Game Preview: Monsters vs. Americans 05/08
May 8, 2021In the sixth 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 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 AM “The Gambler”, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-2 road win over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 15-8-1-1 on the season. With a .640 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 (11-9-20), C Tyler Sikura (11-9-20), and RW Carson Meyer (8-11-19).
AMERICANS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-1 road win over the Syracuse Crunch on Saturday, the Rochester Americans enter tonight’s game at 9-12-2-1 on the season. With a .438 points percentage, the Americans currently rank sixth in the North Division standings and 23rd league-wide. Rochester is currently led in scoring by LW Brett Murray (9-10-19), LW Remi Elie (9-9-18), and LW Michael Mersch (8-9-17).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the sixth of six meetings between the Monsters and Americans this season (4-1-0-0) and the third of three games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year (1-1-0-0).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 33 Justin Kapelmaster | OVERALL | 2 GP, (2-0-0), 0 SO, 1.95 GAA, .933 S% |
| LAST APP. | (26/28) in 3-2 W at GR 5/5/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | -- | |
| 39 Brad Thiessen | OVERALL | 11 GP, (4-5-2), 0 SO, 2.73 GAA, .904 S% |
| LAST APP. | (18/22) in 2-5 L at TEX 5/1/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 3.53 GAA, .877 S% | |
| AT HOME | 6 GP, (2-4-0), 0 SO, 3.22 GAA, .894 S% |
AMERICANS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Kris Young | OVERALL | -- |
| LAST APP. | -- | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | -- | |
| 31 Billy Christopoulos | OVERALL |
4 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 8.05 GAA, .725 S% |
| LAST APP. | (2/5) in first 14:49 of 3-5 L at SYR 4/24/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-0-0), 0 SO, 9.09 GAA, .556 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 1 GP, (0-0-0), 0 SO, 12.15 GAA, .400 S% | |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- ROOKIE SENSATIONS: Monsters RW Carson Meyer is riding a three-game point streak (1-2-3) and ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in points (19, T14th) and power-play goals (4, T2nd) while Cleveland C Tyler Angle ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in points (20, T10th) and game-winning goals (3, T2nd), and has points in two straight games (1-1-2).
- GETTING THE JOB DUNNE: Cleveland C Josh Dunne is riding a three-game goal streak (3G), a three-game point streak (3-1-4), and ranks in the AHL’s top-five among rookie skaters in shooting percentage (23.8%, T4th).
- DYNAMIC DEFENSEMEN: Monsters D Tom Schemitsch ranks among the AHL’s defensive leaders in points (16, T11th) and is riding a three-game assist streak (4A) while Cleveland D Dillon Simpson ranks among the AHL’s defensive leaders in goals (6, T2nd) and shooting percentage (18.8%, 2nd), and is riding a two-game assist streak (2A).