Monsters Rematch the Senators in a Matinee at Home
In the fourth 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 Belleville Senators, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, 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 1-5 home loss to the Belleville Senators on Friday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 24-27-4-2 on the season. With 54 points, the Monsters currently rank eighth in the AHL’s North Division standings and 15th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by D Adam Clendening (7-31-38), C Ryan MacInnis (7-23-30) and LW Stefan Matteau (12-16-28).
SENATORS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 5-1 road win over the Cleveland Monsters on Friday, the Belleville Senators enter today’s game at 36-17-4-1 on the season. With 77 points, the Senators currently rank first in the AHL’s North Division standings and first in the Eastern Conference. Belleville is currently led in scoring by C Josh Norris (30-28-58), LW Alex Formenton (25-25-50) and RW Drake Batherson (15-35-50).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the fourth of four meetings between the Monsters and Senators this season and the second of two games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year. Cleveland is 1-2-0-0 overall vs. Belleville with a -6 goal differential (8/14) overall and 0-1-0-0 vs. the Senators at home with a -4 goal differential (1/5).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 35 Veini Vehvilainen | OVERALL | 30 GP, (10-15-4), 3 SO, 2.69 GAA, .904 S% |
| LAST APP. | (27/31) in 3-4 OTL at TOR 2/26/20 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.00 GAA, .895 S% | |
| AT HOME | 15 GP, (5-8-1), 3 SO, 2.39 GAA, .914 S% | |
| 39 Brad Thiessen | OVERALL | 7 GP, (3-3-0), 0 SO, 2.86 GAA, .894 S% |
| LAST APP. | (20/25) in 1-5 L vs BEL 2/28/20 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 5.02 GAA, .800 S% | |
| AT HOME | 4 GP, (3-1-0), 0 SO, 3.25 GAA, .895 S% |
SENATORS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Filip Gustavsson | OVERALL | 22 GP, (14-5-3), 1 SO, 3.38 GAA, .883 S% |
| LAST APP. | (20/24) in 5-4 OTW vs MB 2/22/20 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 6.01 GAA, .769 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 11 GP, (7-1-3), 1 SO, 2.78 GAA, .909 S% | |
| 35 Joey Daccord | OVERALL | 24 GP, (15-6-2), 1 SO, 2.61 GAA, .915 S% |
| LAST APP. | (23/24) in 5-1 W at CLE 2/28/20 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .958 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 12 GP, (11-1-0), 1 SO, 1.82 GAA, .940 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- BELLEVILLE BOMBERS: The Senators’ top two scorers on their current roster are forwards Alex Formenton and Drake Batherson, currently tied for seventh league-wide with 50 points each to their credit this year. Cleveland must find a way to neutralize those dangerous Belleville assets on Saturday afternoon.
- MORE MOVEMENT: Following the Monsters’ 5-1 home loss to Belleville on Friday, C Ryan MacInnis was recalled by the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets while D Steve Johnson inked an AHL contract with the Monsters for the remainder of the season.
- DISCIPLINE: On Friday, the Senators netted three power-play goals in a 5-1 road win over the Monsters. In Saturday afternoon’s rematch Cleveland will need to do all they can to stay out of the penalty box given Belleville’s myriad offensive weapons.
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