Game Preview: Monsters at Comets 4/14
In the eighth 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 Friday 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 2-1 home win over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Monday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 32-30-5-2 on the season. With 71 standings points, the Monsters currently rank sixth in the North Division standings and 13th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (29-41-70), C Justin Richards (10-28-38), and D David Jiricek (6-32-38).
COMETS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-6 home loss to the Syracuse Crunch on Wednesday, the Utica Comets enter tonight’s game at 33-27-6-4 on the season. With 76 standings points, the Comets currently rank fourth in the North Division standings and 10th in the Eastern Conference. Utica is currently led in scoring by RW Graeme Clarke (24-32-56), D Reilly Walsh (8-31-39), and LW Nolan Foote (20-16-36).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the eighth of eight meetings between the Monsters and Comets this season (0-5-2-0, -16 goal differential [17/33]) and the fourth of four games between the two clubs at Adirondack Bank Center this year (0-2-1-0, -6 goal differential [5/11]).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Pavel Cajan | OVERALL | 21 GP, (7-10-2), 0 SO, 3.44 GAA, .877 S% |
| LAST APP | (36/38) in 1-3 L at BEL 4/8/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 5 GP, (0-3-1), 0 SO, 4.92 GAA, .832 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 10 GP, (5-4-1), 0 SO, 3.11 GAA, .894 S% | |
| 31 Nolan Lalonde | ERI (OHL) | 41 GP, (11-20-2), 1 SO, 4.10 GAA, .868 S% |
| 40 Daniil Tarasov | OVERALL | 11 GP, (5-5-0), 0 SO, 3.85 GAA, .882 S% |
| LAST APP | (16/18) in first 25:21 of 2-5 L at ROC 3/26/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 7 GP, (2-4-0), 0 SO, 4.89 GAA, .851 S% | |
| 73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 41 GP, (19-14-5), 2 SO, 3.10 GAA, .899 S% |
| LAST APP | (26/27) in 2-1 W vs GR 4/10/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (0-2-1), 0 SO, 4.11 GAA, .884 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 19 GP, (8-6-2), 2 SO, 3.15 GAA, .897 S% |
COMETS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Zachary Edmond | WIC (ECHL) | 18 GP, (4-8-3), 0 SO, 3.71 GAA, .885 S% |
| 1 Isaac Poulter | OVERALL | 12 GP, (6-3-3), 0 SO, 3.60 GAA, .883 S% |
| LAST APP. | (21/26) in first 32:45 of 1-6 L at SYR 3/26/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 6 GP, (3-0-3), 0 SO, 3.26 GAA, .881 S% | |
| 50 Nico Daws | OVERALL | 32 GP, (15-14-3), 2 SO, 2.76 GAA, .902 S% |
| LAST APP. | (17/22) in 4-6 L vs SYR 4/12/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (3-0-0), 0 SO, 2.99 GAA, .878 S% | |
| AT HOME | 15 GP, (7-6-2), 2 SO, 2.38 GAA, .909 S% | |
| 93 Akira Schmid | OVERALL | 23 GP, (11-7-4), 2 SO, 2.62 GAA, .905 S% |
| LAST APP. | (23/26) in 1-5 L vs ROC 4/8/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 4 GP, (4-0-0), 0 SO, 2.00 GAA, .918 S% | |
| AT HOME | 13 GP, (6-4-2), 1 SO, 2.71 GAA, .896 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- THE FIX IS IN: Cleveland RW Trey Fix-Wolansky currently ranks among the AHL’s leaders in points (70, T6th), power-play points (30, T3rd), goals (29, T8th), assists (41, T10th), shots (214, T6th), power-play goals (11, T11th), power-play assists (19, T13th), and shootout goals (4, T2nd). Fix-Wolansky’s 70 points this year leave him tied for the Monsters’ single-season franchise scoring record and he’s currently riding a two-game goal streak (3). On Thursday, Fix-Wolansky was named to the 2022-23 AHL Second All-Star Team.
- DYNAMIC DAVID: Monsters D David Jiricek currently ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in assists (32, T3rd), power-play assists (20, 1st), and power-play points (24, 2nd), and ranks among the league’s defensive leaders in power-play goals (4, T6th) and power-play points (5th). Jiricek is also scoring at a point per game pace vs. the Comets this season (6 GP, 1-5-6).
- RICHIE’S ROLLIN’: Cleveland C Justin Richards is currently in the midst of a three-game assist streak (3).
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