Game Preview: Monsters at Americans 03/18

Mar 18, 2022

In the fifth of ten meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, AHL 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 Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, NY, underway at 7:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.

 

MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-4 home overtime loss to the Rockford IceHogs on Tuesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 21-23-7-4 on the season. With a .482 points percentage, the Monsters currently rank seventh in the North Division standings and 14th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by D Jake Christiansen (8-26-34), C Brendan Gaunce (16-12-28), and LW Tyler Angle (7-21-28).

 

AMERICANS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-4 road overtime loss to the Syracuse Crunch on Sunday, the Rochester Americans enter tonight’s game at 28-23-4-2 on the season. With a .544 points percentage, the Americans currently rank sixth in the North Division standings and 11th in the Eastern Conference. Rochester is currently led in scoring by RW JJ Peterka (14-34-48), LW Michael Mersch (19-20-39), and RW Jack Quinn (19-19-38).

 

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the fifth of ten meetings between the Monsters and Americans this season [(2-2-0-0), -2 goal differential (12/14)] and the third of five games between the two clubs at Blue Cross Arena this year [(1-1-0-0), -3 goal differential (4/7)].

MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:

31 Jet Greaves	OVERALL	20 GP, (9-6-2), 0 SO, 2.58 GAA, .914 S%
	LAST APP	(28/32) in 3-4 OTL vs RFD 3/15/22
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 3.00 GAA, .912 S%
	ON THE ROAD	11 GP, (5-3-1), 0 SO, 3.50 GAA, .920 S%
35 Jean-Francois Berube	OVERALL	18 GP, (4-10-4), 1 SO, 3.52 GAA, .885 S%
	LAST APP	(21/27) in 1-6 L at GR 3/11/22
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	2 GP, (0-2-0), 0 SO, 3.56 GAA, .857 S%
	ON THE ROAD	10 GP, (3-5-2), 1 SO, 3.40 GAA, .889 S%

AMERICANS GOALTENDERS:

1 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	OVERALL	22 GP, (9-11-2), 1 SO, 3.38 GAA, .897 S%
	LAST APP.	(40/44) in 3-4 OTL at SYR 3/13/22
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	2 GP, (1-1-0), 1 SO, 2.02 GAA, .947 S%
	AT HOME	9 GP, (3-6-0), 1 SO, 3.10 GAA, .899 S%
80 Aaron Dell	OVERALL	15 GP, (9-4-1), 0 SO, 2.87 GAA, .909 S%
	LAST APP.	(33/35) in 3-2 W at UTI 3/12/22
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	--
	AT HOME	8 GP, (4-3-0), 0 SO, 2.96 GAA, .909 S%

KEYS TO SUCCESS:

• JOLTIN’ JAKE: Monsters D Jake Christiansen is currently riding a six-game point streak (2-6-8) and a six-game assist streak (6), tied for the AHL’s longest such active streak. Christiansen also ranks among the league’s defensive leaders in points (34, T6th) and shots on goal (126, 2nd) this season.
• TERRIFIC TYLER: Cleveland C Tyler Sikura is scoring at a better than point per game pace in his last six appearances (5-2-7) and is riding a two-game goal streak (3).
• HELPING HAND: Monsters C Cole Cassels has two assists in his last two games, six in his last five, 11 in his last ten, and 13 in his last 12 outings.