Monsters at Home For Round Two against Icehogs
In the second of four meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Rockford IceHogs, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, on Saturday with full coverage, live from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, underway at 1:00 pm on Alt 99.1, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 7-1 home win over the Rockford IceHogs on Friday, the Cleveland Monsters enter today’s game at 4-3-0-1 on the season. With nine points, the Monsters currently rank fourth in the AHL’s North Division standings and seventh in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by LW Nathan Gerbe (1-6-7), C Zac Dalpe (4-2-6) and LW Calvin Thurkauf (2-4-6).
ICEHOGS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 1-7 road loss to the Cleveland Monsters on Friday, the Rockford IceHogs enter tonight’s game at 2-4-0-0 on the season. With four points, the IceHogs currently rank seventh in the AHL’s Central Division standings and 13th in the Western Conference. Rockford is currently led in scoring by RW Dylan Sikura (3-2-5), LW Tyler Sikura (3-1-4) and D Ian McCoshen (0-4-4).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the second of four games between the Monsters and IceHogs this season and the second of two meetings between the two teams at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year. Cleveland is 1-0-0-0 vs. Rockford this season both overall and at home with a +6 goal differential (7/1) in both situations so far this season.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 35 Veini Vehvilainen | OVERALL | 3 GP, (1-2-0), 0 SO, 3.04 GAA, .904 S% |
| LAST APP. | (24/26) in 0-2 L at TOR 10/19/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 2.08 GAA, .923 S% | |
| AT HOME | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 6.00 GAA, .838 S% | |
| 39 Brad Thiessen | OVERALL | N/A |
| LAST APP. | N/A | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| AT HOME | N/A | |
| 80 Matiss Kivlenieks | OVERALL | 5 GP, (3-1-1), 0 SO, 2.52 GAA, .906 S% |
| LAST APP. | (24/25) in 7-1 W vs RFD 10/25/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .960 S% | |
| AT HOME | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 1.51 GAA, .939 S% |
ICEHOGS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Collin Delia | OVERALL | 4 GP, (1-3-0), 0 SO, 4.13 GAA, .877 S% |
| LAST APP. | (21/28) in 1-7 L at CLE 10/25/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 7.00 GAA, .750 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 7.00 GAA, .750 S% | |
| 30 Kevin Lankinen | OVERALL | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 3.01 GAA, .909 S% |
| LAST APP. | (30/33) in 2-3 L at IA 10/4/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| ON THE ROAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 3.01 GAA, .909 S% | |
| 31 Matt Tomkins | OVERALL | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.85 GAA, .939 S% |
| LAST APP. | (31/33) in 3-2 OTW at CHI 10/19/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| ON THE ROAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.85 GAA, .939 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- MILESTONE MEN: Cleveland co-captain, C Zac Dalpe, posted two points (1G, 1A) in the Monsters’ 5-6 road shootout loss to Toronto on Sunday, the 299th and 300th points of his professional career. Meanwhile, Cleveland’s 7-1 home win over Rockford on Friday was the 100th victory of Monsters head coach Mike Eaves’ AHL career and Cleveland D Anton Karlsson posted his first-career AHL and North American pro goal and point in Friday’s victory as well.
- GERBE THE GREAT: Cleveland’s other co-captain, LW Nathan Gerbe, currently leads the Monsters in scoring (1-6-7), ranks in the AHL’s top five in assists (6, T5th), is riding a two-game points streak (1-1-2) and has six points to his credit (1-5-6) in his past four games.
- MR. EFFICIENCY: Monsters C Sam Vigneault currently ranks in the AHL’s top-five in shooting percentage (60.0%, 4th) and is in the midst of a two-game goal-scoring streak (2-0-2). Vigneault’s one shorthanded goal this season also currently ranks tied for the AHL lead.
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