Down But Not Out: Cleveland Returns Home With 0-2 Deficit In Conference Finals

HERSHEY, Pa. - Following back-to-back overtime losses last week in Hershey to kick off the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cleveland Monsters return home for Games 3, 4 and (if necessary) 5 down 0-2 in the best-of-seven series - looking to make the most of the home ice advantage to send this series the distance.

"It's just tough for those guys. They worked so hard. There's not a lot I would have changed in the second half of [Game 2] especially," Monsters head coach Trent Vogelhuber said after Saturday's overtime loss. "I thought our play was really solid in the second half of that game. It happens, right? You just got to regroup emotionally and know that you did what you could. Just disappointed for them more than anything, but it's not a two-game series."

Despite the two losses to begin the series, the Monsters did not look or sound like a defeated team. After battling back in both Game 1 Thursday and Game 2 on Saturday night to force overtime, they still feel like they are in a tight series.

"I thought they probably carried a bit more of the play in the first game, and I thought it was reversed [in Game 2] which is why it's disappointing, you kind of hope you get what you deserve," Vogelhuber explained, adding," But, you know, they're a good team. And that's what they do - they capitalized on opportunities. So they're going to be happy with two wins, and ultimately, we're disappointed with two losses."

It's definitely a down, but not out mantra and mood surrounding the Monsters locker room. They were still upbeat after Saturday's Game 2 loss.

"I thought we did a lot of really good things. Yeah, I mean, it's two bounces now, and it could be a 2-0 series our way," Monsters forward Josh Dunne said following the Game 2 loss. "I think that's the way it goes sometimes, but I think we have a lot to be proud of."

The Monsters' fourth line of Dunne, Justin Pearson and Alex Whelan has really upped the ante in the postseason. Heading into Tuesday's Game 3, the trio has tallied nine of the team's 28 goals in the postseason.

"I've said it a lot now, but Pearson and Whelan, like, they're unbelievable linemates. They work so hard," Dunne said of his companions on his line. "We know it's battle, it's compete. It's helping each other supporting each other. We've been able to play a lot with each other, so we've built chemistry now and like I said, I think it's just hard work and the simplicity of our our game."

Their backs aren't up against the wall yet, but avoiding a 3-0 deficit makes Tuesday's Game 3 essentially a must-win. Still, Vogelhuber, Dunne and the Monsters don't seem fazed.

"I love the playoffs because each game is mutually exclusive. It's not that we're on a two-game losing streak. That doesn't matter. You just play the game in front of you, and you go," Vogelhuber said of the approach to Tuesday night's Game 3 as the series shifts to Cleveland. "We're going to keep going until they tell us we're not playing anymore. And that's all it is. Our group loves each other. We love being around each other, so any opportunity we get to be around each other longer we're going to take advantage of that - regardless of the outcome."

This isn't exactly unfamiliar territory for Cleveland, who despite their regular season successes faced quite a bit of adversity along the way.

Down two games to none to the AHL's best team in the regular season - and defending Calder Cup champions - this will obviously be their biggest test yet. And that test begins with Tuesday night's Game 3 on home ice at the RocketMortgage Fieldhouse.

"We don't quit. We stick together. We're going to work. Good or bad, we're just going to go. And I think that's been the story all year," Vogelhuber said. "We've been in a ton of one-goal games. We've come back when we've have been down. Our team is just going to play. That's why I'm not worried about them for the next game."

Heading into Game 3 in front of the home fans, the Monsters hope to flip the script and get into the win column.

"We showed them that this is going to be a series, and now we're going back to our barn so we're excited," Dunne said. "And I think we're gonna turn the page pretty quickly and just get ready for [Game 3]."