtime with a 6-2 shot advantage.
Trouble began 5:05 into overtime when Jake Gaudet inadvertently sailed the puck over the glass for a delay of game penalty while trying to clear it from the Monsters’ defensive end. The Monsters held the Bears without a shot for a successful kill, but the Bears were able to play keepaway in their offensive end even after Gaudet returned to the ice. Roe scored the game-winner 33 seconds after Gaudet’s penalty expired.
Trey Fix-Wolansky got the Monsters on the board first on a power-play goal with 52 seconds left in the first period. His initial shot hit off Hershey goalie Hunter Shepard’s right pad. Fix-Wolansky gathered in his own rebound and snapped it inside the left post for his third goal of the playoffs.
Logan Day made it a 1-1 game with 19 seconds left in the first period, then the Bears took a 2-1 lead on a power-play goal by Pierrick Dube 4:14 into the second period with Brendan Gaunce in the penalty box for tripping. The score remained 2-1 until Malatesta tied the game with his late third-period goal.
Jet Greaves, brilliant in net all season for the Monsters, stopped 27 of 30 Hershey shots.
Vogelhuber had reason to be proud of his team. This was the first time since they won the Calder Cup in 2016 that the Monsters qualified for the playoffs.
Jock Callander, the color analyst for the Game 7 television broadcast, complimented Vogelhuber and the assistant coaches in the postgame interview.
“That’s very kind,” Vogelhuber said graciously, “but I think the coaches get too much credit. The group in there drove everything for us. Like I said, I’m so proud of them.”
The Monsters finished the regular season 40-24-5-3 to win the AHL North for the first time in franchise history.
THE SCORE (JUNE 12)
Bears 3, Monsters 2 (OT)
