Game Preview: Monsters vs. Phantoms 01/17
Jan 17, 2023In the third of four meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, on Tuesday 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 2-6 road loss to the Laval Rocket on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 14-16-2-2 on the season. With 32 standings points, the Monsters currently rank seventh in the North Division standings and 15th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (16-20-36), RW Emil Bemstrom (14-17-31), and C Justin Richards (6-16-22).
PHANTOMS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-5 home loss to the Syracuse Crunch on Saturday, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms enter tonight’s game at 16-14-3-2 on the season. With 37 standings points, the Phantoms currently rank sixth in the Atlantic Division standings and tenth in the Eastern Conference. Lehigh Valley is currently led in scoring by RW Olle Lycksell (6-18-24), RW Tyson Foerster (11-12-23), and LW Elliot Desnoyers (13-7-20).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Tuesday marks the third of four meetings between the Monsters and Phantoms this season (1-1-0-0, even goal differential [8/8]) and the first of two games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Pavel Cajan | OVERALL | 14 GP, (5-7-2), 0 SO, 3.51 GAA, .879 S% |
| LAST APP | (32/33) in 2-1 W at BEL 1/13/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.97 GAA, .900 S% | |
| AT HOME | 7 GP, (1-5-1), 0 SO, 3.89 GAA, .866 S% | |
| 31 Darion Hanson | OVERALL | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 5.05 GAA, .861 S% |
| LAST APP | (31/36) in 2-6 L at LAV 1/14/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | -- | |
| 73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 15 GP, (6-6-2), 0 SO, 3.69 GAA, .885 S% |
| LAST APP | (28/30) in 5-2 W at CHI 1/6/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 5.13 GAA, .828 S% | |
| AT HOME | 6 GP, (4-2-0), 0 SO, 3.62 GAA, .885 S% |
PHANTOMS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Troy Grosenick | OVERALL | 3 GP, (2-1-0), 0 SO, 3.93 GAA, .883 S% |
| LAST APP. | (14/20) in 3-6 L vs BRI 10/29/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 4.03 GAA, .907 S% |
|
| ON THE ROAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.85 GAA, .950 S% | |
| 32 Felix Sandstrom | OVERALL | 5 GP, (2-1-2), 0 SO, 2.97 GAA, .894 S% |
| LAST APP. | (20/24) in 2-5 L vs SYR 1/14/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 3 GP, (2-0-1), 0 SO, 2.27 GAA, .922 S% | |
| 35 Pat Nagle | OVERALL | 6 GP, (1-4-1), 0 SO, 3.03 GAA, .905 S% |
| LAST APP. | (30/33) in 1-4 L vs WBS 12/31/22 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 4 GP, (1-2-1), 0 SO, 3.01 GAA, .910 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- THE FIX IS IN: Cleveland RW Trey Fix-Wolansky currently ranks among the AHL’s leaders in scoring (36 PTS, T15th) and is riding a three-game point streak (2-3-5).
- UNFRIENDLY CONFINES: The Monsters are currently riding a five-game home losing streak, tied for the AHL’s second longest such active streak and tied for the fourth longest streak of its kind in the AHL this year.
- SAM’S SUCCESS: Cleveland D Samuel Knazko currently leads all AHL rookies with ten power-play assists this season.