'Win One Game': Bears, Monsters Set To Battle In Game 7

HERSHEY, Pa. - Moments like these are why we love the game.

The Cleveland Monsters' storybook run in the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs has at least one more page yet to be written, as they've rattled off three straight wins over the Hershey Bears - attempting to become just the fourth team in AHL history to overcome a 0-3 series deficit when the puck drops for Game 7 Wednesday night.

The message from head coach Trent Vogelhuber is simple, and the same message he's been preaching to his team since the lopsided loss in Game 3 of the series last week.

"We told our team before Game 4: 'Our team can beat anybody in one game'," Vogelhuber said. "And that's all you gotta do. You got to win one game. And you got to win one game. And now we got to win one game. And it's... we've been doing it here for the last few. So, [I'm] very proud of them, but like I said, not shocking if you've been with this group all year."

The last time an AHL team overcame an 0-3 series deficit to win and advance was back in 2013 when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defeated the Providence Bruins in a reverse sweep - with the final two wins of that series for the Penguins coming on the road.

Oddly enough, the Penguins' goaltender during that history-making series win was Brad Thiessen - who is now with the Cleveland Monsters organization as a goalie development coach.

Other than 2013, the 1989 Hershey Bears lost to Adirondack in seven games after the Bears had taken the first three games of that series. Adirondack went on to win the Calder Cup that year.

The only other time in AHL history that the reverse sweep was completed was all the way back in 1960 when the Rochester Americans overcame the 0-3 hole and defeated the Cleveland Barons in seven games.

"Proud, but not surprised," Vogelhuber said after his team's OT win Monday night forced the decisive Game 7. "I mean, you can't guarantee results, [but] I knew I could guarantee we were going to play. I just know how they are and why we're in this position."

There's still work to be done for the Monsters to complete the series comeback and re-write the AHL record books, but nothing changes for Cleveland as puck drop approaches for Wednesday's Game 7.

"I think it's just all the things that Trent [Vogelhuber] has taught us throughout the whole season. The ups and downs, trying to stay even keeled," defenseman Jake Christiansen said. "I think you can't go through that without without going through and having tough situations like that. And I think he's done a great job with that. And yeah, we had a really good bench after going down with 49 seconds left. So I think hats off to the guys, the coaching staff, everybody. I mean, I think we've we've learned a lot and it's helping us."

The intensity will only continue to build in the final game of the Eastern Conference Finals.

For one team, it will be a monumental win to advance to the Calder Cup Finals - and the opportunity to play for a championship.

For the other team, it will be a bitter defeat that will leave those players left to wonder what could have been.

No matter the outcome, InsideAHLHockey.com will have full coverage of tonight's Game 7 live from Giant Center - complete with pre-game insights, in-game updates plus a full recap of the contest along with post-game reaction from players and coaches from both teams.

"I think our whole thing is just been try to try to win one game," Christiansen said of the Monsters' mindset heading into tonight's decisive Game 7. "So we're gonna stick to all of those things that we've been working on to try to win a game. And so I think that we want to stick to our structure, play the way we can and try to just get one win."