Game Preview: Monsters vs. Griffins 04/30
Apr 30, 2022In the eighth 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 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 6-1 road win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Wednesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 28-34-8-5 on the season. With a .460 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 D Jake Christiansen (13-32-45), LW Tyler Angle (10-26-36), and C Tyler Sikura (15-20-35).
GRIFFINS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-6 road loss to the Chicago Wolves on Thursday, the Grand Rapids Griffins enter tonight’s game at 32-35-6-2 on the season. With a .480 points percentage, the Griffins currently rank seventh in the Central Division standings and 13th in the Western Conference. Grand Rapids is currently led in scoring by LW Jonatan Berggren (20-42-62), LW Taro Hirose (15-38-53), and RW Riley Barber (25-24-49).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the eighth of eight meetings between the Monsters and Griffins this season [(1-4-1-1), -13 goal differential (11/24)] and the fourth of four games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year [(0-2-1-0), -7 goal differential (11/4)].
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 28 GP, (12-11-2), 1 SO, 2.83 GAA, .908 S% |
| LAST APP | (23/24) in 6-1 W at LHV 4/27/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 13 GP, (5-6-1), 1 SO, 3.03 GAA, .900 S% | |
| 40 Linden Marshall | OVERALL | 3 GP, (1-1-0), 1 SO, 2.57 GAA, .924 S% |
| LAST APP | (38/38) in 2-0 W vs ROC 4/24/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 1 SO, 3.00 GAA, .910 S% |
GRIFFINS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Victor Brattstrom | OVERALL | 31 GP, (10-16-3), 1 SO, 3.36 GAA, .893 S% |
| LAST APP. | (31/36) in 3-6 L at CHI 4/28/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (2-0-1), 0 SO, 1.62 GAA, .949 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD |
15 GP, (3-8-2), 0 SO, 4.12 GAA, .867 S% |
|
| 36 Kaden Fulcher | OVERALL | 4 GP, (1-3-0), 0 SO, 4.42 GAA, .846 S% |
| LAST APP. | (29/35) in 2-6 L at CHI 4/24/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 3 GP, (1-2-0), 0 SO, 4.53 GAA, .829 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- OUTSTANDING OWEN: Cleveland C Owen Sillinger is riding a two-game point streak (1-2-3) and is scoring at a better than point per game pace in his last six outings (2-5-7).
- TERRIFIC TYLER: Monsters C Tyler Sikura is currently riding a five-game point streak (3-2-5).
- SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM: Cleveland D Jake Christiansen currently ranks among the AHL’s defensive leaders in points (45, 4th), goals (13, T1st), shorthanded assists (3, T2nd), shorthanded points (3, T3rd), and shots on goal (176, 2nd) so far this season and was named to the AHL’s Second All-Star Team on Friday.