Game Preview: Monsters at Americans 04/15
Apr 15, 2023In the seventh of eight meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, AHL 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 Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, NY, underway at 5:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 1-2 road loss to the Utica Comets on Friday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 32-31-5-2 on the season. With 71 standings points, the Monsters currently rank sixth in the North Division standings and 13th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (29-41-70), C Justin Richards (10-28-38), and D David Jiricek (6-32-38).
AMERICANS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-7 home loss to the Belleville Senators on Friday, the Rochester Americans enter tonight’s game at 35-26-6-3 on the season. With 79 standings points, the Americans currently rank third in the North Division standings and ninth in the Eastern Conference. Rochester is currently led in scoring by LW Lukas Rousek (15-40-55), C Brandon Biro (16-35-51), and LW Brett Murray (23-26-49).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the seventh of eight meetings between the Monsters and Americans this season (4-1-1-0, even goal differential [20/20]) and the fourth of four games between the two clubs at Blue Cross Arena this year (2-1-0-0, -1 goal differential [11/12]).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Pavel Cajan | OVERALL | 21 GP, (7-10-2), 0 SO, 3.44 GAA, .877 S% |
| LAST APP |
(36/38) in 1-3 L at BEL 4/8/23 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-0-1), 0 SO, 3.77 GAA, .852 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 10 GP, (5-4-1), 0 SO, 3.11 GAA, .894 S% | |
| 31 Nolan Lalonde | ERI (OHL) |
41 GP, (11-20-2), 1 SO, 4.10 GAA, .868 S% |
| 40 Daniil Tarasov | OVERALL |
11 GP, (5-5-0), 0 SO, 3.85 GAA, .882 S% |
| LAST APP | (16/18) in first 25:21 of 2-5 L at ROC 3/26/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 4.88 GAA, .841 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 7 GP, (2-4-0), 0 SO, 4.89 GAA, .851 S% | |
| 73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 42 GP, (19-15-5), 2 SO, 3.08 GAA, .899 S% |
| LAST APP |
(23/25) in 1-2 L at UTC 4/14/23 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 4 GP, (3-1-0), 0 SO, 2.24 GAA, .927 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 20 GP, (8-7-2), 2 SO, 3.09 GAA, .898 S% |
AMERICANS GOALTENDERS:
| 29 Michael Houser | OVERALL | 20 GP, (9-7-2), 1 SO, 2.74 GAA, .908 S% |
| LAST APP. | (20/21) in 5-1 W at UTC 4/8/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 4.25 GAA, .868 S% | |
| AT HOME | 6 GP, (2-2-1), 0 SO, 3.14 GAA, .882 S% | |
| 47 Malcolm Subban | OVERALL | 38 GP, (19-14-5), 2 SO, 2.99 GAA, .902 S% |
| LAST APP. | (18/24) in 4-7 L vs BEL 4/14/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
4 GP, (2-1-1), 0 SO, 2.45 GAA, .905 S% |
|
| AT HOME | 22 GP, (11-8-3), 1 SO, 3.17 GAA, .889 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- DYNAMIC DAVID: Monsters D David Jiricek currently ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in assists (32, T3rd), power-play assists (20, 1st), and power-play points (24, 2nd), and ranks among the league’s defensive leaders in power-play goals (4, T6th) and power-play points (T5th).
- FANTASTIC FINS: Cleveland LW Joona Luoto is scoring at a point per game pace vs. Rochester this season (5 GP, 3-2-5), as is LW Mikael Pyyhtia (1 GP, 1-0-1).
- MAN-UP MONSTER: Monsters RW Trey Fix-Wolansky scored a pair of power-play goals for Cleveland in a 5-4 road win over Laval on April 7th, vaulting him into first place alone on the Monsters’ all-time franchise power-play goal-scoring list, two clear of the previous record holders.