Game Preview: Monsters at Bears 12/11
Dec 11, 2022In the second of four meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Hershey Bears, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Washington Capitals, on Sunday with full coverage, live from Giant Center in Hershey, PA, underway at 5:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-3 road loss to the Hershey Bears on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 10-8-1-2 on the season. With 23 standings points, the Monsters currently rank fourth in the North Division standings and tenth in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (11-12-23), RW Emil Bemstrom (10-11-21), and RW Kirill Marchenko (8-11-19).
BEARS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-2 home win over the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday, the Hershey Bears enter tonight’s game at 17-5-2-0 on the season. With 36 standings points, the Bears currently rank first in the Atlantic Division standings and first in the Eastern Conference. Hershey is currently led in scoring by C Mike Vecchione (9-10-19), RW Mason Morelli (4-14-18), and C Mike Sgarbossa (7-9-16).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Sunday marks the second of four meetings between the Monsters and Bears this season (0-1-0-0, -1 goal differential [2/3]) and the second of two games between the two clubs at Giant Center this year.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Pavel Cajan | OVERALL |
7 GP, (3-3-1), 0 SO, 3.14 GAA, .887 S% |
| LAST APP |
(23/27) in 3-4 OTL vs ROC 12/1/22 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 3 GP, (2-1-0), 0 SO, 3.33 GAA, .891 S% | |
| 40 Daniil Tarasov | OVERALL | 4 GP, (2-2-0), 0 SO, 4.29 GAA, .850 S% |
| LAST APP | (22/25) in 2-3 L at HER 12/10/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 3.12 GAA, .880 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 3 GP, (1-2-0), 0 SO, 5.23 GAA, .809 S% |
BEARS GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Clay Stevenson | OVERALL | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.00 GAA, .926 S% |
| LAST APP. | (25/27) in 3-2 W vs CLE 12/10/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.00 GAA, .926 S% | |
| AT HOME | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.00 GAA, .926 S% | |
| 35 Zach Fucale | OVERALL |
15 GP, (10-5-0), 1 SO, 2.42 GAA, .901 S% |
| LAST APP. | (20/22) in 4-2 W at BRI 12/9/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 9 GP, (6-2-0), 0 SO, 2.54 GAA, .902 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- EMIL’S EXCELLING: Monsters RW Emil Bemstrom is currently in the midst of a seven-game point streak (5-5-10), the AHL’s fourth-longest such active streak, and a three-game assist streak (3A), and currently ranks among the AHL’s leaders in game-winning goals (3, T3rd).
- PLUGGED IN: The Monsters currently lead the AHL in overall power-play percentage (25/80, 31.3%) and road power-play percentage (20/51, 39.2%).
- SAM’S SUCCESS: Cleveland rookie D Samuel Knazko currently holds the AHL’s rookie lead in power-play assists (8PPA) and ranks in the league’s top five among rookies in power-play points (8, T4th).