
Game Preview: Monsters vs. Comets 12/20
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 Tuesday with full coverage, live from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, underway at 7:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 1-4 home loss to the Laval Rocket on Sunday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 12-9-1-2 on the season. With 27 standings points, the Monsters currently rank fourth in the North Division standings and eighth in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (12-16-28), RW Emil Bemstrom (12-14-26), and RW Kirill Marchenko (8-11-19).
COMETS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 7-3 home win over the Springfield Thunderbirds on Saturday, the Utica Comets enter tonight’s game at 10-9-3-1 on the season. With 24 standings points, the Comets currently rank fifth in the North Division standings and 12th in the Eastern Conference. Utica is currently led in scoring by RW Brian Pinho (8-10-18), RW Graeme Clark (5-9-14), and LW Nolan Foote (9-4-13).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Sunday marks the third of eight meetings between the Monsters and Comets this season (0-2-0-0, -5 goal differential [3/8]) and the first of four games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
30 Pavel Cajan | OVERALL | 9 GP, (4-4-1), 0 SO, 3.41 GAA, .883 S% |
LAST APP | (35/39) in 1-4 L vs LAV 12/18/22 | |
HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 4.06 GAA, .852 S% | |
AT HOME | 5 GP, (1-3-1), 0 SO, 3.20 GAA, .887 S% | |
73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 11 GP, (5-3-2), 0 SO, 4.09 GAA, .877 S% |
LAST APP | (25/29) in 7-4 W vs LAV 12/17/22 | |
HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 3.08 GAA, .900 S% | |
AT HOME | 4 GP, (4-0-0), 0 SO, 3.84 GAA, .877 S% |
COMETS GOALTENDERS:
50 Nico Daws | OVERALL | 14 GP, (6-6-1), 0 SO, 2.67 GAA, .905 S% |
LAST APP. | (29/32) in 7-3 W vs SPR 12/17/22 | |
HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
ON THE ROAD | 7 GP, (3-3-1), 0 SO, 3.17 GAA, .892 S% | |
93 Akira Schmid | OVERALL | 4 GP, (2-1-1), 0 SO, 1.97 GAA, .918 S% |
LAST APP. | (26/29) in 3-4 SOL vs PRO 11/2/22 | |
HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (2-0-0), 0 SO, 1.50 GAA, .936 S% | |
ON THE ROAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 2.05 GAA, .909 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- GAUNCE THE GREAT: Monsters C Brendan Gaunce is currently riding a three-game point streak (1-3-4) and a two-game assist streak (3A).
- FILLING THE NET: Cleveland LW Joona Luoto is currently riding a two-game goal streak (2G) and a four-game home goal streak (4G), tied for the AHL’s longest streak of its kind this season.
- EMIL’S EXCELLING: Monsters RW Emil Bemstrom is currently in the midst of a ten-game point streak (7-8-15) and a six-game assist streak (6A). Bemstrom also ranks among the AHL’s leaders in game-winning goals (3, T3rd) and power-play goals (7, T3rd).