Monsters Head to Face the Icehogs
Dec 21, 2019In the third of four meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Rockford IceHogs, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, on Saturday with full coverage, live from BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, IL, underway at 7:00 pm on Alt 99.1, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 0-4 road loss to the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 13-13-1-2 on the season. With 29 points, the Monsters currently rank seventh in the AHL’s North Division standings and 13th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by LW Nathan Gerbe (7-17-24), C Kevin Stenlund (6-10-16) and D Adam Clendening (5-11-16).
ICEHOGS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-2 home win over the Texas Stars on Friday, the Rockford IceHogs enter tonight’s game at 17-10-0-1 on the season. With 35 points, the IceHogs currently rank second in the AHL’s Central Division standings and fourth in the Western Conference. Rockford is currently led in scoring by LW Tyler Sikura (8-9-17), RW Dylan Sikura (9-7-16) and LW Brandon Hagel (9-6-15).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the third of four meetings between the Monsters and IceHogs this season and the first of two meetings between the two clubs at BMO Harris Bank Center this year. Cleveland is 2-0-0-0 vs. Rockford both overall and at home this season with a +11 goal differential (12/1).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 35 Veini Vehvilainen | OVERALL | 13 GP, (5-7-1), 2 SO, 2.09 GAA, .921 S% |
| LAST APP. |
(26/28) in 1-3 L vs WBS 12/14/19 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 1 SO, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 5 GP, (2-2-1), 0 SO, 1.99 GAA, .924 S% | |
| 39 Brad Thiessen | OVERALL | N/A |
| LAST APP. | N/A | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| ON THE ROAD | N/A | |
| 80 Matiss Kivlenieks | OVERALL | 14 GP, (7-5-2), 1 SO, 2.97 GAA, .893 S% |
| LAST APP. | (27/31) in 0-4 L at MIL 12/20/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .960 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 9 GP, (3-4-2), 0 SO, 3.83 GAA, .871 S% |
ICEHOGS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Collin Delia | OVERALL | 11 GP, (6-5-0), 0 SO, 3.18 GAA, .897 S% |
| LAST APP. | (33/35) in 4-2 W vs TEX 12/20/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 7.00 GAA, .750 S% | |
| AT HOME |
7 GP, (4-3-0), 0 SO, 3.07 GAA, .907 S% |
|
| 30 Kevin Lankinen | OVERALL | 11 GP, (7-3-1), 0 SO, 2.53 GAA, .924 S% |
| LAST APP. |
(11/13) in 4-2 W at TOR 12/15/19 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| AT HOME | 7 GP, (6-1-0), 0 SO, 1.99 GAA, .943 S% | |
| 31 Matt Tomkins | OVERALL | 6 GP, (4-2-0), 0 SO, 2.66 GAA, .912 S% |
| LAST APP. | (26/30) in 2-5 L at BEL 12/13/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 5.07 GAA, .884 S% |
|
| AT HOME | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.00 GAA, .939 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- WRECKING ROCKFORD: Among non-injured Monsters players, three Cleveland skaters are scoring at a point-per-game pace vs. the IceHogs this season, including LW Nathan Gerbe (2GP, 2-0-2), D Anton Karlsson (2GP, 1-1-2) and LW Stefan Matteau (2GP, 0-2-2).
- NEW FACES: On Friday in Milwaukee, two recent pro tryout (PTO) contract signees of Cleveland’s made their Monsters debuts – D Steve Johnson, a college teammate of Cleveland D Ryan Collins at the University of Minnesota, and LW Brady Shaw, son of Columbus Blue Jackets Assistant Coach Brad Shaw.
- POWER SURGE: In two games vs. Rockford this season, Cleveland’s power-play is converting at a remarkable 37.5% clip.