Monsters Head to Belleville to Face Senators
Dec 6, 2019In the first of four meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Belleville Senators, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, on Friday with full coverage, live from CAA Arena in Belleville, ON, underway at 7:00 pm on Alt 99.1, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-3 road loss to the Laval Rocket on Wednesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 11-10-1-1 on the season. With 24 points, the Monsters currently rank seventh in the AHL’s North Division standings and 12th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by LW Nathan Gerbe (5-14-19), D Adam Clendening (5-8-13) and C Ryan MacInnis (3-10-13).
SENATORS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-1 road win over the Hershey Bears on Saturday, the Belleville Senators enter tonight’s game at 13-8-1-0 on the season. With 27 points, the Senators currently rank fifth in the AHL’s North Division standings and ninth in the Eastern Conference. Belleville is currently led in scoring by RW Drake Batherson (9-18-27), C Josh Norris (9-9-18) and LW Vitaly Abramov (8-9-17).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the first of four meetings between the Monsters and Senators this season and the first of two meetings between the two clubs at CAA Arena this year.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 35 Veini Vehvilainen | OVERALL | 10 GP, (4-6-0), 2 SO, 2.13 GAA, .920 S% |
| LAST APP. | (24/27) in 2-3 L vs ROC 11/30/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| ON THE ROAD | 3 GP, (1-2-0), 0 SO, 2.03 GAA, .927 S% | |
| 39 Brad Thiessen | OVERALL | N/A |
| LAST APP. | N/A | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| AT HOME | N/A | |
| 80 Matiss Kivlenieks | OVERALL | 11 GP, (6-3-2), 0 SO, 2.78 GAA, .898 S% |
| LAST APP. | (27/30) in 2-3 L at LAV 12/4/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| ON THE ROAD | 7 GP, (3-2-2), 0 SO, 3.36 GAA, .885 S% |
SENATORS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Marcus Hogberg | OVERALL | 14 GP, (6-6-0), 0 SO, 3.21 GAA, .892 S% |
| LAST APP. | (24/27) in 6-3 W at BNG 11/22/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| AT HOME | 8 GP, (2-4-0), 0 SO, 3.43 GAA, .885 S% | |
| 30 Filip Gustavsson | OVERALL | 9 GP, (6-2-1), 0 SO, 3.55 GAA, .887 S% |
| LAST APP. |
(30/32) in 6-2 W at BNG 11/29/19 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| AT HOME | 5 GP, (3-2-0), 0 SO, 4.51 GAA, .847 S% | |
| 35 Joey Daccord | OVERALL | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .963 S% |
| LAST APP. |
(26/27) in 3-1 W at HER 11/30/19 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| AT HOME | N/A |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- BLOCK BATHERSON: The Monsters will have their hands full on Friday with Belleville RW Drake Batherson. The Senators’ top scorer currently ranks in the AHL’s top-three in assists (18, 3rd) and points (27, T2nd).
- ROOKIE SENSATION: Cleveland will need to neutralize Belleville C Josh Norris on Friday. The Senators forward currently ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in points (18, 4th), goals (9, T3rd), power-play goals (4, 3rd), power-play points (9, 3rd) and shots on goal (60, 2nd).
- FABULOUS FINN: Monsters G Veini Vehvilainen, a native of Finland, currently ranks in the AHL’s top-four in goals-against average (2.13, 4th) and shutouts (2, T3rd) so far this season.