Game Preview: Monsters vs. Griffins 05/11
May 11, 2021In the eighth of ten 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 4-3 home shootout loss to the Rochester Americans on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 15-8-1-2 on the season. With a .635 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 (11-11-22), C Tyler Sikura (11-9-20), and RW Carson Meyer (8-11-19).
GRIFFINS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-1 road win over the Chicago Wolves on Saturday, the Grand Rapids Griffins enter tonight’s game at 14-10-3-1 on the season. With a .571 points percentage, the Griffins currently rank third in the Central Division standings and 13th league-wide. Grand Rapids is currently led in scoring by RW Riley Barber (17-13-30), LW Taro Hirose (5-18-23), and C Chase Pearson (7-12-19).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Tuesday marks the eighth of ten meetings between the Monsters and Griffins this season (2-4-1-0) and the fourth of five games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year (1-2-0-0).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 34 Daniil Tarasov | OVERALL | 4 GP, (3-1-0), 0 SO, 3.23 GAA, .883 S% |
| LAST APP. | (32/36) in 5-4 OTW vs CHI 4/24/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 3.07 GAA, .891 S% | |
| AT HOME | 2 GP, (2-0-0), 0 SO, 2.93 GAA, .908 S% | |
| 39 Brad Thiessen | OVERALL |
12 GP, (4-5-3), 0 SO, 2.74 GAA, .901 S% |
| LAST APP. | (16/19) in 3-4 SOL vs ROC 5/8/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (0-2-1), 0 SO, 2.68 GAA, .916 S% | |
| AT HOME | 7 GP, (2-4-1), 0 SO, 3.15 GAA, .889 S% | |
| 80 Matiss Kivlenieks | OVERALL | 7 GP, (6-1-0), 0 SO, 2.27 GAA, .926 S% |
| LAST APP. | (28/30) in 4-2 W vs CHI 4/25/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 2.05 GAA, .933 S% | |
| AT HOME | 3 GP, (3-0-0), 0 SO, 2.67 GAA, .912 S% |
GRIFFINS GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Calvin Pickard | OVERALL | 1 GP, (0-0-1), 0 SO, 1.99 GAA, .909 S% |
| LAST APP. |
(20/22) in 1-2 OTL vs RFD 3/16/21 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | -- | |
| 33 Kevin Boyle | OVERALL | 12 GP, (7-2-1), 0 SO, 2.89 GAA, .883 S% |
| LAST APP. | (20/24) in 5-4 W vs CHI 5/7/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 7 GP, (3-3-0), 0 SO, 3.13 GAA, .873 S% | |
| 35 Pat Nagle | OVERALL | 11 GP, (6-5-0), 0 SO, 2.79 GAA, .891 S% |
| LAST APP. | (22/23) in 3-1 W at CHI 5/8/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 5 GP, (4-1-0), 0 SO, 2.21 GAA, .912 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 8 GP, (4-4-0), 0 SO, 2.97 GAA, .885 S% | |
| 36 Kaden Fulcher | OVERALL | 5 GP, (1-2-2), 0 SO, 2.94 GAA, .906 S% |
| LAST APP. | (33/36) in 2-3 L vs CLE 5/5/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 2.01 GAA, .938 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | -- |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- TERRIFIC THOMAS: Monsters D Thomas Schemitsch currently ranks among the AHL’s defensive leaders in points (18, T5th) and assists (16, T4th), and Schemitsch is currently riding a four-game assist streak (6A), tied for the AHL’s second longest such active streak.
- GETTING THE JOB DUNNE: Cleveland C Josh Dunne currently ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in shooting percentage (25.0%, 4th) and is riding a four-game goal streak (4G), tied for the third longest such active streak league-wide. Dunne is additionally scoring at a point per game pace against Grand Rapids so far this season (3 GP, 1-2-3).
- AWESOME ANGLE: Monsters C Tyler Angle is scoring at a better than point per game pace against Grand Rapids this season (3 GP, 1-3-4) and currently ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in points (22, T8th), goals (11, T6th), and game-winning goals (3, T2nd).