Game Preview: Monsters vs. Rocket 12/17
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 Laval Rocket, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, on Saturday with full coverage, live from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, underway at 12:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 6-5 road shootout win over the Hershey Bears on Sunday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 11-8-1-2 on the season. With 25 standings points, the Monsters currently rank fourth in the North Division standings and tenth in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (11-14-25), RW Emil Bemstrom (10-12-22), and RW Kirill Marchenko (8-11-19).
ROCKET PRE-SCOUT: Following a 5-2 road win over the Utica Comets on Wednesday, the Laval Rocket enter tonight’s game at 9-13-3-1 on the season. With 22 standings points, the Rocket currently rank seventh in the North Division standings and 15th in the Eastern Conference. Laval is currently led in scoring by LW Anthony Richard (18-13-31), RW Jesse Ylonen (6-15-21), and C Xavier Simoneau (4-14-18).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the third of eight meetings between the Monsters and Rocket this season (1-0-0-1, +3 goal differential [11/8]) and the first of four games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Pavel Cajan | OVERALL | 8 GP, (4-3-1), 0 SO, 3.34 GAA, .881 S% |
| LAST APP | (28/33) in 6-5 SOW at HER 12/11/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 3.00 GAA, .914 S% | |
| AT HOME | 4 GP, (1-2-1), 0 SO, 3.00 GAA, .882 S% | |
| 73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 10 GP, (4-3-2), 0 SO, 4.10 GAA, .878 S% |
| LAST APP | (14/17) in 28:24 of relief in 1-8 L at WBS 12/9/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-0-1), 0 SO, 3.69 GAA, .922 S% | |
| AT HOME | 3 GP, (3-0-0), 0 SO, 3.79 GAA, .881 S% |
ROCKET GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Cayden Primeau | OVERALL | 12 GP, (4-6-2), 1 SO, 3.53 GAA, .893 S% |
| LAST APP. | (32/37) in 7-5 W at BEL 11/25/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 7.00 GAA, .806 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 3 GP, (1-2-0), 0 SO, 3.43 GAA, .882 S% | |
| 35 Joseph Vrbetic | OVERALL | 2 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 4.08 GAA, .857 S% |
| LAST APP. | (27/31) in 7-4 W vs BEL 12/10/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 1 GP, (0-0-0), 0 SO, 4.43 GAA, .750 S% | |
| 39 Kevin Poulin | OVERALL | 13 GP, (4-7-2), 0 SO, 3.38 GAA, .887 S% |
| LAST APP. | (31/33) in 5-2 W at UTC 12/14/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 3.69 GAA, .826 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 9 GP, (3-6-0), 0 SO, 3.63 GAA, .879 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- GETTING IT DUNNE: Monsters C Josh Dunne is currently riding a two-game goal streak (3G) and is scoring at a goal per game pace in his last four appearances (4-0-4).
- SAM’S SUCCESS: Cleveland D Sam Knazko is currently riding a two-game assist streak (3A) and leads AHL rookies with nine power-play assists.
- EMIL’S EXCELLING: Monsters RW Emil Bemstrom is currently in the midst of an eight-game point streak (5-6-11) and a four-game assist streak (4A). Bemstrom also ranks among the AHL’s leaders in game-winning goals (3, T3rd).
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