Game Preview: Monsters at Griffins 05/15
May 15, 2021In the tenth 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 Saturday 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 6-4 home win over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 16-9-1-2 on the season. With a .625 points percentage, the Monsters currently rank second in the Central Division standings and eighth league-wide. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by C Tyler Angle (11-13-24), C Tyler Sikura (11-10-21), and RW Carson Meyer (9-11-20).
GRIFFINS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 6-4 road loss to the Cleveland Monsters on Friday, the Grand Rapids Griffins enter tonight’s game at 14-12-3-1 on the season. With a .548 points percentage, the Griffins currently rank fourth in the Central Division standings and 15th league-wide. Grand Rapids is currently led in scoring by RW Riley Barber (19-14-33), LW Taro Hirose (5-22-27), and C Chase Pearson (8-13-21).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the tenth of ten meetings between the Monsters and Griffins this season (3-5-1-0) and the fifth of five games between the two clubs at Van Andel Arena this year (1-2-1-0).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 34 Daniil Tarasov | OVERALL | 5 GP, (4-1-0), 0 SO, 3.38 GAA, .879 S% |
| LAST APP. | (25/29) in 6-4 W vs GR 5/14/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (2-1-0), 0 SO, 3.39 GAA, .881 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD |
2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 3.56 GAA, .848 S% |
|
| 39 Brad Thiessen | OVERALL |
12 GP, (4-5-3), 0 SO, 2.74 GAA, .901 S% |
| LAST APP. | (16/19) in 3-4 SOL vs ROC 5/8/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (0-2-1), 0 SO, 2.68 GAA, .916 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 5 GP, (2-1-2), 0 SO, 2.17 GAA, .918 S% |
GRIFFINS GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Calvin Pickard | OVERALL | 2 GP, (0-1-1), 0 SO, 4.49 GAA, .833 S% |
| LAST APP. | (25/32) in 0-7 L vs CHI 5/12/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 2 GP, (0-1-1), 0 SO, 4.49 GAA, .833 S% | |
| 33 Kevin Boyle | OVERALL | 12 GP, (7-2-1), 0 SO, 2.89 GAA, .883 S% |
| LAST APP. | (20/24) in 5-4 W vs CHI 5/7/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 5 GP, (4-0-1), 0 SO, 2.58 GAA, .895 S% | |
| 35 Pat Nagle | OVERALL | 12 GP, (6-6-0), 0 SO, 2.78 GAA, .892 S% |
| LAST APP. | (19/21) in 44:54 of relief in 4-6 L at CLE 5/14/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 6 GP, (4-2-0), 0 SO, 2.27 GAA, .911 S% | |
| AT HOME | 3 GP, (2-1-0), 0 SO, 2.33 GAA, .907 S% | |
| 36 Kaden Fulcher | OVERALL | 7 GP, (2-2-2), 1 SO, 2.84 GAA, .905 S% |
| LAST APP. | (5/8) in first 13:43 of 4-6 L at CLE 5/14/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 4 GP, (2-1-0), 1 SO, 2.18 GAA, .926 S% | |
| AT HOME | 5 GP, (1-2-2), 0 SO, 2.94 GAA, .906 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- GETTING IT DUNNE: Monsters C Josh Dunne is scoring at a better than point per game pace in his last six outings (6-1-7).
- CLIFF’S CRUISING: Cleveland RW Cliff Pu is scoring at a point per game pace in his last four appearances (2-2-4).
- TERRIFIC TYLER: The Monsters’ leading scorer, C Tyler Angle, is scoring at a better than point per game pace in his last five outings (1-5-6).