Game Preview: Monsters vs. Griffins 01/18
Jan 18, 2022In the third of eight meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, on Tuesday 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 5-4 road win over the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 12-10-4-3 on the season. With a .534 points percentage, the Monsters currently rank fifth in the North Division standings and tenth in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by C Brendan Gaunce (10-11-21), D Jake Christiansen (5-15-20), and C Kevin Stenlund (5-13-18).
GRIFFINS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 1-2 home shootout loss to the Manitoba Moose on Saturday, the Grand Rapids Griffins enter today’s game at 14-11-4-2 on the season. With a .548 points percentage, the Griffins currently rank third in the Central Division standings and eighth in the Western Conference. Grand Rapids is currently led in scoring by LW Taro Hirose (8-19-27), C Kyle Criscuolo (11-13-24), and LW Jonatan Berggren (8-15-23).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Tuesday marks the third of eight meetings between the Monsters and Griffins this season [(1-1-0-0), -2 goal differential (3/5)] and the second of four games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year [(0-1-0-0), -3 goal differential (1/4)].
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 6 GP, (2-3-0), 0 SO, 3.65 GAA, .893 S% |
| LAST APP. | (31/35) in 5-4 W at RFD 1/15/22 | |
| AT HOME | 2 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 3.23 GAA, .898 S% | |
| KAL (ECHL) | 15 GP, (10-5-0), 0 SO, 3.05 GAA, .907 S% | |
| 33 Cam Johnson | OVERALL | 3 GP, (1-0-1), 0 SO, 1.89 GAA, .932 S% |
| LAST APP. | (11/11) in 33:42 of relief in 2-5 L at RFD 1/14/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .957 S% | |
| FLA (ECHL) | 10 GP, (6-3-1), 1 SO, 2.11 GAA, .911 S% | |
| 35 Jean-Francois Berube | OVERALL | 11 GP, (4-4-3), 1 SO, 2.82 GAA, .912 S% |
| LAST APP | (29/32) in 1-3 L at UTI 12/10/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 3.17 GAA, .898 S% | |
| AT HOME | 4 GP, (1-2-1), 0 SO, 3.80 GAA, .882 S% |
GRIFFINS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Victor Brattstrom | OVERALL | 7 GP, (2-3-2), 0 SO, 4.03 GAA, .873 S% |
| LAST APP. | (25/27) in 3-2 OTW vs MB 1/14/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1, GP, (0-0-1), 0 SO, 1.99 GAA, .944 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 2 GP, (0-1-1), 0 SO, 3.90 GAA, .867 S% | |
| 31 Calvin Pickard | OVERALL | 25 GP, (12-8-4), 1 SO, 2.31 GAA, .930 S% |
| LAST APP. | (24/25) in 1-2 SOL vs MB 1/15/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .972 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 12 GP, (6-5-1), 0 SO, 2.76 GAA, .918 S% | |
| 36 Kaden Fulcher | TOL (ECHL) | 8 GP, (4-3-0), 2 SO, 1.70 GAA, .924 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- GOING STREAKING: Monsters C Kevin Stenlund is currently riding a three-game point streak (2-2-4) and a two-game goal streak (2G) while Cleveland RW Carson Meyer’s two-game goal-scoring streak (3G) is active heading into Tuesday’s game vs. Grand Rapids.
- IN THE BOX: Cleveland C Josh Dunne currently ranks second league-wide in minor penalties (17) and ranks among the league’s rookie leaders in both minors (T1st) and penalty minutes (39, T3rd) while Monsters D Tim Berni’s 12 minors rank third-most among AHL rookies this year.
- KEY TRANSACTIONS: The Blue Jackets assigned G Jean-Francois Berube (2021-22 CLE: 11 GP, 4-4-3, 1 SO, 2.82 GAA, .912 S%) to the Monsters on Sunday and recalled top-scoring Cleveland D Jake Christiansen (2021-22 CLE: 25 GP, 5-15-20, 17 PIM, +2) on Monday.