Game Preview: Monsters at Americans 4/23
In the ninth of ten meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Rochester Americans, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, on Saturday with full coverage, live from Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, NY, underway at 5:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-4 home loss to the Utica Comets on Wednesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 25-34-8-5 on the season. With a .438 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 (13-30-43), LW Tyler Angle (10-26-36), and C Tyler Sikura (13-19-32).
AMERICANS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-3 road overtime loss to the Utica Comets on Friday, the Rochester Americans enter tonight’s game at 36-27-7-3 on the season. With a .562 points percentage, the Americans currently rank fifth in the North Division standings and eighth in the Eastern Conference. Rochester is currently led in scoring by RW JJ Peterka (25-39-64), RW Jack Quinn (25-34-59), and LW Michael Mersch (26-27-53).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the ninth of ten meetings between the Monsters and Americans this season [(3-4-1-0), -7 goal differential (28/35)] and the fifth of five games between the two clubs at Blue Cross Arena this year [(1-2-1-0), -5 goal differential (13/18)].
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 | 3 GP, (1-2-0), 0 SO, 4.72 GAA, .835 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 14 GP, (6-5-1), 0 SO, 2.77 GAA, .912 S% | |
| KAL (ECHL) | 15 GP, (10-5-0), 0 SO, 3.05 GAA, .907 S% | |
| 33 Cam Johnson | OVERALL | 19 GP, (5-9-3), 0 SO, 3.34 GAA, .878 S% |
| LAST APP | (28/32) in 3-4 L vs UTI 4/20/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 4.00 GAA, .905 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 9 GP, (2-4-2), 0 SO, 3.21 GAA, .884 S% | |
| FLA (ECHL) | 15 GP, (10-3-2), 1 SO, 2.07 GAA, .913 S% | |
| 40 Linden Marshall | OVERALL | 2 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 4.50 GAA, .854 S% |
| LAST APP | (23/29) in 0-6 L vs LAV 4/14/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 1 GP, (0-0-0), 0 SO, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 S% | |
| GRN (ECHL) | 1 GP, (0-0-0), 0 SO, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 S% | |
| RPI (ECAC) | 26 GP, (9-13-3), 0 SO, 2.53, .895 S% |
AMERICANS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | OVERALL | 33 GP, (14-13-6), 1 SO, 3.30 GAA, .900 S% |
| LAST APP. | (32/35) in 2-3 OTL at UTI 4/22/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 4 GP, (2-2-0), 1 SO, 3.46 GAA, .905 S% | |
| AT HOME | 17 GP, (8-7-2), 1 SO, 3.00 GAA, .904 S% | |
| BUF (NHL) | 9 GP, (2-5-2), 0 SO, 2.74 GAA, .917 S % | |
| 80 Aaron Dell | OVERALL | 20 GP, (12-6-1), 0 SO, 3.02 GAA, .907 S% |
| LAST APP. | (30/32) in 6-2 w at BEL 4/9/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (2-0-0), 0 SO, 3.00 GAA, .918 S% | |
| AT HOME | 9 GP, (5-3-0), 1 SO, 3.09 GAA, .906 S% | |
| BUF (NHL) | 12 GP, (1-8-1), 0 SO, 4.03 GA, .893 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- ALWAYS IN OVERTIME: Cleveland leads the AHL with 23 overtime appearances this year, tied for a single-season franchise record (2014-15). The Monsters’ eight overtime wins and eight overtime losses both rank tied for second-most league-wide this season and Cleveland ranks tied for third league-wide with five shootout losses. The Monsters’ next overtime loss will set a new single-season franchise record in that category.
- JOLTIN’ JAKE: Monsters D Jake Christiansen currently ranks among the AHL’s defensive leaders in points (43, T4th), goals (13, T1st), shorthanded assists (3, T2nd), shorthanded points (3, T3rd), and shots on goal (171, 2nd) so far this season.
- GOING STREAKING: Four players on the Monsters’ active roster are riding multi-game point streaks, including C Owen Sillinger (3 GP, 1-3-4), D Cole Clayton (2 GP, 1-2-3), D Thomas Schemitsch (2 GP, 1-1-2), and C Tyler Sikura (2 GP, 1-1-2).
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