Game Preview: Monsters vs. Checkers 03/25

Mar 25, 2022

In the third 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 Charlotte Checkers, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Florida Panthers and Seattle Kraken, on Friday with full coverage, live from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, underway at 7:00 pm on Bally Sports Great Lakes, FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.

 

MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 0-4 road loss to the Syracuse Crunch on Wednesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 22-25-8-4 on the season. With a .475 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 (9-28-37), LW Tyler Angle (8-22-30), and C Brendan Gaunce (16-12-28).

 

CHECKERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-1 home shootout win over the Providence Bruins on Sunday, the Charlotte Checkers enter tonight’s game at 34-22-4-0 on the season. With a .600 points percentage, the Checkers currently rank third in the Atlantic Division standings and fourth in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte is currently led in scoring by RW Kole Lind (17-18-35), RW Cole Schwindt (16-19-35), and C Alexander True (13-22-35).

 

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the third of four meetings between the Monsters and Checkers this season [(1-1-0-0), -1 goal differential (8/9)] and the first of two games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year.

MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:

31 Jet Greaves	OVERALL	23 GP, (10-8-2), 0 SO, 2.73 GAA, .910 S%
	LAST APP	(37/41) in 0-4 L at SYR 3/23/22
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	--
	AT HOME	9 GP, (4-3-1), 0 SO, 2.68 GAA, .907 S%
33 Cam Johnson	OVERALL	10 GP, (3-4-2), 0 SO, 3.10 GAA, .875 S%
	LAST APP	(25/32) in 5-8 L vs TOR 3/6/22
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 3.90 GAA, .852 S%
	AT HOME	5 GP, (1-3-1), 0 SO, 3.42 GAA, .850 S%

CHECKERS GOALTENDERS:

31 Christopher Gibson	OVERALL	9 GP, (4-5-0), 1 SO, 3.48 GAA, .888 S%
	LAST APP.	(24/29) in 2-5 L vs UTI 11/28/21
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	--
	ON THE ROAD	6 GP, (2-4-0), 1 SO, 3.39 GAA, .894 S%
34 Antoine Bibeau	OVERALL	10 GP, (4-1-2), 0 SO, 2.48 GAA, .905 S%
	LAST APP.	(36/37) in 2-1 SOW vs PRO 3/20/22
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	--
	ON THE ROAD	5 GP, (3-0-0), 0 SO, 2.45 GAA, .900 S%
35 Joey Daccord	OVERALL	26 GP, (14-9-2), 0 SO, 2.35 GAA, .925 S%
	LAST APP.	(38/40) in 3-2 SOW vs PRO 3/19/22
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	1 GP, (0-0-1), 0 SO, 5.59 GAA, .867 S%
	ON THE ROAD	13 GP, (6-6-0), 0 SO, 2.38 GAA, .924 S%

KEYS TO SUCCESS:

• JOLTIN’ JAKE: Monsters D Jake Christiansen currently ranks among the AHL’s defensive leaders in points (37, 4th), goals (9, T4th), shorthanded assists (3, T2nd), shorthanded points (3, T2nd), and shots on goal (137, 2nd). Christiansen is also scoring at a point per game pace vs. Charlotte this season (2 GP, 0-2-2) and a better than point per game pace in his last ten appearances (3-8-11).
• SCOTTY’S SUCCESS: Cleveland C Justin Scott is scoring at a point per game pace vs. Charlotte this season (2 GP, 1-1-2) and in his last five appearances (1-4-5).
• FRESH FACE: On Thursday, the signed forward Owen Sillinger to a pro tryout (PTO) contract for the remainder of 2021-22 and an AHL contract for the 2022-23 campaign. This season, Sillinger posted 17-30-47 with 41 penalty minutes and a +10 rating in 39 appearances for Bemidji State University while serving as the Beavers’ captain.