Game Preview: Monsters vs Griffins 05/14
May 14, 2021In the ninth 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 Friday 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 2-0 home loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Tuesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 15-9-1-2 on the season. With a .611 points percentage, the Monsters currently rank second in the Central Division standings and ninth 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 7-0 home loss to the Chicago Wolves on Wednesday, the Grand Rapids Griffins enter tonight’s game at 14-11-3-1 on the season. With a .567 points percentage, the Griffins currently rank third in the Central Division standings and 14th league-wide. Grand Rapids is currently led in scoring by RW Riley Barber (18-14-32), LW Taro Hirose (5-20-25), and C Chase Pearson (7-12-19).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the ninth of ten meetings between the Monsters and Griffins this season (2-5-1-0) and the fifth of five games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year (1-3-0-0).
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 | 8 GP, (6-2-0), 0 SO, 2.25 GAA, .929 S% |
| LAST APP. | (34/36) in 0-2 L vs GR 5/11/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (0-2-0), 0 SO, 2.05 GAA, .939 S% | |
| AT HOME | 4 GP, (3-1-0), 0 SO, 2.52 GAA, .921 S% |
GRIFFINS GOALTENDERS:
| 31 Calvin Pickard | OVERALL | 2 GP, (0-1-1), 0 SO, 4.49 GAA, .833 S% |
| LAST APP. | (25/32) in 0-7 L vs CHI 5/12/21 | |
| 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 | 6 GP, (2-2-2), 1 SO, 2.46 GAA, .918 S% |
| LAST APP. | (22/22) in 2-0 W at CLE 5/11/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (2-1-0), 1 SO, 1.34 GAA, .953 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 1 SO, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- ROOKIE SENSATION: Cleveland C Tyler Angle currently ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in points (22, T8th) and game-winning goals (3, T2nd).
- DEFENSIVE STALWARTS: Monsters D Thomas Schemitsch ranks among the AHL’s defensive leaders in points (18, T7th) and assists (16, T5th) while Cleveland D Dillon Simpson ranks among the AHL’s defensive leaders in goals (6, T2nd) and shooting percentage (18.8%, 3rd).
- MONSTER MILESTONES: Cleveland LW Brett Gallant claimed fifth place alone in Monsters franchise history in games played on Tuesday (221) and the Summerside, PE native currently sits just three penalty minutes shy of Daniel Maggio’s club record of 522.