Game Preview: Monsters vs Stars 3/25
In the first of six meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Texas Stars, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, on Thursday 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 5-2 home loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 4-4-1-0 on the season. With nine points, the Monsters currently rank fourth in the Central Division standings and 19th league-wide. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (4-5-9), D Dillon Simpson (3-4-7), and LW Nathan Gerbe (2-5-7).
STARS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-3 home overtime loss to the Colorado Eagles last Wednesday, the Texas Stars enter tonight’s game at 8-4-2-0 on the season. With 18 points, the Stars currently rank third in the Central Division standings and tenth league-wide. Texas is currently led in scoring by LW Adam Mascherin (8-9-17), C Riley Damiani (6-11-17), and LW Cole Schneider (5-7-12).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Thursday marks the first of six meetings between the Monsters and Stars this season and the first of three games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 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 | 5 GP, (1-3-1), 0 SO, 3.43 GAA, .894 S% |
| LAST APP. | (31/35) in 2-5 L vs GR 3/20/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 3 GP, (0-3-0), 0 SO, 4.09 GAA, .878 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 | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 3.00 GAA, .900 S% |
STARS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Tomas Sholl | OVERALL | 7 GP, (4-1-1), 0 SO, 2.80 GAA, .907 S% |
| LAST APP. | (21/26) in 4-5 OTL vs COL 3/16/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 3 GP, (2-1-0), 0 SO, 2.35 GAA, .929 S% | |
| 30 Matt Jurusik | OVERALL | -- |
| LAST APP. | -- | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | -- | |
| 32 Colton Point | OVERALL | 6 GP, (3-2-1), 0 SO, 3.48 GAA, .891 S% |
| LAST APP. | (25/29) in 3-4 OTL vs COL 3/17/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 3 GP, (3-0-0), 0 SO, 2.65 GAA, .921 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- DYNAMIC DILLON: Monsters D Dillon Simpson is scoring at a point per game pace in his last six outings (2-4-6) and is currently in the midst of a three-game point streak (2-1-3) and a two-game goal streak (2G).
- AWESOME ANGLE: Cleveland C Tyler Angle is currently in the midst of a three-game point streak (2-2-4) and a two-game assist streak (2A).
- POWER PLAY PROWESS: Cleveland currently leads the AHL in overall power-play percentage (32.1%) and ranks second league-wide in home power-play percentage (33.3%).
