Game Preview: Monsters at Phantoms 04/27
Apr 27, 2022In the fourth 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 Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, on Wednesday with full coverage, live from PPL Center in Allentown, PA, underway at 7:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-0 home win over the Rochester Americans on Sunday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 27-34-8-5 on the season. With a .453 points percentage, the Monsters currently rank seventh in the North Division standings and 15th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by D Jake Christiansen (13-30-43), LW Tyler Angle (10-26-36), and C Tyler Sikura (14-20-34).
PHANTOMS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 0-5 home loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds on Tuesday, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms enter tonight’s game at 28-31-10-5 on the season. With a .480 points percentage, the Phantoms currently rank eight in the Atlantic Division standings and 14th in the Eastern Conference. Lehigh Valley is currently led in scoring by C Cal O’Reilly (20-31-51), D Adam Clendening (5-36-41), and LW Garrett Wilson (17-16-33).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Wednesday marks the fourth of four meetings between the Monsters and Phantoms this season [(2-1-0-0), even goal differential (6/6)] and the second of two games between the two clubs at PPL Center this year [(0-1-0-0), -2 goal differential (2/4)].
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 27 GP, (11-11-2), 1 SO, 2.90 GAA, .906 S% |
| LAST APP | (23/29) in 2-6 L vs ROC 4/2/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (1-2-0), 0 SO, 4.72 GAA, .835 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 14 GP, (6-5-1), 0 SO, 2.77 GAA, .912 S% | |
| 40 Linden Marshall | OVERALL | 3 GP, (1-1-0), 1 SO, 2.57 GAA, .924 S% |
| LAST APP | (38/38) in 2-0 W vs ROC 4/24/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 1 GP, (0-0-0), 0 SO, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 S% |
PHANTOMS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Samuel Ersson | OVERALL | 5 GP, (0-3-1), 0 SO, 2.96 GAA, .893 S% |
| LAST APP. | (21/25) in 0-5 L vs BEL 2/8/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 3 GP, (0-1-1), 0 SO, 2.84 GAA, .909 S% | |
| 33 Darion Hanson | REA (ECHL) | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .957 S% |
| UCONN (NCAA-HE) | 35 GP, (20-15-0), 1 SO, 2.24 GAA, .923 S% | |
| 35 Pat Nagle | OVERALL | 21 GP, (10-5-6), 2 SO, 2.58 GAA, .907 S% |
| LAST APP. | (21/26) in 0-5 L vs SPR 4/26/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 1.82 GAA, .949 S% | |
| AT HOME | 9 GP, (4-3-2), 0 SO, 2.89 GAA, .881 S% | |
| 72 Kirill Ustimenko | OVERALL | 8 GP, (1-3-2), 0 SO, 2.91 GAA, .900 S% |
| LAST APP. | (8/12) in first 20:00 of 6-5 W vs HFD 3/12/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-0-1), 0 SO, 1.99 GAA, .900 S% | |
| AT HOME | 4 GP, (0-2-1), 0 SO, 3.21 GAA, .899 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- OUTSTANDING OWEN: Cleveland C Owen Sillinger is scoring at a better than point per game pace in his last five outings (2-4-6).
- TERRIFIC TYLER: Monsters C Tyler Sikura is currently riding a four-game point streak (2-2-4).
- DYNAMIC D-MAN: Cleveland D Jake Christiansen currently ranks among the AHL’s defensive leaders in points (43, T5th), goals (13, T1st), shorthanded assists (3, T2nd), shorthanded points (3, T3rd), and shots on goal (172, 2nd) so far this season.