Game Preview: Monsters vs. Comets 12/17
In the second 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 FOX Sports 1350 AM “The Gambler”, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-4 road loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 10-8-2-3 on the season. With a .543 points percentage, the Monsters currently rank third in the North Division standings and eighth in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by D Jake Christiansen (5-13-18), C Brendan Gaunce (7-9-16), and C Liam Foudy (6-10-16).
COMETS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-1 home win over the Cleveland Monsters on Friday, the Utica Comets enter tonight’s game at 17-1-2-0 on the season. With a .900 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 D Reilly Walsh (4-11-15), C Chase De Leo (3-12-15), and C Nate Schnarr (6-8-14).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the second of eight meetings between the Monsters and Comets this season (0-1-0-0) and the first of four games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year. Cleveland’s goal differential against Utica this season is -2 (1/3).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 35 Jean-Francois Berube | OVERALL | 11 GP, (4-4-3), 1 SO, 2.82 GAA, .912 S% |
| LAST APP. | (29/32) in 1-3 L at UTI 12/10/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 4 GP, (1-2-1), 0 SO, 3.80 GAA, .882 S% | |
| 40 Daniil Tarasov | OVERALL | 10 GP, (5-3-2), 0 SO, 3.07 GAA, .894 S% |
| LAST APP. | (27/31) in 2-4 L at LHV 12/11/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 5 GP, (3-2-0), 0 SO, 2.62 GAA, .899 S% |
COMETS GOALTENDERS:
| 34 Mareks Mitens | OVERALL | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .958 S% |
| LAST APP. | (23/24) in 3-1 W vs CLE 12/10/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .958 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | -- | |
| 35 Nico Daws | OVERALL | 10 GP, (8-1-0), 0 SO, 2.15 GAA, .926 S% |
| LAST APP. | (17/19) in first 46:57 of 3-4 OTL at ROC 12/8/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 4 GP, (3-0-0), 0 SO, 2.64 GAA, .914 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- ROOKIE SENSATION: Monsters LW Tyler Angle currently ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in points (15, T15th) and assists (13, T5th).
- FANTASTIC FOUDY: Cleveland C Liam Foudy is currently in the midst of a five-game point streak (1-4-5) and is scoring at a point per game pace in his last nine appearances (3-6-9).
- SIMPSON RETURNS: After missing the Monsters’ last six games due to illness, Cleveland D Dillon Simpson is expected to return to the lineup on Friday for his first appearance since November 27th.
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