Game Preview: Monsters vs. Bears 04/02
Apr 2, 2023In the fourth 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 Sunday with full coverage, live from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, underway at 12:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 1-4 home loss to the Hershey Bears on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter today’s game at 29-28-5-2 on the season. With 65 standings points, the Monsters currently rank seventh in the North Division standings and 14th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (26-41-67), C Josh Dunne (20-16-36), and D David Jiricek (6-30-36).
BEARS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-1 road win over the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday, the Hershey Bears enter tonight’s game at 40-16-5-4 on the season. With 89 standings points, the Bears currently rank second in the Atlantic Division standings and second in the Eastern Conference. Hershey is currently led in scoring by C Mike Sgarbossa (20-36-56), LW Mike Vecchione (22-28-50), and RW Ethen Frank (27-19-46).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Sunday marks the fourth of four meetings between the Monsters and Bears this season (1-2-0-0, -3 goal differential [9/12]) and the second of two games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year (0-1-0-0, -3 goal differential [1/4]).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Pavel Cajan | OVERALL | 19 GP, (7-8-2), 0 SO, 3.55 GAA, .873 S% |
| LAST APP | (14/18) in first 35:35 of 2-6 L at GR 2/25/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 4.62 GAA, .848 S% | |
| AT HOME | 10 GP, (2-5-1), 0 SO, 3.84 GAA, .861 S% | |
| 31 Nolan Lalonde | ERI (OHL) | 41 GP, (11-20-2), 1 SO, 4.10 GAA, .868 S% |
| 40 Daniil Tarasov | OVERALL | 11 GP, (5-5-0), 0 SO, 3.85 GAA, .882 S% |
| LAST APP | (16/18) in first 25:21 of 2-5 L at ROC 3/26/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 3.12 GAA, .880 S% | |
| AT HOME | 4 GP, (3-1-0), 0 SO, 2.48 GAA, .924 S% | |
| 73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 38 GP, (16-14-5), 1 SO, 3.23 GAA, .895 S% |
| LAST APP | (21/25) in 1-4 L vs HER 4/1/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 4.00 GAA, .840 S% |
|
| AT HOME | 21 GP, (10-8-3), 0 SO, 3.17 GAA, .897 S% |
BEARS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Hunter Shepard | OVERALL | 29 GP, (18-6-5), 1 SO, 2.05 GAA, .919 S% |
| LAST APP | (24/25) in 4-1 W at CLE 4/1/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .960 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 13 GP, (9-1-3), 0 SO, 1.88 GAA, .930 S% | |
| 35 Zach Fucale | OVERALL | 35 GP, (19-10-4), 1 SO, 2.58 GAA, .899 S% |
| LAST APP. | (20/23) in 3-4 SOL vs LHV 3/26/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-0-1), 0 SO, 4.62 GAA, .853 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 19 GP, (9-7-2), 1 SO, 2.53 GAA, .905 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- TERRIFIC TREY: Monsters RW Trey Fix-Wolansky currently ranks among the AHL’s leaders in points (67, 5th), power-play points (28, T5th), goals (26, T11th), shootout goals (4, T2nd), assists (41, T9th), power-play assists (19, T11th), and shots on goal (194, 7th). Fix-Wolansky is also scoring at a point per game pace vs. Hershey this season (3 GP, 1-2-3).
- ROOKIE SENSATION: Cleveland D David Jiricek currently ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in assists (30, 5th), power-play assists (18, 1st) and power-play points (22, 3rd), and ranks among the league’s defensive leaders in power-play goals (4, T4th). Jiricek is also scoring at a better than point per game pace vs. Hershey this season (3 GP, 1-3-4) and is currently riding a two-game assist streak (2).
- SAM’S SUCCESS: Cleveland D Samuel Knazko is scoring at a better than point per game pace vs. Hershey this season (3 GP, 0-4-4).