Game Preview: Monsters vs. Americans 04/02

Apr 2, 2022

In the eighth 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 Rochester Americans, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, on Saturday with full coverage, live from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, underway at 7:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.

 

MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 5-4 home win over the Rochester Americans on Friday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 24-27-8-4 on the season. With a .476 points percentage, the Monsters currently rank seventh in the North Division standings and 14th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by D Jake Christiansen (12-30-42), LW Tyler Angle (8-23-31), and C Justin Scott (14-16-30).

 

AMERICANS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-5 road loss to the Cleveland Monsters on Friday, the Rochester Americans enter tonight’s game at 31-25-5-3 on the season. With a .547 points percentage, the Americans currently rank sixth in the North Division standings and ninth in the Eastern Conference. Rochester is currently led in scoring by RW JJ Peterka (20-35-55), RW Jack Quinn (23-26-49), and LW Michael Mersch (23-23-46).

 

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the seventh of ten meetings between the Monsters and Americans this season [(2-3-1-0), -4 goal differential (21/25)] and the third of five games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year [(1-1-0-0), +1 goal differential (8/7)].

MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:

31 Jet Greaves	OVERALL	26 GP, (11-10-2), 1 SO, 2.77 GAA, .910 S%
	LAST APP	(32/35) in 2-4 L vs CHI 3/29/22
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 4.07 GAA, .857 S%
	AT HOME	12 GP, (5-5-1), 1 SO, 2.76 GAA, .909 S%
33 Cam Johnson	OVERALL	12 GP, (4-4-2), 0 SO, 3.18 GAA, .881 S%
	LAST APP	(38/42) in 5-4 W vs ROC 4/1/22
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 4.00 GAA, .905 S%
	AT HOME	7 GP, (2-3-1), 0 SO, 3.49 GAA, .868 S%

AMERICANS GOALTENDERS:

1 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	OVERALL	27 GP, (11-12-4), 1 SO, 3.51 GAA, .894 S%
	LAST APP.	(29/34) in 4-5 L at CLE 4/1/22
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	4 GP, (2-2-0), 0 SO, 3.47 GAA, .921 S%
	ON THE ROAD	13 GP, (6-5-2), 0 SO, 3.56 GAA, .905 S%
80 Aaron Dell	OVERALL	17 GP, (10-5-1), 0 SO, 3.01 GAA, .906 S%
	LAST APP.	(32/36) in 1-5 L at SYR 3/26/22
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 4.00 GAA, .886 S%
	ON THE ROAD	8 GP, (5-2-1), 0 SO, 2.93 GAA, .906 S%

KEYS TO SUCCESS:

• JAKE’S JAMMIN’: Cleveland D Jake Christiansen is currently riding a four-game point streak (3-2-5) and is scoring at a point per game pace vs. Rochester this season (5 GP, 2-3-5). Additionally, Christiansen ranks in the top three among AHL defensemen in points (42, T3rd), goals (12, T1st), shorthanded assists (3, T2nd), shorthanded points (3, T3rd), and shots on goal (150, 2nd).
• COLE’S CRUISING: Recently back in action following a 17-game injury layoff, Monsters RW Cole Fonstad is scoring at a point per game pace in his last three outings (1-2-3) and scored the game-winning goal in Cleveland’s 5-4 home win over Rochester on Friday.
• STILL STREAKING: Cleveland C Jake Gaudet is currently riding a three-game point streak (1-2-3) while D Thomas Schemitsch is in the midst of a two-game assist streak (2), and C Robbie Payne is riding a two-game point streak (2-1-3).