Game Preview: Monsters at Checkers 02/19
In the first 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 Charlotte Checkers, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Florida Panthers and Seattle Kraken, on Saturday with full coverage, live from Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, NC, underway at 6:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-1 road win over the Utica Comets on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 14-20-5-3 on the season. With a .429 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), D Jake Christiansen (6-18-24), and LW Tyler Angle (7-16-23).
CHECKERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-1 home win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Wednesday, the Charlotte Checkers enter tonight’s game at 25-18-2-0 on the season. With a .578 points percentage, the Checkers currently rank fifth in the Atlantic Division standings and ninth in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte is currently led in scoring by LW Scott Wilson (18-12-30), RW Kole Lind (15-14-29), and F Logan Hutsko (8-21-29).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the first of four meetings between the Monsters and Checkers this season and the first of two games between the two clubs at Bojangles Coliseum this year.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 13 GP, (4-6-0), 0 SO, 3.10 GAA, .898 S% |
| LAST APP. | (28/29) in 2-1 W at UTI 2/12/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 8 GP, (3-3-0), 0 SO, 2.95 GAA, .903 S% | |
| 33 Cam Johnson | OVERALL | 5 GP, (1-2-1), 0 SO, 2.62 GAA, .892 S% |
| LAST APP | (13/16) in 2-3 L vs UTI 1/30/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 3 GP, (1-0-1), 0 SO, 1.90 GAA, .932 S% |
CHECKERS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Spencer Knight | OVERALL | 5 GP, (4-1-0), 1 SO, 2.40 GAA, .923 S% |
| LAST APP. | (30/34) in 5-4 W vs WBS 2/15/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 3 GP, (2-1-0), 1 SO, 3.00 GAA, .901 S% | |
| 31 Christopher Gibson | OVERALL | 9 GP, (4-5-0), 1 SO, 3.48 GAA, .888 S% |
| LAST APP. | (24/29) in 2-5 L vs UTI 11/28/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 3 GP, (2-1-0), 0 SO, 3.67 GAA, .878 S% | |
| 34 Antoine Bibeau | OVERALL | 7 GP, (3-1-1), 0 SO, 2.56 GAA, .893 S% |
| LAST APP. | (26/28) in 48:47 of relief in 1-5 L at ROC 2/2/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 12 GP, (7-3-1), 0 SO, 2.69 GAA, .927 S% | |
| 35 Joey Daccord | OVERALL | 18 GP, (9-8-1), 0 SO, 2.43 GAA, .915 S% |
| LAST APP. | (22/23) in 4-1 W vs WBS 2/16/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 9 GP, (5-3-1), 0 SO, 2.31 GAA, .915 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- BLAZING BLUE-LINER: Cleveland D Jake Christiansen currently ranks in the AHL’s top ten among defensemen in points (24, T9th) and shots on goal (97, 4th) so far this season.
- BAD BEHAVIOR: Monsters D Billy Sweezey currently ranks first among AHL rookies and fourth league-wide among defensemen with 68 penalty minutes so far this season. Similarly, Sweezey’s four major penalties rank tied for second-most among AHL defensemen.
- FEARSOME FIVE: Cleveland’s roster currently features five players scoring at a point per game or better pace in their last several outings, including C Justin Scott (2-3-5 in last 3 GP), LW Tyler Angle (3-0-3 in last 3 GP), RW Carson Meyer (1-2-3 in last 3 GP), LW Tristan Mullin (0-3-3 in last 2 GP), and LW Cole Fonstad (2-0-2 in last 2 GP).
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