Game Preview: Monsters at Griffins 02/25
In the fourth 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 Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, on Saturday with full coverage, live from Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI, underway at 7:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 1-7 home loss to the Utica Comets on Friday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 22-22-4-2 on the season. With 50 standings points, the Monsters currently rank sixth in the North Division standings and 14th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (21-33-54), RW Emil Bemstrom (14-17-31), and C Justin Richards (9-22-31).
GRIFFINS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-5 home overtime loss to the Chicago Wolves on Friday, the Grand Rapids Griffins enter tonight’s game at 21-24-3-2 on the season. With 47 standings points, the Griffins currently rank seventh in the Central Division standings and 14th in the Western Conference. Grand Rapids is currently led in scoring by RW Taro Hirose (12-27-39), C Austin Czarnik (13-21-34), and C Joel L’Esperance (17-16-33).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the fourth of eight meetings between the Monsters and Griffins this season (2-1-0-0, +5 goal differential [12/7]) and the third of four games between the two clubs at Van Andel Arena this year (1-1-0-0, +2 goal differential [7/5]).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Pavel Cajan | OVERALL | 18 GP, (7-7-2), 0 SO, 3.44 GAA, .877 S% |
| LAST APP | (13/17) in 32:56 of relief in 1-7 L vs UTC 2/24/23 | |
| HEAD TO HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 8 GP, (5-2-1), 0 SO, 2.98 GAA, .894 S% | |
| 40 Daniil Tarasov | OVERALL | 6 GP, (3-3-0), 0 SO, 4.27 GAA, .868 S% |
| LAST APP | (33/35) in 5-2 W at CLT 1/22/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.00 GAA, .938 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 5 GP, (2-3-0), 0 SO, 4.85 GAA, .850 S% | |
| 73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 28 GP, (11-11-4), 0 SO, 3.43 GAA, .891 S% |
| LAST APP | (18/21) in first 27:04 of 1-7 L vs UTC 2/24/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 2.03 GAA, .900 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 12 GP, (3-5-2), 0 SO, 3.88 GAA, .874 S% |
GRIFFINS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Victor Brattstrom | OVERALL | 16 GP, (4-7-3), 0 SO, 3.82 GAA, .881 S% |
| LAST APP. | (38/43) in 4-5 OTL vs CHI 2/24/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 4.07 GAA, .810 S% | |
| AT HOME | 6 GP, (1-3-2), 0 SO, 4.45 GAA, .876 S% | |
| 34 Alex Nedeljkovic | OVERALL | 17 GP, (8-6-2), 1 SO, 2.86 GAA, .909 S% |
| LAST APP. | (23/28) in 1-5 L at MB 2/20/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 3.52 GAA, .892 S% | |
| AT HOME | 11 GP, (4-4-2), 1 SO, 2.88 GAA, .909 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- GRIFFIN HUNTERS: Six Cleveland players are scoring at a better than point per game pace against Grand Rapids this season, including LW Cole Fonstad (3 GP, 1-4-5), LW Tyler Angle (3 GP, 3-1-4), C Owen Sillinger (3 GP, 2-2-4), RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (3 GP, 0-4-4), D David Jiricek (2 GP, 1-2-3), and LW Joona Luoto (1 GP, 2-0-2).
- TERRIFIC TREY: Monsters RW Trey Fix-Wolansky currently ranks among the AHL’s leaders in points (54, 7th), goals (21, T13th), assists (33, T9th), and shots (158, T5th) so far this season.
- RICHIE’S ROLLIN’: Cleveland C Justin Richards is currently riding a two-game point streak (1-1-2).
Related Articles
