Game Preview: Monsters at Rocket 04/07
Apr 7, 2023In the eighth of eight meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Laval Rocket, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, on Friday with full coverage, live from Place Bell in Laval, QC, underway at 7:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 1-0 road shootout win over the Belleville Senators on Wednesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 30-29-5-2 on the season. With 67 standings points, the Monsters currently rank sixth in the North Division standings and 13th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (26-41-67), C Josh Dunne (20-16-36), and D David Jiricek (6-30-36).
ROCKET PRE-SCOUT: Following a 6-4 road win over the Milwaukee Admirals on Saturday, the Laval Rocket enter tonight’s game at 29-28-7-3 on the season. With 68 standings points, the Rocket currently rank fifth in the North Division standings and 12th in the Eastern Conference. Laval is currently led in scoring by LW Anthony Richard (25-33-58), C Peter Abbandonato (11-35-46), and LW Joel Teasdale (23-15-38).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the eighth of eight meetings between the Monsters and Rocket this season (3-3-0-1, -3 goal differential [28/31]) and the fourth of four games between the two clubs at Place Bell this year (1-1-0-1, -1 goal differential [13/14]).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Pavel Cajan | OVERALL | 20 GP, (7-9-2), 0 SO, 3.52 GAA, .872 S% |
| LAST APP | (14/17) in 0-3 L vs HER 4/2/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 3.38 GAA, .897 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 9 GP, (5-3-1), 0 SO, 3.24 GAA, .886 S% | |
| 31 Nolan Lalonde | ERI (OHL) | 41 GP, (11-20-2), 1 SO, 4.10 GAA, .868 S% |
| 40 Daniil Tarasov | OVERALL | 11 GP, (5-5-0), 0 SO, 3.85 GAA, .882 S% |
| LAST APP | (16/18) in first 25:21 of 2-5 L at ROC 3/26/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD |
7 GP, (2-4-0), 0 SO, 4.89 GAA, .851 S% |
|
| 73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 39 GP, (17-14-5), 2 SO, 3.13 GAA, .898 S% |
| LAST APP | (26/26) in 1-0 W at BEL 4/5/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 4 GP, (2-1-1), 0 SO, 4.02 GAA, .889 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 18 GP, (7-6-2), 2 SO, 3.09 GAA, .898 S% |
ROCKET GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Phillippe Desrosiers | OVERALL | 2 GP, (0-1-1), 0 SO, 4.70 GAA, .836 S% |
| LAST APP. | (22/26) in 2-5 L at SPR 3/11/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | -- | |
| 39 Kevin Poulin | OVERALL | 27 GP, (11-12-3), 0 SO, 3.18 GAA, .888 S% |
| LAST APP. | (22/25) in 6-3 W at MB 3/28/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (2-1-0), 0 SO, 3.91 GAA, .864 S% | |
| AT HOME | 10 GP, (6-1-3), 0 SO, 2.51 GAA, .913 S% | |
| 71 Jakub Dobes | OSU (NCAA-BT) | 40 GP, (21-16-3), 3 SO, 2.31 GAA, .918 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- ROOKIE SENSATION: Cleveland D David Jiricek currently ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in assists (30, T5th), power-play assists (18, 1st) and power-play points (22, 3rd), and ranks among the league’s defensive leaders in power-play goals (4, T4th). Jiricek is also scoring at a better than point per game pace vs. Laval this season (6 GP, 3-4-7).
- GROUNDING THE ROCKET: Cleveland’s roster features two additional players scoring at a point per game pace or better vs. Laval this season, including D Sam Knazko (7 GP, 0-7-7) and RW Carson Meyer (2 GP, 1-4-5).
- SHOOTOUT SPECIALIST: Monsters G Jet Greaves currently ranks tied for second league-wide with four shootout victories this season.