After going to extra time in back-to-back video games in opposition to the Toronto Marlies, the Cleveland Monsters welcomed some relaxation.
The Monsters closed out their best-of-three first-round sequence with a double-overtime win at Coca-Cola Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. Had the sequence gone to a 3rd sport, it will have necessitated the Monsters enjoying Sunday afternoon as nicely. With the Laval Rocket up subsequent, any further break day is a bonus.
“You may see the vitality from each groups happening,” Monsters head coach Trent Vogelhuber said after the series-clinching win.
Heading into the subsequent spherical in opposition to the regular-season champion Rocket, Vogelhuber is aware of his crew will probably be prepared.
“It’s an ideal problem, an ideal alternative for us. Two actually good environments for playoff hockey. I can’t wait.”
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms have the duty of attempting to knock off the back-to-back defending Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears.
However the Phantoms will achieve this coming from a place of respect even within a heated in-state rivalry between long-time adversaries.
“I do know one factor with Hershey,” Phantoms head coach Ian Laperriere said this week. “They compete. All of them play the identical approach. All of them play to win. Particularly presently of the 12 months, they make successful performs.
“That’s a crew I look as much as. I like the best way he (Hershey head coach Todd Nelson) coaches his crew and I’ve received loads of respect for that coach and that crew.”
Laperriere additionally pointed to Hershey’s well-established potential to play a affected person, composed sport after which leap on an opposing mistake. Managing the puck correctly will probably be a key message to his gamers.
“Our gamers respect their gamers, too, simply the best way they play,” Laperriere continued, “and to beat them, we’re going to need to be disciplined and handle the puck like they may.”
― with information from Patrick Williams
