Game Preview: Monsters vs. Comets 02/24
In the seventh 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 Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, underway at 7:00 pm on Bally Sports Great Lakes, FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-4 home overtime loss to the Utica Comets on Wednesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 22-21-4-2 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 (9-21-30).
COMETS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-3 road overtime win over the Cleveland Monsters on Wednesday, the Utica Comets enter tonight’s game at 24-20-5-2 on the season. With 55 standings points, the Comets currently rank second in the North Division standings and sixth in the Eastern Conference. Utica is currently led in scoring by RW Graeme Clarke (19-22-41), LW Nolan Stevens (12-15-27), and LW Andreas Johnsson (9-18-27).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the seventh of eight meetings between the Monsters and Comets this season (0-4-2-0, -10 goal differential [16/26]) and the fourth of four games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year (0-2-1-0, -4 goal differential [11/15]).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Pavel Cajan | OVERALL | 17 GP, (7-7-2), 0 SO, 3.31 GAA, .881 S% |
| LAST APP | (22/24) in 3-2 W at CHI 2/19/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 4 GP, (0-3-1), 0 SO, 4.58 GAA, .842 S% | |
| AT HOME | 9 GP, (2-5-1), 0 SO, 3.61 GAA, .868 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, 4.94 GAA, .808 S% | |
| AT HOME | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.00 GAA, .938 S% | |
| 73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 27 GP, (11-10-4), 0 SO, 3.37 GAA, .892 S% |
| LAST APP | (31/35) in 3-4 OTL vs UTC 2/22/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (0-1-1), 0 SO, 3.53 GAA, .892 S% | |
| AT HOME | 15 GP, (8-5-2), 0 SO, 3.99 GAA, .905 S% |
COMETS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Isaac Poulter | OVERALL | 4 GP, (1-1-2), 0 SO, 4.35 GAA, .865 S% |
| LAST APP. | (21/24) in 2-3 OTL vs LAV 11/30/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 4.96 GAA .865 S% | |
| 50 Nico Daws | OVERALL | 26 GP, (12-12-2), 0 SO, 2.97 GAA, .898 S% |
| LAST APP. | (20/23) in 4-3 OTW at CLE 2/22/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (2-0-0), 0 SO, 3.97 GAA, .849 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 14 GP, (6-7-1), 0 SO, 3.57 GAA, .894 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- GROUNDING THE COMETS: Cleveland D David Jiricek is scoring at a better than point per game pace vs. Utica this season (5 GP, 1-5-6).
- ROBBIE’S ROLLIN’: Monsters RW Robbie Payne is currently riding a four-game point streak (2-5-7) and a four-game assist streak (5).
- AWESOME AHCAN: Cleveland LW Roman Ahcan is currently riding a two-game point streak (1-1-2).
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