Game Preview: Monsters vs. Griffins 02/23
In the fourth 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 Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, on Wednesday 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 6-5 road overtime win over the Charlotte Checkers on Sunday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 15-21-5-3 on the season. With a .432 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 (16-12-28), D Jake Christiansen (6-20-26), and LW Tyler Angle (7-18-25).
GRIFFINS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 5-2 road win over the Rockford IceHogs on Sunday, the Grand Rapids Griffins enter tonight’s game at 20-19-5-2 on the season. With a .511 points percentage, the Griffins currently rank fifth in the Central Division standings and 11th in the Western Conference. Grand Rapids is currently led in scoring by LW Taro Hirose (12-27-39), LW Jonatan Berggren (13-22-35), and C Kyle Criscuolo (12-17-29).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Wednesday marks the fourth of eight meetings between the Monsters and Griffins this season [(1-2-0-0), -4 goal differential (6/10)] and the third of four games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year [(0-2-0-0), -5 goal differential (4/9)].
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 33 Cam Johnson | OVERALL | 7 GP, (2-3-1), 0 SO, 3.02 GAA, .879 S% |
| LAST APP | (31/36) in 6-5 OTW at CLT 2/20/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .957 S% | |
| AT HOME | 2 GP, (0-2-0), 0 SO, 3.62 GAA, .816 S% | |
| 40 Chris Nell | ATL (ECHL) | 19 GP, (9-9-0), 2 SO, 2.79 GAA, .906 S% |
GRIFFINS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Victor Brattstrom | OVERALL | 13 GP, (4-7-2), 0 SO, 3.72 GAA, .885 S% |
| LAST APP. | (31/33) in 5-2 W at RFD 2/20/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-0-1), 0 SO, 1.99 GAA, .944 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 5 GP, (1-3-1), 0 SO, 3.96 GAA, .882 S% | |
| 31 Calvin Pickard | OVERALL | 33 GP, (16-11-5), 1 SO, 2.51 GAA, .921 S% |
| LAST APP. | (29/31) in 5-2 W vs RFD 2/19/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (2-0-0), 0 SO, 2.00 GAA, .940 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 16 GP, (9-6-1), 0 SO, 2.69 GAA, .916 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- GROUNDING THE GRIFFINS: Monsters C Tyler Sikura is scoring at a point per game pace vs. Grand Rapids this season (3 GP, 1-2-3).
- BAD BEHAVIOR: Cleveland D Billy Sweezey leads all AHL rookies with 68 penalty minutes this season while D Tim Berni’s 16 minor penalties ranks third-most among AHL rookies this year.
- DYNAMIC D-MAN: Monsters D Jake Christiansen currently ranks among the AHL’s top ten blue-liners in points (26, T9th) and shots on goal this season (99, 4th).
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