Game Preview: Monsters at Comets 03/21
In 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 Utica Comets, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, on Monday 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 5-6 road overtime loss to the Rochester Americans on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 21-24-8-4 on the season. With a .474 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 (9-28-37), LW Tyler Angle (8-22-30), and C Brendan Gaunce (16-12-28).
COMETS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-3 road loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday, the Utica Comets enter tonight’s game at 35-13-6-0 on the season. With a .704 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 (20-23-43), F Alexander Holtz (21-21-42), and C Chase De Leo (12-29-41).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Monday marks the sixth of eight meetings between the Monsters and Comets this season [(1-3-1-0), -5 goal differential (12/17)] and the fourth of four games between the two clubs at Adirondack Bank Center this year [(1-2-0-0), -3 goal differential (8/11)].
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 21 GP, (9-7-2), 0 SO, 2.72 GAA, .908 S% |
| LAST APP | (17/22) in 4-5 L at ROC 3/18/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 0.91 GAA, .967 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 12 GP, (5-4-1), 0 SO, 2.75 GAA, .909 S% | |
| 33 Cam Johnson | OVERALL | 10 GP, (3-4-2), 0 SO, 3.10 GAA, .875 S% |
| LAST APP | (25/32) in 5-8 L vs TOR 3/6/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 3.04 GAA, .812 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 5 GP, (2-1-1), 0 SO, 2.78 GAA, .898 S% |
COMETS GOALTENDERS:
| 34 Mareks Mitens | OVERALL | 11 GP, (5-5-1), 0 SO, 3.66 GAA, .874 S% |
| LAST APP. | (21/26) in 3-6 L at SYR 2/26/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 4 GP, (3-1-0), 0 SO, 1.76 GAA, .936 S% | |
| AT HOME | 6 GP, (3-2-1), 0 SO, 3.12 GAA, .888 S% | |
| 93 Akira Schmid | OVERALL | 27 GP, (18-5-3), 2 SO, 2.31 GAA, .920 S% |
| LAST APP. | (16/19) in 2-3 L at WBS 3/19/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 5.00 GAA, .886 S% | |
| AT HOME | 11 GP, (8-2-1), 1 SO, 2.25 GAA, .916 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- CHRISTIANSEN’S CRUISIN’: Cleveland D Jake Christiansen ranks among the AHL’s defensive leaders in points (37, 4th), goals (9, T4th), shorthanded assists (3, T2nd), shorthanded points (3, T2nd), and shots on goal (131, 2nd), and is riding an eight-game assist streak (8), tied for the league’s longest such streak this year, an eight-game point streak (3-8-11), the league’s second-longest such active streak, and a six-game road assist streak (6), tied for the AHL’s longest such active streak.
- SIKURA’S SUCCESS: Monsters C Tyler Sikura is riding a four-game point streak (3-2-5) and a two-game assist streak (2).
- SPECTACULAR SCOTT: Cleveland C Justin Scott is riding a three-game point streak (1-3-4) and a two-game assist streak (3).
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