Monsters Hit the Road to Take on Griffins
In the first 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 Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, on Wednesday with full coverage, live from Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI, underway at 11:00 am on Alt 99.1, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 5-1 home win over the Charlotte Checkers on Sunday, the Cleveland Monsters enter today’s game at 7-3-0-1 on the season. With 15 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 (3-6-9), C Zac Dalpe (4-4-8) and C Justin Scott (3-5-8).
GRIFFINS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-7 road loss to the Manitoba Moose on Sunday, the Grand Rapids Griffins enter today’s game at 5-4-1-1 on the season. With 12 points, the Griffins currently rank fifth in the AHL’s Central Division standings and eighth in the Western Conference. Grand Rapids is currently led in scoring by RW Chris Terry (7-11-18), LW Matt Puempel (6-6-12) and C Michael Rasmussen (2-5-7).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Wednesday marks the first of four meetings between the Monsters and Griffins this season and the first of two tilts between the two teams at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 35 Veini Vehvilainen | OVERALL | 5 GP, (3-2-0), 1 SO, 2.02 GAA, .932 S% |
| LAST APP. | (22/23) in 5-1 W vs CHA 11/3/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| ON THE ROAD | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 1.53 GAA, .947 S% | |
| 39 Brad Thiessen | OVERALL | N/A |
| LAST APP. | N/A | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| AT HOME | N/A | |
| 80 Matiss Kivlenieks | OVERALL | 6 GP, (4-1-1), 0 SO, 2.27 GAA, .913 S% |
| LAST APP. | (20/21) in 2-1 OTW vs CHA 11/1/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 0.99 GAA, .952 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 3 GP, (2-0-1), 0 SO, 3.16 GAA, .889 S% |
GRIFFINS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Filip Larsson | OVERALL | 4 GP, (2-2-0), 0 SO, 3.28 GAA, .879 S% |
| LAST APP. | (30/35) in 4-7 L at MB 11/3/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| AT HOME | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 4.00 GAA, .846 S% | |
| 31 Calvin Pickard | OVERALL | 7 GP, (3-2-2), 1 SO, 2.84 GAA, .908 S% |
| LAST APP. | (221/25) in 3-5 L at MB 11/2/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| AT HOME | 4 GP, (2-1-1), 1 SO, 1.99 GAA, .934 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- FAMILIAR FACE: On Wednesday, the Monsters will face Griffins goaltender Calvin Pickard, Cleveland’s all-time franchise leader in goaltending appearances, wins, minutes played (8,214) and total saves (3,834). Pickard posted a record of 60-54-21 with ten shutouts (second-most in Monsters franchise history) in 142 appearances for the Monsters spanning parts of four seasons from 2011-15.
- TERRIFIC TERRY: Cleveland will need to shut down Griffins forward Chris Terry on Wednesday if they have designs on a win. So far this season, Terry ranks tied for the AHL-lead in points (18), ranks in the league’s top-ten in goals (7, T6th), ranks second in assists (7), tied for third in game-winning goals (2), is tied for the AHL-lead in power-play points (8) and ranks tied for second league-wide in power-play goals (4). Terry is also in the midst of a six-game points streak (5-7-12), tied for the AHL’s fourth-longest such streak this season.
- POWERFUL PEEKE: Monsters defenseman Andrew Peeke is scoring at a better than point per-game pace in his last five games (2-4-6), is ranked tied for the AHL-lead in shorthanded points (2) and his seven points (2G, 5A) rank among the league’s leaders among rookies (T8th) and blue-liners (T12th).
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