Game Preview: Monsters at Griffins 04/21

Apr 21, 2021

In the sixth of ten meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, AHL 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 7:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 AM “The Gambler”, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.

 

MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 5-3 road loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Tuesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 11-6-1-0 on the season. With a .639 points percentage, the Monsters currently rank second in the Central Division standings and seventh league-wide. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by C Tyler Sikura (9-8-17), RW Carson Meyer (6-8-14), and C Tyler Angle (6-6-12).

 

GRIFFINS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 5-3 home win over the Cleveland Monsters on Tuesday, the Grand Rapids Griffins enter tonight’s game at 10-6-3-0 on the season. With a .605 points percentage, the Griffins currently rank third in the Central Division standings and tenth league-wide. Grand Rapids is currently led in scoring by RW Riley Barber (14-8-22), LW Taro Hirose (4-13-17), and C Kyle Criscuolo (7-5-12).

 

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Tuesday marks the sixth of ten meetings between the Monsters and Griffins this season (1-3-1-0) and the third of five games between the two clubs at Van Andel Arena this year (0-1-1-0).

MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:

34 Daniil Tarasov OVERALL 3 GP, (2-1-0), 0 SO, 3.05 GAA, .880 S%
  LAST APP.  (22/26) in 3-5 L at GR 4/20/21
  HEAD-TO-HEAD

2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 3.07 GAA, .891 S%

  ON THE ROAD  2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 3.56 GAA, .848 S%
39 Brad Thiessen  OVERALL 9 GP, (4-4-1), 0 SO, 2.80 GAA, .906 S%
  LAST APP.  (23/24) in 5-1 W at ROC 3/31/21
  HEAD-TO-HEAD

3 GP, (0-2-1), 0 SO, 2.68 GAA, .916 S%

  ON THE ROAD 6 GP, (2-4-0), 0 SO, 3.22 GAA, .894 S%
80 Matiss Kivlenieks OVERALL

5 GP, (5-0-0), 0 SO, 2.36 GAA, .924 S%

  LAST APP.  (28/31) in 6-3 W vs ROC 4/17/21
  HEAD-TO-HEAD --
  ON THE ROAD 3 GP, (3-0-0), 0 SO, 1.95 GAA, .938 S%

GRIFFINS GOALTENDERS:

33 Kevin Boyle OVERALL 9 GP, (5-2-1), 0 SO, 2.84 GAA, .886 S%
  LAST APP.  (29/33) in 5-4 W vs IA 4/16/21
  HEAD-TO-HEAD --
  AT HOME 3 GP, (2-0-1), 0 SO, 2.31 GAA, .910 S%
35 Pat Nagle OVERALL 9 GP, (5-4-0), 0 SO, 2.97 GAA, .883 S%
  LAST APP.  (19/22) in 5-3 W vs CLE 4/20/21
  HEAD-TO-HEAD 5 GP, (4-1-0), 0 SO, 2.21 GAA, .912 S%
  AT HOME 2 GP, (2-0-0), 0 SO, 1.98 GAA, .911 S%

KEYS TO SUCCESS:

  • SIMPSON’S SUCCESS: Monsters D Dillon Simpson currently ranks among the AHL’s defensive leaders in goals (6, T1st) and shooting percentage (27.3%, 2nd), and is currently in the midst of a six-game point streak (5-2-7).
  • PILING UP POINTS: Cleveland RW Carson Meyer is currently riding a nine-game point streak (4-5-9) while Monsters C Tyler Sikura is in the midst of a seven-game point streak (7-4-11) and Cleveland C Liam Foudy is riding a six-game point streak (3-8-11).
  • POWER SURGE: The Monsters currently lead the AHL in overall power-play percentage (29.9%) and road power-play percentage (36.1%)

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