Game Preview: Monsters vs. Comets 01/30
In the third 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 Sunday with full coverage, live from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, underway at 5:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-5 home loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 13-16-4-3 on the season. With a .458 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 (16-11-27), D Jake Christiansen (5-16-21), and LW Tyler Angle (4-15-19).
COMETS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-2 road win over the Rochester Americans on Saturday, the Utica Comets enter tonight’s game at 24-5-5-0 on the season. With a .779 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 Chase De Leo (10-25-35), C Fabian Zetterlund (16-15-31), and D Reilly Walsh (5-21-26).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Sunday marks the third of eight meetings between the Monsters and Comets this season [(0-1-1-0), -3 goal differential (3/6)] and the second of four games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year [(0-0-1-0), -1 goal differential (2/3)].
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 10 GP, (3-5-0), 0 SO, 3.39 GAA, .893 S% |
| LAST APP. | (28/32) in 0-4 L vs WBS 1/28/22 | |
| AT HOME | 4 GP, (1-2-0), 0 SO, 3.38 GAA, .896 S% | |
| 33 Cam Johnson | OVERALL | 4 GP, (1-1-1), 0 SO, 2.50 GAA, .905 S% |
| LAST APP | (18/22) in 2-5 L vs WBS 1/29/22 | |
| AT HOME | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 4.19 GAA, .818 S% | |
| 35 Jean-Francois Berube | OVERALL | 14 GP, (4-7-3), 1 SO, 3.18 GAA, .898 S% |
| LAST APP | (6/9) in first 19:51 of 1-5 L at WBS 1/24/22 | |
| AT HOME | 6 GP, (1-4-1), 0 SO, 3.93 GAA, .873 S% |
COMETS GOALTENDERS:
| 34 Mareks Mitens | OVERALL | 8 GP, (4-3-1), 0 SO, 3.84 GAA, .867 S% |
| LAST APP. | (31/34) in 4-3 OTW vs SYR 1/14/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (2-0-0), 1 SO, 1.49 GAA, .940 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 3 GP, (1-2-0), 0 SO, 4.72 GAA, .833 S% | |
| 35 Nico Daws | OVERALL | 16 GP, (11-2-2), 1 SO, 2.40 GAA, .919 S% |
| LAST APP. | (28/30) in 4-2 W at ROC 1/29/22 | |
| ON THE ROAD | 7 GP, (4-1-1), 0 SO, 2.94 GAA, .906 S% | |
| 93 Akira Schmid | OVERALL | 11 GP, (9-0-2), 2 SO, 1.54 GAA, .948 S% |
| LAST APP | (34/35) in 4-1 W at SYR 1/21/22 | |
| ON THE ROAD | 7 GP, (5-0-2), 1 SO, 1.59 GAA, .948 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- COMET KILLER: Cleveland C Liam Foudy is scoring at a point per game pace vs. Utica this season (2 GP, 1-1-2).
- HITTING THE SKIDS: The Monsters are currently mired in a four-game losing streak, the AHL’s third-longest such active streak, and a two-game home losing streak, tied for the league’s second-longest such active streak.
- DYNAMIC DEFENSEMAN: Cleveland D Jake Christiansen currently ranks among the AHL’s defensive leaders in points (21, T10th) and shots on goal (78, 5th) so far this season.
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