CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Monsters rode a four-goal second period en route to a 5-1 win over the Hershey Bears in Game 5 of the AHL Eastern Conference Final, staving off elimination for the second time and sending the series back to Pennsylvania for a pivotal Game 6.
After going down 3-0 in the seven-game series, Cleveland has won two out of a possible three games at home but will need to take the next two in the unfriendly confines of Hershey's Giant Center to clinch a spot in the Calder Cup Final.
"I'm glad that we've won a couple so we're able to reap the rewards on that," Monsters head coach Trent Vogelhuber told reporters after the rout. "But it's not going to get any easier going back in their building. We know they're going to come out flying, especially in that first period, so we'll be ready to go."
Hershey took the lead in the first period courtesy of a seeing-eye puck from the point by Logan Day. But Cleveland carried some momentum into intermission with a few hard body checks and a grade-A scoring chance in the period's final minute.
"We felt our process was really good," forward Josh Dunne said of the mood in the locker room after the first intermission. "We were competing hard and doing the right things."
From there, backed by an engaged home crowd of over 13,000, Cleveland put the pedal down and never looked back. The Monsters ripped off four goals in the second period before Dunne added Cleveland's final insurance marker with less than five minutes left in the game.
Dunne's two goals led the way alongside captain Brendan Gaunce, who also tallied a brace for his first two goals this postseason. Dunne stretched his point streak to six games. His seven goals and four assists place him fifth in the AHL in postseason points — an encouraging stat line, especially considering he was limited to seven points over 25 regular season games due to a lengthy oblique injury.
Dunne credited his linemates, Alex Whelan and Justin Pearson, with helping him re-acclimate after the layoff. Whelan scored the Monsters' first goal of the night while Pearson notched two assists.
"It helped the timing because they do a lot of the hard work," Dunne said.
After losing the series' first two games in overtime and getting blown out at home in Game 3, the Monsters have prevailed twice with their backs against the wall.
"After Game 3 we narrowed the focus, one game at a time," Dunne said. "Unfortunately the first couple games didn't go the way we wanted them to but we wanted to keep our compete. I think all series you've seen it. That's what we're going to do and that's who we are."
It's inevitable over a postseason that there will be highs and lows, Cleveland goaltender Jet Greaves said.
"The biggest thing is controlling what you control and doing what makes you successful each night," the 23-year-old AHL All-Star said.
Greaves, a highly touted Columbus Blue Jackets prospect who owns the Monsters record in both single-season and all-time career wins, put in a terrific shift on Saturday. He made 33 saves on 34 shots, including a dazzling series of desperation saves after losing his stick in the game's final minutes.
"I try to stay focused and keep my emotions controlled but it's a fun game to play and those moments are special," Greaves said. "These fans are the best fans in the American Hockey League and that was a really cool moment for sure."
Vogelhuber is preaching confidence ahead of a must-win Game 6 on the road Monday night. After losing the first two games in Hershey, forcing a decisive Game 7 is daunting.
Greaves said staring down multiple elimination games is a lot of pressure, but the team should enjoy the opportunity.
"Pressure can burst a pipe, pressure can make diamonds," Greaves said.
