Game Preview: Monsters vs. Senators 03/18
Mar 18, 2023In the fifth 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 Belleville Senators, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, on Saturday 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 3-4 home overtime loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Thursday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 25-25-5-2 on the season. With 57 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 (25-39-64), C Josh Dunne (19-14-33), and C Justin Richards (10-23-33).
SENATORS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-3 home win over the Utica Comets on Wednesday, the Belleville Senators enter tonight’s game at 26-27-6-1 on the season. With 59 standings points, the Senators currently rank fifth in the North Division standings and 12th in the Eastern Conference. Belleville is currently led in scoring by RW Egor Sokolov (18-32-50), LW Jake Lucchini (15-30-45), and LW Angus Crookshank (22-16-38).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the fifth of eight meetings between the Monsters and Senators this season (3-0-0-1, +5 goal differential [18/13]) and the third of four games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year (2-0-0-0, +5 goal differential [9/4]).
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 | 32 GP, (13-11-5), 0 SO, 3.33 GAA, .893 S% |
| LAST APP | (29/33) in 3-4 OTL vs GR 3/16/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-0-1), 0 SO, 4.32 GAA, .850 S% | |
| AT HOME | 18 GP, (9-6-3), 0 SO, 3.08 GAA, .901 S% |
SENATORS GOALTENDERS:
| 35 Antoine Bibeau |
OVERALL |
20 GP, (9-8-1), 0 SO, 3.43 GAA, .894 S% |
| LAST APP. | (4/7) in first 8:30 of 2-7 L vs LAV 2/20/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 4.91 GAA, .811 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 7 GP, (1-4-1), 0 SO, 4.12 GAA, .864 S% | |
| 41 Luke Richardson | OVERALL | 3 GP, (0-1-1), 0 SO, 3.99 GAA, .873 S% |
| LAST APP |
(26/30) in 3-4 OTL at UTC 3/10/23 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 3 GP, (0-1-1), 0 SO, 3.99 GAA, .873 S% | |
| 50 Dylan Ferguson | OVERALL | 5 GP, (4-1-0), 0 SO, 2.22 GAA, .926 S% |
| LAST APP. | (26/29) in 4-3 W vs UTC 3/15/23 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 2 GP, (2-0-0), 0 SO, 0.66 GAA, .981 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- TERRIFIC TREY: Cleveland RW Trey Fix-Wolansky currently ranks among the AHL’s leaders in points (64, 4th), goals (25, T8th), assists (39, 7th), shots (183, 8th), power-play goals (9, T15th), power-play points (27, T3rd), and shootout goals (4, T2nd). Fix-Wolansky is also riding a seven-game point streak (4-6-10), a three-game assist streak (5), and is scoring at a better than point per game pace vs. Belleville this year (3 GP, 4-4-8).
- GETTING IT DUNNE: Monsters C Josh Dunne is currently riding a five-game point streak (4-3-7) and is scoring at a better than point per game pace vs. Belleville this season (4 GP, 4-3-7).
- ROOKIE SENSATION: Cleveland D David Jiricek currently ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in power-play assists (16, 1st) and power-play points (20, 3rd), and ranks among the league’s defensive leaders in power-play goals (4, T3rd). Jiricek is also riding a two-game assist streak (2).