Game Preview: Monsters vs. Americans 2/14
Feb 14, 2023In the fourth 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 Rochester Americans, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, on Tuesday with full coverage, live from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, underway at 7:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-2 home win over the Belleville Senators on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 19-20-3-2 on the season. With 43 standings points, the Monsters currently rank sixth in the North Division standings and 14th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (21-26-47), RW Emil Bemstrom (14-17-31), and C Justin Richards (8-21-29).
AMERICANS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-1 road win over the Syracuse Crunch on Saturday, the Rochester Americans enter tonight’s game at 22-18-2-1 on the season. With 47 standings points, the Americans currently rank fifth in the North Division standings and tenth in the Eastern Conference. Rochester is currently led in scoring by C Brandon Biro (9-21-30), LW Lukas Rousek (10-19-29), and RW Linus Weissbach (13-15-28).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Tuesday marks the fourth of eight meetings between the Monsters and Americans this season (2-0-1-0, +1 goal differential [13/12]) and the third of four games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year (1-0-1-0, even goal differential [7/7]).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Pavel Cajan | OVERALL | 16 GP, (6-7-2), 0 SO, 3.39 GAA, .879 S% |
| LAST APP |
(21/23) in 3-2 W vs BEL 2/11/23 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-0-1), 0 SO, 3.77 GAA, .852 S% | |
| AT HOME |
9 GP, (2-5-1), 0 SO, 3.61 GAA, .868 S% |
|
| 40 Daniil Tarasov | OVERALL | 6 GP, (3-3-0), 0 SO, 4.27 GAA, .868 S% |
| LAST APP |
(33/35) in 5-2 W at CLT 1/22/23 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 4.94 GAA, .808 S% |
|
| AT HOME | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.00 GAA, .938 S% | |
| 73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL |
23 GP, (9-9-3), 0 SO, 3.48 GAA, .890 S% |
| LAST APP | (28/30) in 6-2 W vs BEL 2/10/ | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 3.00 GAA, .906 S% |
|
| AT HOME | 13 GP, (7-5-1), 0 SO, 3.07 GAA, .901 S% |
AMERICANS GOALTENDERS:
| 29 Michael Houser | OVERALL | 11 GP, (4-5-0), 0 SO, 3.25 GAA, .892 S% |
| LAST APP. | (23/27) in 5-4 OTW at BEL 2/4/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 4.24 GAA, .868 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 8 GP, (3-4-0), 0 SO, 3.23 GAA, .894 S% | |
| 47 Malcom Subban | OVERALL |
20 GP, (11-8-1), 1 SO, 2.90 GAA, .907 S% |
| LAST APP. | (32/33) in 4-1 W at SYR 2/11/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.77 GAA, .912 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 8 GP, (6-1-1), 1 SO, 2.09 GAA, .934 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- TERRIFIC TREY: Cleveland RW Trey Fix-Wolansky currently ranks among the AHL’s top-ten in points (47, 7th), goals (21, T6th), power-play goals (8, T8th), and shots (137, 10th). Fix-Wolansky also has four points to his credit (2G, 2A) in one appearance vs. Rochester this season and is riding a three-game point streak (2-3-5), a two-game goal streak (2), and a three-game assist streak (3).
- FANTASTIC FONSTAD: Monsters LW Cole Fonstad currently ranks in the AHL’s top-ten in game-winning goals this season (4, T7th) and is scoring at a better than point per game pace vs. Rochester this year (3 GP, 0-4-4). Fonstad is also riding a three-game point streak (2-2-4) and a two-game goal streak (2).
- JOLTIN’ JAKE: Monsters D Jake Christiansen is currently riding a two-game point streak (2-3-5) and a two-game goal streak (2).