Game Preview: Monsters vs. Griffins 04/03
In the fourth of ten 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 Saturday 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 5-1 road win over the Rochester Americans on Wednesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 7-5-1-0 on the season. With 15 points, the Monsters currently rank third in the Central Division standings and 11th league-wide. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by, LW Tyler Sikura (5-5-10), RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (4-5-9), and RW Carson Meyer (3-6-9).
GRIFFINS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 5-2 road loss to the Chicago Wolves on Thursday, the Grand Rapids Griffins enter tonight’s game at 8-5-2-0 on the season. With 18 points, the Griffins currently rank second in the Central Division standings and ninth league-wide. Grand Rapids is currently led in scoring by RW Riley Barber (11-7-18), LW Taro Hirose (3-10-13), and C Chase Pearson (5-4-9).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the fourth of ten meetings between the Monsters and Griffins this season (0-2-1-0) and the second of five games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year (0-2-0-0).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 34 Daniil Tarasov | OVERALL (KHL) | 18 GP, (11-4-3), 2 SO, 2.13 GAA, .924 S% |
| LAST APP. | (3/3) in 14:57 of relief in 2-3 UFA L at AKB 3/23/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | -- | |
| 35 Hayden Stewart | OVERALL | 12 GP, (4-6-2), 0 SO, 3.19 GAA, .906 S% |
| LAST APP. | (33/34) in 56:23 of relief in BHM 3-2 W at HSV 3/14/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | -- | |
| 39 Brad Thiessen | OVERALL | 9 GP, (4-4-1), 0 SO, 2.80 GAA, .906 S% |
| LAST APP. | (23/24) in 5-1 W at ROC 3/31/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (0-2-1), 0 SO, 2.68 GAA, .916 S% | |
| AT HOME | 6 GP, (2-4-0), 0 SO, 3.22 GAA, .894 S% | |
| 80 Matiss Kivlenieks | OVERALL | 3 GP, (3-0-0), 0 SO, 2.27 GAA, .938 S% |
| LAST APP. | (42/43) in 3-1 W at CHI 3/6/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 3.00 GAA, .900 S% |
GRIFFINS GOALTENDERS:
| 33 Kevin Boyle | OVERALL | 8 GP, (4-2-1), 0 SO, 2.68 GAA, .887 S% |
| LAST APP. | (22/26) in 2-5 L at CHI 4/1/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 6 GP, (3-2-0), 0 SO, 3.14 GAA, .871 S% | |
| 35 Pat Nagle | OVERALL | 7 GP, (4-3-0), 0 SO, 2.79 GAA, .890 S% |
| LAST APP. | (16/21) in 4-5 L at IA 3/27/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (3-0-0), 0 SO, 1.33 GAA, .947 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 6 GP, (3-3-0), 0 SO, 3.13 GAA, .879 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- FIRST PRO GOALS: Monsters D Jake Christiansen and C Josh Dunne both scored their first professional goals in Cleveland’s 5-1 road win over the Rochester Americans on Wednesday.
- TERRIFIC TYLER: Cleveland’s leading scorer, LW Tyler Sikura, is currently in the midst of a two-game goal streak (3G) and a two-game point streak (2-1-3).
- SHARPSHOOTER: Monsters C Tyler Angle currently ranks in the AHL’s top five among rookies in shooting percentage (30.8%, 4th).
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