Eastern Conference Finals (Game 4) – Cleveland Monsters vs Hershey Bears
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Before we get into the good stuff, let’s start from the beginning. So, I decided I was going to go to this game a little late. I decided, ya know what, I have season tickets for a reason, and even though (not going to lie here) it’s June, The Monsters are down in the series 3-0, and I’m a little burnt out on Hockey for this year (again, IT’S JUNE, and I’ve been going to every game all season since October), and I’m gonna have fun DANGNABBIT – Plus, worst comes to worst, if Hershey Wins, I get to see the Eastern Conference trophy ceremony!
All that in mind, mixed with the fact the season tickets holders were not granted parking passes in our accounts, due to the neighboring Guardians also playing at home earlier in the day (the pros trump the minors, sadly……even though the two games were hours apart *confused face*) means I had to find parking downtown, last minute. well, luckily, Cleveland is a city with a random mall on the edge of it, that owns multiple parking lots/garages, AND houses one of the regions transit stations (the city subway) Which ALSO come with parking spaces for the marketed “Park n’ Ride” use. Luckily (x2), I was able to get a pass in one of those lots, actually DISCOUNTED because I pre-purchased (which is a huge deal, because for some Guardians games, parking can rocket up to $112 a space).
So I made my way into the city, and honestly vary easily found my garage, with minimal traffic since it was away from the arena where everyone was driving toward in order to hopefully find an open lot. buuuuuuuuuuut that’s where the confusion started. Honestly, I haven’t ridden the RTA, or been to Tower City (the mall) since….my 12th birthday actually, to be exact, because we went to an old Arena Football League Cleveland Gladiators game to celebrate. Basically, I was wondering around both the parking lot, the building, and I think even the regional post office building (might I add, with a young couple also going to the game, so I wasn’t the only idiot here) for what felt like 45 minutes to an hour (it was 14 minutes). I straight up could not figure out how to get back up to the main level the road was on, or find the old tunnel that you could use to get to the arena/baseball stadium I KNEW existed somewhere.
Low and behold, I did end up just going into the closed mall via elevator, and walked the edge till I found the movie theater, then the signs for the bridge to the arena – and in case you were wondering, no, the couple did not hang with me, thus probably never escaped. ANYWAY, now that I found my way to the arena, I must say, the Monsters are constantly pushing the envelope on the amazing branding, theming, and marketing they are putting out. the video they had playing as you walked through the 180 degree video board tunnel had me slamming my head through the wall beyond hyped up and ready to lace up the skates and go out there and beat the Bears myself.
The Monsters came out attacking this time. Usually, that’s how they start their game, but for some reason it just hasn’t been happening this series. They netted one early to take a 1-0 Lead, but the Bears matched that with one late, tying it 1-1 at the end of the first. One thing I absolutely love about the Monsters new branding, is the slogan “Black and Blue Hockey”, referring to the roughness of the sport, and the style this era of the franchise consistently competes, which is evident by the amount of scrums every time the whistle blows, and the constant booming rattle of the boards every time there’s a free puck (or even when there isn’t).
the second period brought another tally for the Monsters, sneaking one behind (Hershey’s Goaltender) Hunter Shepard’s back, making the score 2-1 in favor of the Monsters, which is how the period would end. Now, some would say the Monsters’ change of luck this game was because of the apparent change of attack when eyeing where to place shots on the almost immovable Shep, but I for one, believe it was because Gumby was in attendance (view the full photo gallery above for the proof).
The third period came with just as much nail biting action as the first two overtime games of this series did. With the Monsters scoring again, but the Bears returning the favor almost immediately. Luckily, even with a late six on four attack, the Bears were never able to even it again, making the final score 3-2 in favor of the Monsters, giving them their first win of the series, making the series tally 3-1, still in favor of Hershey.
Immediately following the victory, just like all home post season victories, the Monsters took part in what has to be my absolute all time favorite ceremony in all of sports – the X’ing out of another number on the new “Countdown to the Cup” board installed prior to the start of every Monsters postseason run, officially making it 7 more wins needed in order to hoist the Calder Cup! Today’s X was pinned by Number 21 – josh Dunne, who put that first tally on the Board for the team Early in the First Period. The Next game (game 5) between the Bears and Monsters, will again be in Cleveland, at the ROMOFEHO (Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse) on Saturday, June 8th at 7:00 PM EDT – I believe on the NHL Network, along with, of course, AHL TV.
Chewing on the Wire Media 
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