Monsters Monday: Playoff race heating up for Cleveland

A look at the past week on the farm for the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, including a pair of victories that have moved the Monsters to within two points of a playoff spot with 15 games remaining.

Notes

Sherwood's goal gave him 10 goals in the last 19 games and 14 goals overall with the Monsters in his first professional season.
Letestu now has points in eight of his last nine games and has a 4-7-11 line in that span.
Sherwood has been assessed a one-game suspension for a boarding call at the end of the game, while defenseman Adam Clendening is out indefinitely after taking a hit from Darren Archibald.
The Monsters continue to be without forwards Nathan Gerbe, Alex Broadhurst, Sonny Milano and Calvin Thurkauf, while Paul Bittner missed the final game of the weekend.
Cleveland
signed former Mercyhurst forward Derek Barach
on Sunday after the conclusion of the Lakers' season. A two-time captain for the Lakers, Barach had 37 points in 38 games this season.
Former Michigan State standout Greg Wolfe was signed and played in the March 8 game vs. Belleville. The 28-year-old had 48 points in 55 games for Toledo of the ECHL this season
The AHL's playoff primer updates where each team stands down the stretch along with schedules and more in a posting updated daily.
It can be accessed here.

Team leaders through 61 games

Points: Zac Dalpe 38, Mark Letestu 37, Nathan Gerbe 32, Adam Clendening 32, Alex Broadhurst 29, Paul Bittner 29
Goals: Zac Dalpe 21, Mark Letestu 17, Kole Sherwood 14, Eric Robinson 12, Vitaly Abramov 12*, Kevin Stenlund 12
Assists: Adam Clendening 28, Tommy Cross 24, Nathan Gerbe 22, Alex Broadhurst 21, Paul Bittner 20, Mark Letestu 20
FULL STATS

Standings Update

At 29-25-6-1, Cleveland remains sixth in the eight-team North Division with 65 points, just two behind Belleville and Utica, who are tied for the fourth and final playoff spot in the division.

Up Next

Wednesday, March 13 at Milwaukee, 11:30 a.m.
Friday, March 15 at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 16 at Rockford, 7 p.m.