Monsters open 2020-21 season against Amerks
In the first of six meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Rochester Americans, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, on Friday with full coverage, live from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, underway at 7:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 AM “The Gambler”, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: The Cleveland Monsters finished the 2019-20 AHL season with a record of 24-31-5-2 through 62 of 76 scheduled contests. With 55 points, Cleveland finished the campaign in eighth place in the North Division standings and in 15th place in the Eastern Conference. The Monsters’ top scorers last season were D Adam Clendening (7-34-41), C Ryan MacInnis (7-23-30), and LW Stefan Matteau (12-16-28).
AMERICANS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-3 home overtime win over the Syracuse Crunch on Wednesday, the Rochester Americans enter tonight’s game at 1-1-0-0 on the season. With two points, the Americans currently rank sixth in the North Division standings and 12th league-wide. Rochester is currently led in scoring by D Oskari Laaksonen (0-3-3), LW Remi Elie (2-0-2), and C Arttu Ruotsalainen (1-1-2).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the first of six meetings between the Monsters and Americans this season and the first of three games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 34 Cody Karpinski | OVERALL | -- |
| LAST APP. | -- | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | -- | |
| 39 Brad Thiessen | OVERALL | -- |
| LAST APP. | -- | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | -- |
AMERICANS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | OVERALL | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.93 GAA, .870 S% |
| LAST APP. | (20/23) in 4-3 OTW vs. SYR 2/10/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | -- | |
| 30 Dustin Tokarski | OVERALL | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 3.02 GAA, .912 S% |
| LAST APP. | (31/34) in 2-3 L vs. UTI 2/5/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | -- |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- LEADERSHIP GROUP: In 2020-21, veteran forward Zac Dalpe will wear the captain’s “C” for the Monsters for the second consecutive season while veteran defenseman Dillon Simpson and fifth-year forward Justin Scott will serve as alternate captains.
- THE LAST TIME: Cleveland’s last game was a 3-2 OT loss at Charlotte on 3/11/20 (338 days ago), while the team’s last home game was a 5-1 loss to Laval on 3/6/20 (343 days ago). The Monsters’ last win was a 3-2 OT victory at Rochester on 2/22/20 (356 days ago), while the club’s last home win was a 6-2 victory over Grand Rapids on 2/11/20 (one year, two days ago).
- MULTIPLE MILESTONES: Cleveland C Zac Dalpe currently ranks eighth in Monsters franchise history in points (106), just one away from seventh place (107, Sonny Milano) and three points from sixth place (109, Ryan Stoa) in club history. Dalpe’s 19 power-play goals in a Monsters uniform additionally rank second-most in franchise history, just one extra-man score from tying for the all-time franchise record (20, Andrew Agozzino).
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