Game Preview: Monsters vs. Griffins 04/10
In the eighth 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 Monday 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 1-3 road loss to the Belleville Senators on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 31-30-5-2 on the season. With 69 standings points, the Monsters currently rank sixth in the North Division standings and 13th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (28-41-69), D David Jiricek (6-32-38), and C Josh Dunne (20-17-37).
GRIFFINS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 1-3 road loss to the Manitoba Moose on Friday, the Grand Rapids Griffins enter tonight’s game at 28-33-4-4 on the season. With 64 standings points, the Griffins currently rank seventh in the Central Division standings and 15th in the Western Conference. Grand Rapids is currently led in scoring by RW Taro Hirose (15-41-56), C Danny O’Regan (17-31-48), and C Joel L’Esperance (24-23-47).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Monday marks the eighth of eight meetings between the Monsters and Griffins this season (4-2-1-0, +4 goal differential [24/20]) and the fourth of four games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year (2-0-1-0, +5 goal differential [12/7]).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Pavel Cajan | OVERALL | 21 GP, (7-10-2), 0 SO, 3.44 GAA, .877 S% |
| LAST APP | (36/38) in 1-3 L at BEL 4/8/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 6.74 GAA, .778 S% | |
| AT HOME | 11 GP, (2-6-1), 0 SO, 3.76 GAA, 859 S% | |
| 31 Nolan Lalonde | ERI (OHL) | 41 GP, (11-20-2), 1 SO, 4.10 GAA, .868 S% |
| 40 Daniil Tarasov | OVERALL | 11 GP, (5-5-0), 0 SO, 3.85 GAA, .882 S% |
| LAST APP | (16/18) in first 25:21 of 2-5 L at ROC 3/26/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (2-0-0), 0 SO, 1.50 GAA, .949 S% | |
| AT HOME | 4 GP, (3-1-0), 0 SO, 2.48 GAA, .924 S% | |
| 73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 40 GP, (18-14-5), 2 SO, 3.16 GAA, .897 S% |
| LAST APP | (28/32) in 5-4 W at LAV 4/7/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 5 GP, (2-1-1), 0 SO, 2.48 GAA, .911 S% | |
| AT HOME | 21 GP, (10-8-3), 0 SO, 3.17 GAA, .897 S% |
GRIFFINS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Victor Brattstrom | OVERALL | 18 GP, (4-8-3), 0 SO, 3.71 GAA, .885 S% |
| LAST APP | (34/36) in first 64:37 of 2-3 SOL vs CLE 3/11/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 2.91 GAA, .895 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 10 GP, (3-4-1), 0 SO, 3.42 GAA, .886 S% | |
| 31 John Lethemon | OVERALL | 8 GP, (1-5-2), 0 SO, 3.46 GAA, .890 S% |
| LAST APP. | (29/32) in 1-3 L at MB 4/7/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 4 GP, (1-3-00, 0 SO, 3.28 GAA, .896 S% | |
| 45 Ryan Bednard | OVERALL | 2 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.91 GAA, .940 S% |
| LAST APP. | (29/31) in 5-2 W at MB 4/6/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 2 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.91 GAA, .940 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- THE FIX IS IN: Cleveland RW Trey Fix-Wolansky currently ranks among the AHL’s leaders in points (69, 5th), power-play points (30, T3rd), goals (28, T9th), assists (41, T10th), shots (208, 7th), power-play goals (11, T11th), power-play assists (19, T13th), and shootout goals (4, T2nd).
- ON THE MARC: Monsters D Marcus Bjork currently ranks among the AHL’s defensive leaders in shooting percentage (11.3%, 4th).
- GROUNDING THE GRIFFINS: Cleveland’s roster currently features three players scoring at a point per game or better pace against the Griffins this season, including RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (7 GP, 2-9-11), D David Jiricek (6 GP, 1-6-7), and C Josh Dunne (5 GP, 4-1-5).
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