Game Preview: Monsters at Comets 02/12
In the fifth 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 Utica Comets, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, on Saturday with full coverage, live from Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, NY, underway at 7:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 5-7 road loss to the Utica Comets on Friday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 13-20-5-3 on the season. With a .415 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 (5-16-21).
COMETS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 7-5 home win over the Cleveland Monsters on Friday, the Utica Comets enter tonight’s game at 28-7-5-0 on the season. With a .763 points percentage, the Comets currently rank first in the North Division standings and first in the Eastern Conference. Utica is currently led in scoring by C Fabian Zetterlund (17-19-36), C Chase De Leo (10-25-35), and D Reilly Walsh (6-26-32).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the fifth of eight meetings between the Monsters and Comets this season [(0-3-1-0), -6 goal differential (10/16)] and the third of four games between the two clubs at Adirondack Bank Center this year [(0-2-0-0), -4 goal differential (6/10)].
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 12 GP, (3-6-0), 0 SO, 3.32 GAA, .891 S% |
| LAST APP. | (1/1) in 5:55 of relief in 5-7 L at UTI 2/11/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-0-0), 0 SO, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 7 GP, (2-3-0), 0 SO, 3.33 GAA, .891 S% | |
| 35 Jean-Francois Berube | OVERALL | 17 GP, (4-9-4), 1 SO, 3.37 GAA, .891 S% |
| LAST APP | (16/22) in 51:54 of 5-7 L at UTI 2/11/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (0-2-0), 0 SO, 4.87 GAA, .833 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 9 GP, (3-4-2), 1 SO, 3.10 GAA, .900 S% |
COMETS GOALTENDERS:
| 34 Mareks Mitens | OVERALL | 9 GP, (5-3-1), 0 SO, 3.64 GAA, .879 S% |
| LAST APP. | (37/39) in 3-2 W at CLE 1/30/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (3-0-0), 0 SO, 1.66 GAA, .944 S% | |
| AT HOME | 5 GP, (3-1-1), 0 SO, 3.32 GAA, .886 S% | |
| 93 Akira Schmid | OVERALL | 15 GP, (12-1-2), 2 SO, 1.88 GAA, .938 S% |
| LAST APP. | (39/44) in 7-5 W vs CLE 2/11/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 5.00 GAA, .886 S% | |
| AT HOME | 7 GP, (7-0-0), 1 SO, 1.98 GAA, .933 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- FRANCHISE RECORD: The Monsters are currently mired in a season-long nine-game losing streak (0-8-1-0), the AHL’s longest such streak this season and the longest losing streak in club history. Cleveland is additionally riding a three-game road losing streak, the AHL’s third-longest such active streak.
- SCOTTY’S SIZZLING: Monsters C Justin Scott is currently in the midst of a two-game point streak (2-3-5) and a two-game assist streak (3).
- COMET KILLERS: Cleveland’s roster currently features six players scoring at a point per game pace vs. Utica this season, including LW Cole Fonstad (4 GP, 2-2-4), C Justin Scott (4 GP, 2-2-4), C Liam Foudy (3 GP, 1-2-3), LW Tristan Mullin (2 GP, 0-2-2), D Jake Christiansen (2 GP, 0-2-2), and C Robbie Payne (1 GP, 1-0-1).
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