Game Preview: Monsters vs. Wolves 02/04
Feb 4, 2023In the sixth 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 Chicago Wolves, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, on Saturday 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 2-1 home win over the Chicago Wolves on Friday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 17-19-3-2 on the season. With 39 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 (19-23-42), RW Emil Bemstrom (14-17-31), and C Justin Richards (7-18-25).
WOLVES PRE-SCOUT: Following a 1-2 road loss to the Cleveland Monsters on Friday, the Chicago Wolves enter tonight’s game at 15-22-3-1 on the season. With 34 standings points, the Wolves currently rank seventh in the Central Division standings and 16th in the Western Conference. Chicago is currently led in scoring by RW Malte Stromwall (7-19-26), C Jamieson Rees (8-17-25), and C Vasily Ponomarev (10-12-22).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the sixth of eight meetings between the Monsters and Wolves this season (3-2-0-0, even goal differential [15/15]) and the fourth of four games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year (2-1-0-0, even goal differential [8/8]).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Hunter Vorva | OVERALL (ECHL) | 16 GP, (8-5-1), 1 SO, 2.57 GAA, .918 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 | -- | |
| AT HOME | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.00 GAA, .938 S% | |
| 73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 21 GP, (8-8-3), 0 SO, 3.57 GAA, .887 S% |
| LAST APP | (23/24) in 2-1 W vs CHI 2/3/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (2-0-0), 0 SO, 1.50 GAA, .944 S% | |
| AT HOME | 11 GP, (6-4-1), 0 SO, 3.17 GAA, .898 S% |
WOLVES GOALTENDERS:
| 36 Zachary Sawchenko | OVERALL | 24 GP, (9-14-1), 1 SO, 3.35 GAA, .892 S% |
| LAST APP. | (18/23) in 3-5 L vs GR 1/29/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
3 GP, (1-2-0), 0 SO, 3.12 GAA, .914 S% |
|
| ON THE ROAD | 13 GP, (5-8-0), 1 SO, 3.07 GAA, .901 S% | |
| 52 Pyotr Kochetkov | OVERALL | 10 GP, (5-4-1), 0 SO, 2.78 GAA, .907 S% |
| LAST APP. | (27/29) in 1-2 L at CLE 2/3/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 2.00 GAA, .943 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 5 GP, (3-2-0), 0 SO, 2.60 GAA, .916 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- LENDING A HAND: Cleveland D Jake Christiansen is currently riding a two-game assist streak (2).
- ROMAN’S ROLLIN’: Monsters RW Roman Ahcan is currently riding a two-game goal streak (2).
- WOLF HUNTER: Cleveland G Jet Greaves has been lights out vs. Chicago this season, going 2-0-0 against the Wolves with a 1.50 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage.