Game Preview: Monsters vs. Bears 02/04/22

Feb 4, 2022

In the third 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 Hershey Bears, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Washington Capitals, on Friday 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 2-3 home loss to the Utica Comets on Sunday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 13-17-4-3 on the season. With a .446 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 C Brendan Gaunce (16-11-27), D Jake Christiansen (5-16-21), and LW Tyler Angle (4-16-20).

 

BEARS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-3 home shootout loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack on Wednesday, the Hershey Bears enter tonight’s game at 21-13-3-3 on the season. With a .600 points percentage, the Bears currently rank third in the Atlantic Division standings and sixth in the Eastern Conference. Hershey is currently led in scoring by LW Joe Snively (15-23-38), LW Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (13-15-28), and RW Garrett Pilon (13-15-28).

 

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the third of four meetings between the Monsters and Bears this season [(1-0-1-0), even goal differential (5/5)] and the first of two games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year.

MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:

31 Jet Greaves	OVERALL	10 GP, (3-5-0), 0 SO, 3.39 GAA, .893 S%
	LAST APP.	(28/32) in 0-4 L vs WBS 1/28/22
	AT HOME	4 GP, (1-2-0), 0 SO, 3.38 GAA, .896 S%
33 Cam Johnson	OVERALL	5 GP, (1-2-1), 0 SO, 2.62 GAA, .892 S%
	LAST APP	(13/16) in 2-3 L vs UTI 1/30/22
	AT HOME	2 GP, (0-2-0), 0 SO, 3.62 GAA, .816 S%
35 Jean-Francois Berube	OVERALL	14 GP, (4-7-3), 1 SO, 3.18 GAA, .898 S%
	LAST APP	(6/9) in first 19:51 of 1-5 L at WBS 1/24/22
	AT HOME	6 GP, (1-4-1), 0 SO, 3.93 GAA, .873 S%

BEARS GOALTENDERS:

31 Pheonix Copley	OVERALL	21 GP, (12-7-2), 2 SO, 2.50 GAA, .906 S%
	LAST APP.	(26/27) in 2-1 OTW vs BRI 1/29/22
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.84 GAA, .917 S%
	ON THE ROAD	9 GP, (4-5-0), 1 SO, 2.87 GAA, .884 S%
35 Zach Fucale	OVERALL	14 GP, (6-4-4), 0 SO, 2.80 GAA, .883 S%
	LAST APP.	(24/26) in 2-3 SOL vs HFD 2/2/22
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	1 GP, (0-0-1), 0 SO, 0.92 GAA, .966 S%
	ON THE ROAD	4 GP, (1-2-1), 0 SO, 3.39 GAA, .860 S%

KEYS TO SUCCESS:

• HITTING THE SKIDS: The Monsters are currently mired in a season-long five-game regulation losing streak, the AHL’s third-longest such active streak, and a three-game home regulation losing streak, the league’s second-longest such active streak.
• BEAR HUNTERS: Cleveland C Liam Foudy (2 GP, 2-1-3) and Monsters LW Tyler Angle (2 GP, 0-2-2) are scoring at a point per game or better pace vs. Hershey this season.
• SNOW DAY: Following a 3-2 home loss to Utica on Sunday, the Monsters’ Thursday home tilt vs. Toronto was postponed until March 6th at 12:00 pm due to winter storms impacting Northeast Ohio.