Game Preview: Monsters vs. Rocket 12/18
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 Laval Rocket, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, on Sunday with full coverage, live from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, underway at 3:00 pm on Bally Sports Great Lakes, FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 7-4 HOME WIN OVER THE Laval Rocket on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter today’s game at 12-8-1-2 on the season. With 27 standings points, the Monsters currently rank fourth in the North Division standings and eighth in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (12-16-28), RW Emil Bemstrom (12-13-25), and RW Kirill Marchenko (8-11-19).
ROCKET PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-7 road loss to the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday, the Laval Rocket enter today’s game at 9-14-3-1 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 (7-15-22), and C Peter Abbandonato (7-11-18).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Sunday marks the fourth of eight meetings between the Monsters and Rocket this season (2-0-0-1, +6 goal differential [18/12]) and the second 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 | 11 GP, (5-3-2), 0 SO, 4.09 GAA, .877 S% |
| LAST APP | (25/29) in 7-4 W vs LAV 12/17/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-0-1), 0 SO, 3.84 GAA, .900 S% | |
| AT HOME | 4 GP, (4-0-0), 0 SO, 3.84 GAA, .877 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 | 14 GP, (4-8-2), 0 SO, 3.57 GAA, .880 S% |
| LAST APP. | (21/27) in 4-7 L at CLE 12/17/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 4.84 GAA, .800 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 10 GP, (3-7-0), 0 SO, 3.88 GAA, .870 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- EMIL’S EXCELLING: Monsters RW Emil Bemstrom is currently in the midst of a nine-game point streak (7-7-14) and a five-game assist streak (5A). Bemstrom also ranks among the AHL’s leaders in game-winning goals (3, T3rd) and power-play goals (7, T3rd).
- DYNAMIC DAVID: Monsters D David Jiricek is currently riding a three-game point streak (1-5-6) and a three-game assist streak (5A). Jiricek is scoring at a two points per game pace vs. Laval this season (3GP, 3-3-6) and ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in power-play assists (8, 2nd).
- THE FIX IS IN: Cleveland’s leading scorer, RW Trey Fix-Wolansky, is currently riding a three-game point streak (2-4-6) and a two-game assist streak (4A). Fix-Wolansky is scoring at a three points per game pace vs. Laval this season (3GP, 4-5-9) and ranks in the AHL’s top 15 in scoring (28PTS, 11th).
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