
Game Preview: Monsters vs. Marlies 3/24
In the third of four meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Toronto Marlies, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, on Friday 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 5-3 home win over the Belleville Senators on Sunday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 26-26-5-2 on the season. With 59 standings points, the Monsters currently rank seventh in the North Division standings and 15th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (25-41-66), C Josh Dunne (19-15-34), and C Justin Richards (10-24-34).
MARLIES PRE-SCOUT: Following a 1-2 home shootout loss to the Milwaukee Admirals on Wednesday, the Toronto Marlies enter today’s game at 40-18-2-2 on the season. With 84 standings points, the Marlies currently rank first in the North Division standings and first in the Eastern Conference. Toronto is currently led in scoring by C Logan Shaw (18-44-62), LW Alex Steeves (17-28-45), and LW Nick Abruzzese (15-28-43).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the third of four meetings between the Monsters and Marlies this season (1-1-0-0, +1 goal differential [6/5]) and the second of two games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year (0-1-0-0, -3 goal differential [1/4]).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
32 Jon Gillies | TUC (AHL) | 15 GP, (5-8-2), 0 SO, 3.70 GAA, .878 S% |
LAST APP: | (36/41) in 2-5 L at CV 1/16/23 | |
40 Daniil Tarasov | OVERALL | 9 GP, (4-5-0), 0 SO, 4.07 GAA, .871 S% |
LAST APP | (26/27) in 4-1 W vs GR 3/7/23 | |
HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (2-1-0), 0 SO, 2.70 GAA, .914 S% | |
73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 34 GP, (14-12-5), 0 SO, 3.34 GAA, .893 S% |
LAST APP | (33/36) in 5-3 W vs BEL 3/19/23 | |
HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .976 S% | |
AT HOME | 20 GP, (10-7-3), 0 SO, 3.13 GAA, .900 S% |
MARLIES GOALTENDERS:
40 Luke Cavallin | NFL (ECHL) | 31 GP, (21-8-1), 1 SO, 2.57 GAA, .916 S% |
50 Erik Kallgren | OVERALL | 21 GP, (9-7-2), 0 SO, 3.21 GAA, .887 S% |
LAST APP | (23/26) in 1-4 L vs CLT 3/18/23 | |
HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
ON THE ROAD | 10 GP, (5-3-1), 0 SO, 3.80 GAA, .874 S% | |
80 Keith Petruzzelli | OVERALL | 20 GP, (12-7-0), 0 SO, 2.89 GAA, .906 S% |
LAST APP. | (27/31) in 3-4 L at HER 3/3/23 | |
HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 4.13 GAA, .879 S% | |
ON THE ROAD | 7 GP, (4-3-0), 0 SO, 3.70 GAA, .881 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- TERRIFIC TREY: Cleveland RW Trey Fix-Wolansky currently ranks among the AHL’s leaders in points (66, 4th), goals (25, T10th), assists (41, 7th), shots (188, 7th), power-play points (28, 3rd), power-play assists (19, T8th), and shootout goals (4, T2nd).
- ROOKIE SENSATION: Cleveland D David Jiricek currently ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in power-play assists (18, 1st) and power-play points (22, T2nd), and ranks among the league’s defensive leaders in power-play goals (4, T3rd). Jiricek is also riding a four-game assist streak (4).
- HITTING THE MARC: Monsters D Marcus Bjork currently ranks second among AHL defensemen with a 12.0% shooting percentage so far this season.