Game Preview: Monsters at Penguins 10/26
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 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, on Wednesday with full coverage, live from Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, PA, underway at 7:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-5 road loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Sunday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 3-2-0-0 on the season. With six standings points, the Monsters currently rank tied for first in the North Division standings and tied for fifth in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Emil Bemstrom (4-5-9), RW Kirill Marchenko (4-3-7), and C Brendan Gaunce (3-4-7).
PENGUINS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-1 road win over the Providence Bruins on Sunday, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins enter tonight’s game at 3-0-1-0 on the season. With seven standings points, the Penguins currently rank third in the Atlantic Division standings and third in the Eastern Conference. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is currently led in scoring by RW Alexander Nylander (3-2-5), D Ty Smith (1-3-4), and two players that have posted 1-1-2.
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Wednesday marks the first of four meetings between Cleveland and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season and the first of two tilts between the two clubs at Mohegan Sun Arena this year.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Pavel Cajan | OVERALL | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.97 GAA, .900 S% |
| LAST APP | (27/30) in 4-3 OTW at LHV 10/22/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.97 GAA, .900 S% | |
| 73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 4 GP, (2-2-0), 0 SO, 4.14 GAA, .867 S% |
| LAST APP | (24/29) in 4-5 L at LHV 10/23/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 2 GP, (0-2-0), 0 SO, 4.14 GAA, .864 S% |
PENGUINS GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Filip Lindberg | OVERALL | 2 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.93 GAA, .886 S% |
| LAST APP. | (27/30) in 4-3 SOW at HFD 10/22/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | -- | |
| 40 Dustin Tokarski | OVERALL | 3 GP, (2-0-1), 0 SO, 1.63 GAA, .938 S% |
| LAST APP. | (30/31) in 2-1 W at PRO 10/23/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 2 GP, (1-0-1), 0 SO, 1.94 GAA, .918 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- GOING STREAKING: Cleveland’s top three scorers are all riding season-opening five-game point streaks, including RW Emil Bemstrom (4-5-9), RW Kirill Marchenko (4-3-7), and C Brendan Gaunce (3-4-7). Bemstrom and Monsters D David Jiricek are also in the midst of three-game assist streaks (4A apiece) while Gaunce is riding a three-game goal streak (3G) as well.
- FAMILIAR FACE: The Penguins’ active roster includes former Monsters C Tyler Sikura, who posted 26-31-57 with 55 penalty minutes and a -22 rating in 104 appearances for Cleveland spanning two seasons from 2020-22.
- LEAGUE LEADERS: Monsters RW Emil Bemstrom’s nine points rank tied for the AHL-lead, and with four goals apiece, Bemstrom and RW Kirill Marchenko rank tied for third league-wide in goals. Meanwhile, Cleveland C Brendan Gaunce’s seven points rank tied for sixth-most in the AHL this season and Bemstrom’s four assists rank tied for fourth-most league-wide.
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