Game Preview: Monsters at Rocket 11/18
Nov 18, 2022In the first 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 Laval Rocket, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, on Friday with full coverage, live from Place Bell in Laval, QC, underway at 7:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 7-8 road shootout loss to the Belleville Senators on Wednesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 7-5-0-1 on the season. With 15 standings points, the Monsters currently rank third in the North Division standings and seventh in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (7-9-16), RW Kirill Marchenko (8-6-14), and RW Emil Bemstrom (7-7-14).
ROCKET PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-2 home win over the Abbotsford Canucks on Wednesday, the Laval Rocket enter tonight’s game at 4-8-3-0 on the season. With 11 standings points, the Rocket currently rank sixth in the North Division standings and 14th in the Eastern Conference. Laval is currently led in scoring by LW Anthony Richard (11-4-15), RW Jesse Ylonen (4-6-10), and C Xavier Simoneau (3-7-10).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the first of eight meetings between the Monsters and Rocket this season and the first of four games between the two clubs at Place Bell this year.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Pavel Cajan | OVERALL | 4 GP, (2-2-0), 0 SO, 3.29 GAA, .877 S% |
| LAST APP | (22/24) in 4-2 W vs CHI 11/5/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 3.50 GAA, .877 S% | |
| 73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 6 GP, (2-3-1), 0 SO, 4.68 GAA, .844 S% |
| LAST APP | (23/30) in 7-8 SOL at BEL 11/16/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 4 GP, (0-3-1), 0 SO, 4.98 GAA, .829 S% |
ROCKET GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Cayden Primeau | OVERALL | 9 GP, (3-4-2), 1 SO, 302 GAA, .906 S% |
| LAST APP. | (41/43) in 4-2 W vs ABB 11/16/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 7 GP, (3-2-2), 1 SO, 3.14 GAA, .908 S% | |
| 39 Kevin Poulin | OVERALL | 6 GP, (1-4-1), 0 SO, 3.63 GAA, .885 S% |
| LAST APP. | (23/26) in 1-4 L at HER 11/13/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 2 GP, (0-1-1), 0 SO, 3.41 GAA, .899 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- THE FIX IS IN: Cleveland RW Trey Fix-Wolansky is officially on a tear with eight points (4G, 4A) in his last two appearances. Now the Monsters leading scorer, Fix-Wolansky currently ranks in the AHL’s top-five in points (16, T5th), and ranks among Cleveland’s all-time franchise leaders in power-play goals (12, T10th) and game-winning goals (8, T4th). The Edmonton, AB native is currently riding a two-game point streak (4-4-8), a two-game goal streak (4G), tied for the league’s fourth-longest such active streak, and a two-game assist streak (4A).
- JOLTIN’ JUSTIN: Monsters C Justin Richards is set to appear in his 100th career AHL game on Friday and has eight points to his credit (2G, 6A) in his last five appearances.
- GOING STREAKING: Four Cleveland skaters are currently in the midst of three-game point streaks, including LW Cole Fonstad (2-3-5), D Samuel Knazko (1-2-3), RW Carson Meyer (2-3-5), and D Billy Sweezey (0-3-3).