Game Preview: Monsters vs. Griffins 2/13
Feb 13, 2021In the first of eight meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, 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 4:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 AM “The Gambler”, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 7-3 home loss to the Rochester Americans on Friday, the Cleveland Monsters enter today’s game at 0-1-0-0 on the season. With zero points, the Monsters currently rank fifth in the Central Division standings and 20th league-wide. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by C Zac Dalpe (1-0-1), LW Nathan Gerbe (1-0-1), and D Dillon Simpson (1-0-1).
GRIFFINS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-2 road loss to the Chicago Wolves on Thursday, the Grand Rapids Griffins enter today’s game at 0-2-0-0 on the season. With zero points, the Griffins currently rank fourth in the North Division standings and 19th league-wide. Grand Rapids is currently led in scoring by C Kyle Criscuolo (2-0-2), RW Riley Barber (0-2-2), and D Dennis Cholowski (1-0-1).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the first of eight meetings between the Monsters and Griffins this season and the first of four games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 35 Veini Vehvilainen | OVERALL |
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| LAST APP. |
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| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
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| AT HOME | -- | |
| 39 Brad Thiessen | OVERALL | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 6.32 GAA, .818 S% |
| LAST APP. |
(27/33) in 3-7 L vs ROC 2/12/21 |
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| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 6.32 GAA, .818 S% |
GRIFFINS GOALTENDERS:
| 33 Kevin Boyle | OVERALL | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 3.11 GAA, .893 S% |
| LAST APP. | (25/28) in 2-4 L at CHI 2/11/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 3.11 GAA, .893 S% | |
| 35 Pat Nagle | OVERALL | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 3.10 GAA, .897 S% |
| LAST APP. | (26/29) in 1-3 L at CHI 2/5/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
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| ON THE ROAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 3.10 GAA, .897 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- PULLING THE TRIGGER: Cleveland posted an impressive 46 shots on goal in Friday’s season-opening 7-3 home loss to Rochester, outshooting the victorious Amerks by 12 in defeat.
- MOVE PAST IT: Despite the outcome, the Monsters will be able to quickly leave behind Friday’s defeat with Saturday’s tilt vs. Grand Rapids coming less than 24 hours later.
- ZAC ATTACK: With his first-period power-play goal on Friday, Cleveland captain Zac Dalpe moved into a tie for seventh place in Monsters franchise history in points (107, tied with Sonny Milano) and pulled into a tie for the all-time franchise lead in power-play goals (20).