AHL Playoffs: Semifinals Game 3 Preview | Cleveland Monsters vs. Belleville Senators | 5/8/2024

Photo by Ottawa Citizen

The Cleveland Monsters and the Belleville Senators are preparing for a highly anticipated Game 3 of the North Division Semifinals, which will take place on Wednesday night at 7:00 PM ET in Cleveland, Ohio. The AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Monsters, will be facing off against the Ottawa Senators’ AHL affiliate, the Senators, in a crucial matchup that will play a factor in who moves on to the next round of the 5-game series. Currently, the series is tied at 1-1, making Game 3 a pivotal moment for both teams.

The Senators won Game 1 with a final score of 2-1, where the second period proved to be the game’s main decider. All 3 goals of the game were scored in the second period, and the Belleville goaltender Mags Sogaard was exceptional, allowing only 1 goal. The Monsters, on the other hand, won Game 2 4-3 in an overtime thriller on Friday night. Cole Clayton scored the game-winning goal, sending the Monsters home with a chance to win the next two games and take the series. The Monsters will be feeding off the energy at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse for these final games, so the Senators will have to continue their shutdown defense and goaltending like Game 1 if they want to have a chance at victory. As the series is so evenly matched, it’s anyone’s game, and fans of both teams are eagerly anticipating what promises to be a thrilling matchup.

Players to Watch (Cleveland Monsters):
Cole Clayton – Game-Winning Goal in Overtime (Game 2, Round 2) – provides depth scoring
Jet Greaves – 36/39 Saves (Game 2, Round 2), called up to the Columbus Blue Jackets during regular-season
Josh Dunne – 2 Goals in 2 Games (2024 Calder Cup Playoffs)

Players to Watch (Belleville Senators):
Mads Sogaard – 3-2 record, 0.903 Save Percentage, 13 GA in 5 Games Played (2024 Calder Cup Playoffs) – 31/32 Saves (Game 1, Round 2)
Garret Pilon- 3 Goals, 2 Assists (2024 Calder Cup Playoffs)
Stephen Halliday – 1 Goal, 4 Assists (2024 Calder Cup Playoffs)

Where to Listen/Watch:
Cleveland Monsters (Home Audio) – 1350 AM Cleveland The Gambler
Belleville Senators (Away Audio) – Belleville Senators Entertainment Network
Watch – AHL TV

Series Schedule:

AHL North Division Semifinals Series Schedule

ITR 41: Stanley Cup Final – The Rematch Inside The Rink

Join Chris and Conrad as they discuss the AHL Calder Cup Final, the Stanley Cup Rematch between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers, and the drama taking place in Dallas. All this and much more!
  1. ITR 41: Stanley Cup Final – The Rematch
  2. ITR 40: Headed For A Repeat?
  3. ITR 39: Conference Finals
  4. ITR 38: Quenneville is a Duck
  5. ITR 37: Round Two

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Matthew Buhrmann

Covering Cincinnati Cyclones l Student @uofcincy l @Mbuhrmann61 on X

Leave a Reply

AHL & ECHL: 2024–25 Teddy Bear Toss Champions

The annual Teddy Bear Toss had once again united fans, players, and hockey communities across the ECHL and AHL in a shared mission: delivering warmth, comfort, and joy to children and families in need. With thousands of stuffed animals raining down onto the ice after each team’s first goal, the 2024–25 season’s tosses brought in […]

Read More
AHL Playoff Preview: Abbotsford Canucks at Texas Stars with Line Combinations 6/4/2025

AHL Playoff Preview: Abbotsford Canucks at Texas Stars with Line Combinations 6/4/2025

AHL Playoff Preview: Abbotsford Canucks at Texas Stars with Line Combinations 6/4/2025

Read More
Charlotte Checkers Advance to Calder Cup Playoffs

Charlotte Checkers Advance to Calder Cup Finals

Charlotte Checkers Advance to Calder Cup Playoffs

Read More