Game Preview: Monsters vs Crunch 11/19
Nov 19, 2021In the fifth 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 Syracuse Crunch, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, on Friday with full coverage, live from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, underway at 7:00 pm on Bally Sports Great Lakes, FOX Sports 1350 AM “The Gambler”, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-1 home overtime win over the Syracuse Crunch on Wednesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 6-3-1-3 on the season. With a .615 points percentage, the Monsters currently rank third in the North Division standings and fifth in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by D Jake Christiansen (3-8-11), LW Tyler Angle (1-10-11), and C Brendan Gaunce (4-3-7).
CRUNCH PRE-SCOUT: Following a 1-2 road overtime loss to the Cleveland Monsters on Wednesday, the Syracuse Crunch enter tonight’s game at 5-5-2-1 on the season. With a .500 points percentage, the Crunch currently rank sixth in the North Division standings and 12th in the Eastern Conference. Syracuse is currently led in scoring by LW C Gabriel Dumont (6-5-11), Charles Hudon (4-7-11), and D Sean Day (2-8-10).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the fifth of eight meetings between the Monsters and Crunch this season (2-1-0-1) and the fourth of four games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year (2-1-0-0). The Monsters have an overall goal differential of -1 (13/14) vs. Syracuse this season and an even head-to-head home goal differential (11/11).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 35 Jean-Francois Berube | OVERALL | 6 GP, (3-1-2), 1 SO, 2.09 GAA, .933 S% |
| LAST APP. |
(21/25) in 0-4 L at ROC 11/13/21 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 3.97 GAA, .871 S% | |
| AT HOME | 2 GP, (1-0-1), 0 SO, 2.93 GAA, .906 S% | |
| 40 Daniil Tarasov | OVERALL | 6 GP, (2-2-2), 0 SO, 3.28 GAA, .884 S% |
| LAST APP. | (21/22) in 2-1 OTW vs SYR 11/17/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (1-1-1), 0 SO, 2.62 GAA, .901 S% | |
| AT HOME | 3 GP, (1-2-0), 0 SO, 3.71 GAA, .841 S% |
CRUNCH GOALTENDERS:
| 33 Max Lagace | OVERALL | 1 GP, (0-0-0), 0 SO, 6.68 GAA, .727 S% |
| LAST APP. | (8/11) in first 26:57 of 6-4 W at CLE 10/15 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-0-0), 0 SO, 6.68 GAA, .727 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 1 GP, (0-0-0), 0 SO, 6.68 GAA, .727 S% | |
| 35 Amir Miftakhov | OVERALL | 7 GP, (3-2-2), 1 SO, 2.25 GAA, .924 S% |
| LAST APP. | (34/36) in 1-2 OTL at CLE 11/17/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-0-1), 0 SO, 1.96 GAA, .944 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 4 GP, (2-1-1), 0 SO, 2.20 GAA, .924 S% | |
| 60 Hugo Alnefelt | OVERALL | 6 GP, (2-3-1), 0 SO, 3.56 GAA, .864 S% |
| LAST APP. | (21/27) in 3-6 L vs UTI 11/5/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (2-0-1), 0 SO, 3.00 GAA, .884 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 3 GP, (1-1-1), 0 SO, 3.90 GAA, .839 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- CHRISTIANSEN’S CRUISING: Monsters D Jake Christiansen currently ranks in the AHL’s top five among defensemen in points (11, T3rd), goals (3, T4th), assists (8, T4th), and shots on goal (36, 3rd). Christiansen is also scoring at a better than point per game pace against Syracuse this season (4 GP, 1-5-6).
- TERRIFIC TYLER: Cleveland LW Tyler Angle currently ranks in the AHL’s top five among rookies in points (11, T5th), assists (10, T2nd), and shots on goal (35, 3rd). Angle is also scoring at a point per game pace versus the Crunch this year (4 GP, 1-3-4).
- BERUBE’S BUZZIN’: Monsters G Jean-Francois Berube currently ranks among the AHL’s leaders in goals-against average (2.09, 7th), shutouts (1, T5th), and shootout losses (2, T1st).