Game Preview: Monsters vs. Griffins 3/16
Mar 16, 2023In the seventh 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 Thursday with full coverage, live from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, underway at 7:00 pm on Bally Sports Great Lakes, FOX Sports 1350 “The Gambler”, AHLTV, and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-2 road shootout win over the Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 25-25-4-2 on the season. With 56 standings points, the Monsters currently rank seventh in the North Division standings and 14th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (25-37-62), C Justin Richards (10-23-33), and C Josh Dunne (17-14-31).
GRIFFINS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-1 road win over the Chicago Wolves on Sunday, the Grand Rapids Griffins enter tonight’s game at 24-27-4-3 on the season. With 55 standings points, the Griffins currently rank seventh in the Central Division standings and 15th in the Western Conference. Grand Rapids is currently led in scoring by RW Taro Hirose (14-35-49), C Joel L’Esperance (21-18-39), and C Danny O’Regan (11-27-38).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Thursday marks the seventh of eight meetings between the Monsters and Griffins this season (4-2-0-0, +5 goal differential [21/16]) and the third of four games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year (2-0-0-0, +6 goal differential [9/3]).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 32 Jon Gillies | TUC (AHL) |
15 GP, (5-8-2), 0 SO, 3.70 GAA, .878 S% |
| LAST APP: |
(36/41) in 2-5 L at CV 1/16/23 |
|
| 73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 31 GP, (13-11-4), 0 SO, 3.31 GAA, .894 S% |
| LAST APP | (36/38) in 3-2 SOW at GR 3/11/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 4 GP, (2-1-0), 0 SO, 2.06 GAA, .922 S% | |
| AT HOME | 17 GP, (9-6-2), 0 SO, 3.03 GAA, .903 S% |
GRIFFINS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Victor Brattstrom |
OVERALL |
18 GP, (4-8-3), 0 SO, 3.71 GAA, .885 S% |
| LAST APP. |
(34/36) in first 64:37 of 2-3 SOL vs CLE 3/11/23 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 2.91 GAA, .895 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 10 GP, (3-4-1), 0 SO, 3.42 GAA, .886 S% | |
| 31 John Lethemon | OVERALL | 1 GP, (0-0-1), 0 SO, 3.80 GAA, .902 % |
| LAST APP |
(37/41) in 3-4 OTL vs IA 3/4/23 |
|
| 34 Alex Nedeljkovic | OVERALL |
23 GP, (11-8-3), 1 SO, 2.72 GAA, .913 S% |
| LAST APP. |
(28/29) in 3-1 W at CHI 3/12/23 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 5 GP, (2-2-1), 0 SO, 3.04 GAA, .907 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD |
7 GP, (5-2-0), 0 SO, 2.57 GAA, .917 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- CEULEMANS ARRIVES: The Monsters welcomed D Corson Ceulemans on Tuesday, as the first-round draft pick of Columbus in 2021 (25th overall) signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets (beginning in 2023-24) and a PTO with Cleveland for the remainder of the 2022-23 season. In two NCAA seasons at the University of Wisconsin from 2021-23, Ceulemans posted 15-30-45 in 67 appearances. The Regina, SK native is expected to make his professional debut with the Monsters on Thursday.
- TERRIFIC TREY: Cleveland RW Trey Fix-Wolansky currently ranks among the AHL’s leaders in points (62, 4th), goals (25, T7th), assists (37, T8th), shots (182, T6th), power-play goals (9, T15th), and shootout goals (4, T2nd). Fix-Wolansky is also riding a six-game point streak (4-4-8), a two-game assist streak (3), and is scoring at a better than point per game pace vs. Grand Rapids this year (6 GP, 2-7-9).
- CONSISTENT CONTRIBUTOR: Monsters RW Yegor Chinakhov is currently riding a four-game point streak (3-3-6), a three-game assist streak (3), and a two-game goal streak (2), and is scoring at a two point per game pace vs. Grand Rapids this year (2 GP, 2-2-4).