Unsinkable Cleveland Monsters force Game 7

Cleveland Monsters force Game 7 against the Hershey Bears with more late heroics.

Your Coachella Valley Firebirds still waiting to learn who they will play for the Calder Cup this year!

In his return to the lineup after missing the last 10 games due to injury, Monster defenseman, Jake Christiansen scored 17:31 into overtime to give the Cleveland Monsters an improbable 3-2 victory over Hershey in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday night.

Photo: Tori Hartman

The Monsters are the fifth team in AHL history to send a series to a Game 7 after losing the first three games. The Eastern Conference championship will be decided on Wednesday night at Giant Center (7 ET, AHLTV, NHL Network).

For the third time in the series, Cleveland forced overtime with a tying goal late in regulation after pulling the goaltender for an extra attacker. Brendan Gaunce threw a shot to the front of the net that ricocheted in with 32.9 seconds left, making it 2-2 just 17 seconds after Joe Snively had seemingly scored the series-clinching goal for Hershey at the 19:10 mark of the third period.

Both teams had grade-A chances to win in OT, but it was the two-time AHL All-Star Christiansen who ended it on a wrister from the left point that beat Hunter Shepard for his first career postseason goal.

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