Monsters Take on Americans at Home
In the third of eight meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Rochester Americans, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, on Saturday with full coverage, live from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, underway at 7:00 pm on SportsTime Ohio, Alt 99.1, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-5 road loss to the Charlotte Checkers on Wednesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 11-8-1-1 on the season. With 24 points, the Monsters currently rank sixth in the AHL’s North Division standings and ninth in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by LW Nathan Gerbe (5-11-15), D Adam Clendening (5-7-12) and D Andrew Peeke (5-7-12).
AMERICANS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-3 home overtime loss to the Toronto Marlies on Friday, the Rochester Americans enter tonight’s game at 12-3-2-2 on the season. With 28 points, the Amerks currently rank second in the AHL’s North Division standings and second in the Eastern Conference. Rochester is currently led in scoring by C Jean-Sebastien Dea (7-6-13), LW Scott Wilson (6-7-13) and C Andrew Oglevie (6-7-13).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the third of eight meetings between the Monsters and Amerks this season and the first of four meetings between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year. Cleveland is 1-0-1-0 vs. Rochester both overall and on the road this season with an even goal differential (6/6) in both scenarios.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 35 Veini Vehvilainen | OVERALL | 9 GP, (4-5-0), 2 SO, 2.03 GAA, .924 S% |
| LAST APP. | (16/16) in 3-0 W vs CHI 11/22/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (1-2-0), 0 SO, 2.03 GAA, .927 S% | |
| AT HOME | 3 GP, (1-2-0), 0 SO, 2.03 GAA, .927 S% | |
| 39 Brad Thiessen | OVERALL | N/A |
| LAST APP. | N/A | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| AT HOME | N/A | |
| 80 Matiss Kivlenieks | OVERALL | 10 GP, (6-2-2), 0 SO, 2.75 GAA, .898 S% |
| LAST APP. | (34/39) in 2-5 L at CHA 11/27/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-0-1), 0 SO, 2.86 GAA, .889 S% | |
| AT HOME | 4 GP, (3-1-0), 0 SO, 1.75 GAA, .928 S% |
AMERICANS GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Jonas Johansson | OVERALL | 10 GP, (5-2-2), 0 SO, 2.35 GAA, .916 S% |
| LAST APP. | (34/36) in 4-2 W at BNG 11/23/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.97 GAA, .926 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 5 GP, (2-1-1), 0 SO, 2.04 GAA, .935 S% | |
| 35 Andrew Hammond | OVERALL | 11 GP, (7-1-2), 2 SO, 2.66 GAA, .902 S% |
| LAST APP. | (28/31) in 2-3 OTL vs TOR 11/29/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-0-1), 0 SO, 2.77 GAA, .842 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 6 GP, (4-1-0), 1 SO, 3.32 GAA, .883 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- SUCCESSFUL SWEDES: Monsters LW Jakob Lilja and C Kevin Stenlund, both Swedish nationals, are currently in the midst of matching four-game point streaks (2-2-4 each).
- RYAN’S ROLLIN’: Monsters C Ryan MacInnis has points in four straight games (0-5-5) and is scoring at a better-than point-per-game pace in his last five outings (1-5-6).
- AMBUSHING THE AMERKS: Three Cleveland players are scoring at a point-per-game pace or better vs. Rochester so far this season, including LW Nathan Gerbe (2 GP, 0-3-3), C Stefan Matteau (2 GP, 2-0-2) and D Adam Clendening (2 GP, 0-2-2).
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