Game Preview: Monsters at IceHogs 2/23
Feb 23, 2021In the second of four meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Rockford IceHogs, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, on Tuesday with full coverage, live from BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, IL, underway at 7:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 AM “The Gambler”, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 7-3 road win over the Rockford IceHogs on Monday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 1-2-1-0 on the season. With three points, the Monsters currently rank fifth in the Central Division standings and 19th league-wide. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (2-3-5), C Zac Dalpe (3-1-4), and LW Nathan Gerbe (2-2-4).
ICEHOGS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-7 home loss to the Cleveland Monsters on Monday, the Rockford IceHogs enter tonight’s game at 0-5-1-0 on the season. With one point, the IceHogs currently rank sixth in the Central Division standings and 27th league-wide. Rockford is currently led in scoring by F Brad Morrison (3-1-4), RW Chris Wilkie (3-1-4), and LW Mitchell Fossier (1-2-3).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Tuesday marks the second of four meetings between the Monsters and IceHogs this season (1-0-0-0) and the second of two games between the two clubs at BMO Harris Bank Center this year (1-0-0-0).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 35 Veini Vehvilainen | OVERALL |
-- |
| LAST APP. |
-- |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
-- |
|
| ON THE ROAD | -- | |
| 39 Brad Thiessen | OVERALL | 4 GP, (1-2-1), 0 SO, 3.28 GAA, .896 S% |
| LAST APP. |
(29/32) in 7-3 W at RFD 2/22/21 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 3.00 GAA, .906 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 2 GP, (1-0-1), 0 SO, 2.48 GAA, .919 S% |
ICEHOGS GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Cale Morris | OVERALL | 1 GP, (0-0-0), 0 SO, 3.01 GAA, .929 S% |
| LAST APP. | (13/14) in 3-7 L vs CLE 2/22/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-0-0), 0 SO, 3.01 GAA, .929 S% | |
| AT HOME | 1 GP, (0-0-0), 0 SO, 3.01 GAA, .929 S% | |
| 90 Matt Tomkins | OVERALL | 5 GP, (0-4-1), 0 SO, 4.06 GAA, .881 S% |
| LAST APP. | (17/23) in first 40:00 of 3-7 L vs CLE 2/22/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 9.00 GAA, .739 S% |
|
| AT HOME | 4 GP, (0-4-0), 0 SO, 4.42 GAA, .870 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- CRACKING THE LINEUP: Three players made their season debuts for Cleveland on Monday, including rookie D Connor McDonald, rookie RW Carson Meyer, and veteran LW Brett Gallant. Monday’s game was the first AHL
- DAZZLING DEBUT: Monday’s 7-3 road win over Rockford saw Monsters rookie RW Carson Meyer seize the spotlight, as the Columbus-area native and former Ohio State Buckeye posted a pair of goals in his first professional game.
- TERRIFIC TREY: Monsters RW Trey Fix-Wolansky led the way for Cleveland in Monday’s 7-3 road win over Rockford, posting the game-winning power-play goal early in the second period, along with a pair of assists.