Game Preview: Monsters vs. Rocket 04/14
Apr 14, 2022In 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 Laval Rocket, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, on Thursday 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 2-4 road loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 24-31-8-5 on the season. With a .449 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 D Jake Christiansen (12-30-42), LW Tyler Angle (8-26-34), and C Justin Scott (14-16-30).
ROCKET PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-4 road overtime loss to the Rochester Americans on Wednesday, the Laval Rocket enter tonight’s game at 35-23-4-2 on the season. With a .594 points percentage, the Rocket currently rank second in the North Division standings and fifth in the Eastern Conference. Laval is currently led in scoring by LW Rafael Harvey-Pinard (19-30-49), C Jean-Sebastien Dea (23-20-43), and D Xavier Ouellet (7-27-34).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Thursday marks the third of four meetings between the Monsters and Rocket this season [(1-0-0-1), +1 goal differential (5/4)] and the first of two games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 27 GP, (11-11-2), 1 SO, 2.90 GAA, .906 S% |
| LAST APP | (23/29) in 2-6 L vs ROC 4/2/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-0-1), 0 SO, 1.44 GAA, .956 S% | |
| AT HOME | 13 GP, (5-6-1), 1 SO, 3.03 GAA, .900 S% | |
| 33 Cam Johnson | OVERALL | 16 GP, (4-7-3), 0 SO, 3.33 GAA, .877 S% |
| LAST APP | (20/24) in 2-4 L at GR 4/13/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 7 GP, (2-3-1), 0 SO, 3.49 GAA, .868 S% | |
| 40 Linden Marshall | OVERALL | 1 GP, (0-0-0), 0 SO, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 S% |
| LAST APP | (12/12) in 20:00 of relief in 2-5 L at CHI 4/10/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | -- |
ROCKET GOALTENDERS:
| 35 Gabriel Mallot-Hill | Guelph (USports) | 4 GP, (0-2-0), 0 SO, 4.66 GAA, .836 S% |
| 39 Kevin Poulin | OVERALL | 25 GP, (15-7-2), 1 SO, 2.32 GAA, .922 S% |
| LAST APP. | (29/33) in 3-4 OTL at ROC 4/13/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 0.92 GAA, .971 S% |
|
| ON THE ROAD | 14 GP, (6-5-2), 0 SO, 2.78 GAA, .912 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- HITTING THE SKIDS: Cleveland is currently without a win in the team’s last five games (0-4-0-1) and the Monsters have dropped seven of the club’s last eight outings (1-6-0-1).
- GOING STREAKING: Two Monsters players, D Cole Clayton (2A) and LW Tyler Angle (3A), are riding two-game assist streaks.
- GROUNDING THE ROCKET: Four Cleveland players are scoring at a point per game pace vs. Laval this season, including LW Tristan Mullin (2 GP, 1-1-2), D Thomas Schemitsch (2 GP, 1-1-2), C Justin Scott (2 GP, 1-1-2), and C Cole Cassels (2 GP, 0-2-2).