Game Preview: Monsters vs. Phantoms 02/25
Feb 25, 2022In 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 Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, on Friday 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 1-2 home overtime loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 15-21-6-3 on the season. With a .433 points percentage, the Monsters currently rank seventh in the North Division standings and 15th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by C Brendan Gaunce (16-12-28), LW Tyler Angle (7-19-26), and D Jake Christiansen (6-20-26).
PHANTOMS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-2 road shootout win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Wednesday, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms enter tonight’s game at 18-19-6-3 on the season. With a .489 points percentage, the Phantoms currently rank seventh in the Atlantic Division standings and 13th in the Eastern Conference. Lehigh Valley is currently led in scoring by C Cal O’Reilly (12-21-33), D Adam Clendening (5-24-29), and RW Hayden Hodgson (15-10-25).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the second of four meetings between the Monsters and Phantoms this season [(0-1-0-0), -2 goal differential (2/4)] and the first of two games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 33 Cam Johnson | OVERALL | 8 GP, (2-3-2), 0 SO, 2.86 GAA, .884 S% |
| LAST APP | (22/24) in 1-2 OTL vs GR 2/23/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 3 GP, (0-2-1), 0 SO, 3.02 GAA, .855 S% | |
| 40 Chris Nell | ATL (ECHL) | 19 GP, (9-9-0), 2 SO, 2.79 GAA, .906 S% |
PHANTOMS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Samuel Ersson | OVERALL | 5 GP, (0-3-1), 0 SO, 2.96 GAA, .893 S% |
| LAST APP. | (21/25) in first 48:30 of 0-5 L vs BEL 2/8/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 2 GP, (0-2-0), 0 SO, 3.10 GAA, .864 S% | |
| 32 Felix Sandstrom | OVERALL | 26 GP, (8-11-3), 1 SO, 3.05 GAA, .895 S% |
| LAST APP. | (8/9) in first 16:29 of 2-3 SOL vs UTI 2/19/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-0-0), 0 SO, 3.00 GAA, .875 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 12 GP, (3-7-1), 0 SO, 3.57 GAA, .875 S% | |
| 45 Garrett Metcalf | OVERALL | 4 GP, (2-1-1), 0 SO, 3.48 GAA, .882 S% |
| LAST APP. | (18/24) in 4-6 L at HFD 2/5/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 4.54 GAA, .864 S% | |
| 72 Kirill Ustimenko | OVERALL | 6 GP, (1-3-1), 0 SO, 2.48 GAA, .919 S% |
| LAST APP. | (30/32) in 3-2 SOW at WBS 2/23/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 3 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 2.88 GAA, .902 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- TERRIFIC TYLER: Cleveland C Tyler Angle is currently riding a two-game assist streak (3) and is scoring at a better than point per game pace in his last four appearances (2-3-5).
- HURTING AT HOME: The Monsters are currently in the midst of a seven-game home losing streak, the AHL’s longest such streak this year and tied for Cleveland’s longest such streak in franchise history.
- AVOID OT: Cleveland has played in two straight overtime games (1-1) and currently leads the AHL in overtime games played (15) while ranking tied for the league-lead in overtime losses (6).