Game Preview: Monsters at Stars 04/29
Apr 29, 2021In the fourth of six meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Texas Stars, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, on Thursday with full coverage, live H-E-B Center at Cedar Park in Cedar Park, TX, underway at 8:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 AM “The Gambler”, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-2 home win over the Chicago Wolves on Sunday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 13-7-1-0 on the season. With a .643 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 (11-8-19), C Tyler Angle (10-7-17), and RW Carson Meyer (7-9-16).
STARS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-2 road loss to the San Jose Barracuda on April 17th, the Texas Stars enter tonight’s game at 12-15-2-0 on the season. With a .448 points percentage, the Stars currently rank fifth in the Central Division standings and 20th league-wide. Texas is currently led in scoring by LW Adam Mascherin (15-14-29), C Riley Damiani (7-20-27), and RW Nick Baptiste (11-9-20).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Sunday marks the fourth of six meetings between the Monsters and Stars this season (2-1-0-0) and the first of three games between the two clubs at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park this year.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 33 Justin Kapelmaster | OVERALL (ECHL) | 16 GP, (7-7-1), 2 SO, 2.75 GAA, .914 S% |
| LAST APP. | -- | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | -- | |
| 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, (2-1-0), 0 SO, 2.35 GAA, .914 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 3 GP, (2-0-1), 0 SO, 1.98 GAA, .930 S% |
STARS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Thomas Scholl | OVERALL | 12 GP, (4-5-1), 0 SO, 2.93 GAA, .907 S% |
| LAST APP. | (40/45) in 2-5 L vs IA 4/3/21) | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (0-2-0), 0 SO, 3.07 GAA, .913 S% | |
| AT HOME | 7 GP, (2-2-1), 0 SO, 3.20 GAA, .890 S% | |
| 31 Adam Scheel | OVERALL | 5 GP, (1-4-0), 0 SO, 3.36 GAA, .904 S% |
| LAST APP. | (13/15) in 3-5 L at SJ 4/16/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 3.18 GAA, .923 S% | |
| 32 Colton Point | OVERALL | 13 GP, (6-5-1), 0 SO, 3.36 GAA, .889 S% |
| LAST APP. | (18/21) in 2-4 L at SJ 4/17/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 3.00 GAA, .914 S% | |
| AT HOME | 5 GP, (1-3-1), 0 SO, 4.17 GAA, .852 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- TERRIFIC TYLER: Monsters C Tyler Angle is riding a five-game point streak (5-3-8) and two-game goal streak (2G), and ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in shooting percentage (34.5%, 1st), game-winning goals (3, T2nd), and points (17, T15th).
- SIZZLING SPECIALTY TEAMS: Cleveland currently leads the AHL in overall power-play percentage (30.3%) and road power-play percentage (36.8%), and ranks tied for the AHL lead in shorthanded goals (6).
- SHOOTING DOWN THE STARS: Cleveland’s roster currently features three players scoring at a point per game pace versus Texas this year: C Tyler Angle (3 GP, 2-1-3), C Tyler Sikura (3 GP, 2-1-3), and RW Carson Meyer (3 GP, 1-2-3).