The Monsters will face off against the defending Calder Cup champions
The Cleveland Monsters swept the Syracuse Crunch in three games to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they will face off against the Hershey Bears.
Having entered the playoffs on a first-round bye (identical to the Bears), the Monsters have only lost one game in the playoffs so far - that loss coming against the Belleville Senators.
With the first game of the North Division Finals taking place May 16, it was a close affair between both teams. The first two periods saw no goals and the shots were pretty much identical.
The Monsters ended up scoring the only goal of the game less than five minutes into the third period, off the stick of Justin Pearson.
Although the Crunch led in the shot department at the end of the game, the Monsters took Game 1 by a score of 1-0.
With Game 2 taking place May 18, the Crunch got off on the right foot, scoring the first goal of the game courtesy of Devante Stephens on the power play.
Although each team only collected five shots on goal in the first, the Monsters were able to punch back with two goals of their own from Billy Sweezey and Hunter McKown.
Cleveland outplayed the Crunch in the second period but Syracuse was able to hold them off, heading into the third still down by one.
Putting up a valiant effort, the Crunch couldn't find the back of the net. The Monsters were able to extend their lead off a Jakub Zboril goal just over four minutes into the third and added an empty netter to take Game 2 by a score of 4-1.
With a do or die Game 3 on Wednesday, the Crunch and Monsters battled it out in the highest scoring game of the series.
The Monsters broke through first but the Crunch came right back with a goal of their own.
Similar to the first, the Monsters scored to take the lead before the Crunch were able to equalize the game with a Cole Koepke goal. To add to their momentum, the Crunch scored just over a minute later to take the lead into the intermission.
In a must-win third period, the Crunch weren't able to hold on. Alex Whelan tied the game 1:02 into the third and the Monsters took the lead less than nine minutes later thanks to Josh Dunne.
While the Crunch tied it off an Alex Barre-Boulet goal, Luca Del Bel Belluz came up clutch with just over two minutes to go in the third.
The Monsters added an empty netter to make it 6-4, sealing the game and series.
The Monsters will take on the Hershey Bears in Game 1 on May 30.
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