Game Preview: Monsters vs. Rocket 01/28
Jan 28, 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 Laval Rocket, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, on Saturday 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 home overtime win over the Laval Rocket on Friday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 16-18-3-2 on the season. With 37 standings points, the Monsters currently rank sixth in the North Division standings and 14th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (19-22-41), RW Emil Bemstrom (14-17-31), and C Justin Richards (6-18-24).
ROCKET PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-3 road overtime loss to the Cleveland Monsters on Friday, the Laval Rocket enter tonight’s game at 16-18-6-2 on the season. With 40 standings points, the Rocket currently rank fifth in the North Division standings and 13th in the Eastern Conference. Laval is currently led in scoring by LW Anthony Richard (20-20-40), C Peter Abbandonato (7-21-28), and RW Jesse Ylonen (8-19-27).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the seventh of eight meetings between the Monsters and Rocket this season (3-2-0-1, even goal differential [24/24]) and the fourth of four games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year (2-1-0-0, +1 goal differential [11/10]).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Pavel Cajan | OVERALL | 14 GP, (7-5-2), 0 SO, 3.51 GAA, .879 S% |
| LAST APP | (32/33) in 2-1 W at BEL 1/13/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 3.50 GAA, .905 S% | |
| AT HOME | 7 GP, (1-5-1), 0 SO, 3.89 GAA, .866 S% | |
| 40 Daniil Tarasov | OVERALL |
6 GP, (3-3-0), 0 SO, 4.27 GAA, .868 S% |
| LAST APP | (33/35) in 5-2 W at CLT 1/22/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| AT HOME | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.00 GAA, .938 S% | |
| 73 Jet Greaves | OVERALL | 19 GP, (7-7-3), 0 SO, 3.56 GAA, .889 S% |
| LAST APP | (36/38) in 3-2 OTW vs LAV 1/27/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 3 GP, (2-0-1), 0 SO, 3.19 GAA, .915 S% | |
| AT HOME | 9 GP, (5-3-1), 0 SO, 3.06 GAA, .904 S% |
ROCKET GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Philippe Desrosiers | OVERALL (ECHL) | 23 GP, (6-12-2), 0 SO, 3.19 GAA, .894 S% |
| LAST APP. | -- | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | -- | |
| 31 Cayden Primeau | OVERALL | 15 GP, (4-6-5), 1 SO, 3.47 GAA, .893 S% |
| LAST APP. | (20/23) in 2-3 OTL at CLE 1/27/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (0-1-1), 0 SO, 4.88 GAA, .831 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 4 GP, (1-2-1), 0 SO, 3.28 GAA, .880 S% | |
| 39 Kevin Poulin | OVERALL |
25 GP, (10-11-3), 0 SO, 3.10 GAA, .891 S% |
| LAST APP. | (30/33) in 3-4 SOL vs TOR 1/21/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
3 GP, (2-1-0), 0 SO, 3.91 GAA, .864 S% |
|
| ON THE ROAD | 15 GP, (4-11-0), 0 SO, 3.53 GAA, .875 S%' |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- THE FIX IS IN (THE RECORD BOOKS): Cleveland RW Trey Fix-Wolansky currently ranks among the top ten in Monsters franchise history in goals (50, 6th), points (109, T8th), power-play goals (18, T5th), and game-winning goals (8, T4th).
- GETTING IT DUNNE: Monsters C Josh Dunne is currently riding a two-game goal streak (2) and a two-game point streak (2-1-3).
- LENDING A HAND: Cleveland D Marcus Bjork and C Justin Richards are both riding active two-game assist streaks (2A apiece).