Game Preview: Monsters vs Stars 3/27
Mar 27, 2021In the second of six meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Texas Stars, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, on Saturday with full coverage, live from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, underway at 7:00 pm on FOX Sports 1350 AM “The Gambler”, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-1 home win over the Texas Stars on Thursday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 5-4-1-0 on the season. With 11 points, the Monsters currently rank fourth in the Central Division standings and 13th league-wide. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by RW Trey Fix-Wolansky (4-5-9), D Dillon Simpson (3-4-7), and LW Nathan Gerbe (2-5-7).
STARS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-1 road loss to the Cleveland Monsters on Thursday, the Texas Stars enter tonight’s game at 8-5-2-0 on the season. With 18 points, the Stars currently rank third in the Central Division standings and 11th league-wide. Texas is currently led in scoring by LW Adam Mascherin (8-9-17), C Riley Damiani (6-11-17), and RW Nick Baptiste (6-6-12).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Saturday marks the second of six meetings between the Monsters and Stars this season (1-0-0-0) and the second of three games between the two clubs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year (1-0-0-0).
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 35 Hayden Stewart | OVERALL | 12 GP, (4-6-2), 0 SO, 3.19 GAA, .906 S% |
| LAST APP. |
(33/34) in 56:23 of relief in BHM 3-2 W at HSV 3/14/21 |
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| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
-- |
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| AT HOME | -- | |
| 39 Brad Thiessen | OVERALL | 6 GP, (2-3-1), 0 SO, 3.02 GAA, .906 S% |
| LAST APP. |
(31/32) in 3-1 W vs TEX 3/25/21 |
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| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .969 S% |
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| AT HOME |
4 GP, (1-3-0), 0 SO, 3.31 GAA, .900 S% |
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| 80 Matiss Kivlenieks | OVERALL | 3 GP, (3-0-0), 0 SO, 2.27 GAA, .938 S% |
| LAST APP. |
(42/43) in 3-1 W at CHI 3/6/21 |
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| HEAD-TO-HEAD | -- | |
| ON THE ROAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 3.00 GAA, .900 S% |
STARS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Tomas Sholl | OVERALL |
8 GP, (4-2-1), 0 SO, 2.70 GAA, .912 S% |
| LAST APP. | (32/34) in 1-3 L at CLE 3/25/21 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 2.06 GAA, .941 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 4 GP, (2-2-0), 0 SO, 2.28 GAA, .932 S% | |
| 30 Matt Jurusik | OVERALL |
-- |
| LAST APP. | -- | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
-- |
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| ON THE ROAD |
-- |
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| 32 Colton Point | OVERALL | 6 GP, (3-2-1), 0 SO, 3.48 GAA, .891 S% |
| LAST APP. |
(25/29) in 3-4 OTL vs COL 3/17/21 |
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| HEAD-TO-HEAD |
-- |
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| ON THE ROAD | 3 GP, (3-0-0), 0 SO, 2.65 GAA, .921 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- GAVIN THE GREAT: Monsters D Gavin Bayreuther is currently in the midst of a four-game point streak (0-4-4) and a concurrent four-game assist streak (4A).
- TERRIFIC TYLER: Cleveland C Tyler Angle is off to a tremendous start in his professional career. In his first four pro appearances, Angle has posted a four-game point streak (4-2-6) and posted two goals, including a shorthanded game-winner in Thursday’s 3-1 home victory over Texas.
- BRICK WALL BRAD: Monsters G Brad Thiessen, the team’s goaltending coach, has been pressed into on-ice duty this season more often than not, as the Aldergrove, BC native, 35, has started six of Cleveland’s ten games this year, posting a record of 2-3-1 with a 3.02 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage thus far in the veteran’s 12th professional campaign.