CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Monsters are one series away from playing for a Calder Cup title.
But first, they'll have to make it past the Hershey Bears in the Eastern Conference Finals, which start in Hershey on Thursday night at 7 p.m. After the first two games in Chocolate Town, the seven-game series heads to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for games three and four on June 4 and 6. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased HERE.
Here's everything you need to know about the series:
2024 Calder Cup Eastern Conference Finals Schedule
Game 1 - Bears win 5-4 (OT)
- Thursday, May 30
- 7 p.m.
- GIANT Center - Hershey, Penn.
The Monsters fought back from a 4-2 deficit in the final minutes to miraculously tie the game on goals by Trey Fix-Wolansky and David Jiricek. Unfortunately, Mike Vecchione game the Bears the victory less than eight minutes into overtime. Jiricek finished the night with three points.
Game 2 - Bears win 3-2 (OT)
- Saturday, June 1
- 7 p.m.
- GIANT Center
Once again, David Jiricek tied the game with a goal as time wound down on regulation, but this time it was Pierrick Dubé with the overtime winner for the Bears. Josh Dunne also scored for Cleveland.
Game 3 - Bears win 6-2
- Tuesday, June 4
- 7 p.m.
- Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
The Monsters came back from 2-0 down to tie the game with a quick pair of second-period goals from Alex Whelan and Trey Fix-Wolansky. The Bears, however, unleashed a flurry of three goals in the final minutes of the period to take an insurmountable lead into intermission before adding an empty-netter in the third.
Game 4 - Monsters win 3-2
- Thursday, June 6
- 7 p.m.
- Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Jake Gaudet scored the winning goal and notched an assist, and goals from Josh Dunne and Roman Ahcan helped the Monsters hang on to avoid elimination and force Game 5 at home.
Game 5 - Monsters win 5-1
- Saturday, June 8
- 7 p.m.
- Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Cleveland trailed 1-0 in the first intermission but exploded out the gate with four goals in the second frame to send the series back to Hershey. Forwards Josh Dunne and Brendan Gaunce tallied two goals each and goaltender Jet Greaves put in a stellar shift for the Monsters. He made 33 stops, including a dazzling series of desperation saves with less than two minutes in the rout.
Game 6
- Monday, June 10
- 7 p.m.
- GIANT Center
Game 7 (if necessary)
- Wednesday, June 12
- 7 p.m.
- GIANT Center
How to watch/stream
- Fans can watch all the 2024 Calder Cup Playoff action through AHLTV and listen to each game on WARF 1350 or on the free iHeartRadio app.
- Games 1 and 2 will be broadcast on WUAB-TV.
- Games 1, 2, 4 and 6 will be broadcast on WTAM 1100 AM/106.9 FM.
Giveaways
- Game 3: The first 7,500 fans on June 4 will receive a t-shirt and a rally towel
- Game 4: The first 7,500 fans on June 6 will receive a Monsters playoff rally towel
- Game 5 (if necessary): The first 7,500 fans on June 8 will also receive a playoff-themed rally towel.
Away game watch parties
All official watch parties for this series will take place at Pioneer Cleveland. Fans are encouraged to call Pioneer at 216-998-5355 to make their reservation.
Parking is available across the street from Pioneer, at the West Side Market Lot at 1979 West 25th Street, for $1 per hour after 6 p.m.
Game 1
- Thursday, May 30
- 7 p.m.
- Pioneer | 2407 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
Game 2
- Saturday, June 1
- 7 p.m.
- Pioneer | 2407 Lorain Ave.
Game 6 (if necessary)
- Monday, June 10
- 7 p.m.
- Pioneer | 2407 Lorain Ave.
Game 7 (if necessary)
- Wednesday, June 12
- 7 p.m.
- Pioneer | 2407 Lorain Ave.
2024 Monsters Playoff Collection
- Fans can purchase apparel and novelties from the 2024 Monsters Playoff Collection at Center Ice, the Cleveland Monsters' Official Team Shop inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse or online at MonstersTeamShop.com.
More information
Up-to-date information on the Monsters' playoff run can be found by clicking HERE or texting "PLAYOFFS" to 30594.
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