Monsters defeat Marlies on penalties, 3-2

Cleveland Monsters win in a shootout at Rocket Arena

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:55pm

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The Cleveland Monsters defeated the Toronto Marlies 3-2 in a shootout on Tuesday night at Rocket Arena. The Monsters are now 23-14-5-1 on the season and in second place in the AHL's North Division standings. The game was tied 2-2 after regulation and overtime, with the Monsters scoring the game-winning goal in the fifth round of the shootout.

Why it matters

The Monsters' victory over the Marlies keeps them in contention for a top spot in the AHL's North Division. The shootout win also demonstrates the Monsters' ability to win close games and compete with one of the top teams in their division.

The details

Toronto's Jacob Quillan scored the only goal of the first period to give the Marlies a 1-0 lead. The Marlies extended their lead to 2-0 in the third period with a goal from Luke Haymes. The Monsters then rallied, with Luca Del Bel Belluz scoring on the power play and Zach Aston-Reese netting the game-tying goal to send the game to overtime. After a scoreless overtime, Jack Williams scored the game-winning goal for the Monsters in the fifth round of the shootout.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 4, 2026.
  • The first period ended with the Marlies leading 1-0.
  • The Marlies extended their lead to 2-0 in the third period at 3:18.
  • The Monsters scored their first goal on the power play at 7:58 of the third period.
  • The game-tying goal was scored by the Monsters at 13:58 of the third period.

The players

Cleveland Monsters

The Cleveland Monsters are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) and the top minor league affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Toronto Marlies

The Toronto Marlies are a professional ice hockey team in the AHL and the top minor league affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Jack Williams

A forward for the Cleveland Monsters who scored the game-winning goal in the shootout.

Ivan Fedotov

The goaltender for the Cleveland Monsters who made 22 saves to earn the win.

Dennis Hildeby

The goaltender for the Toronto Marlies who made 31 saves in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“Our guys showed a lot of heart to come back and force overtime. Winning in the shootout is always exciting, and it keeps us in the hunt for the division title.”

— John Madden, Head Coach, Cleveland Monsters (prohockeynews.com)

“We let this one slip away. We had the lead late but couldn't hold on. Credit to the Monsters for battling back and finding a way to win in the shootout.”

— Greg Moore, Head Coach, Toronto Marlies (prohockeynews.com)

What’s next

The Monsters will look to build on this shootout victory as they continue their push for the top spot in the AHL's North Division. Their next game is on Friday, February 7th against the Rochester Americans.

The takeaway

The Monsters' comeback win in a tight, back-and-forth game against a divisional rival demonstrates their resilience and ability to win close games. This result keeps them firmly in the hunt for the North Division title as the AHL season enters the home stretch.