Monsters Head to Chicago to Battle the Wolves

Feb 16, 2020

In the third 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 Chicago Wolves, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, on Sunday with full coverage, live from Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL, underway at 4:00 pm on Alt 99.1, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.

 

MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 1-4 road loss to the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 23-25-2-2 on the season. With 50 points, the Monsters currently rank eighth in the AHL’s North Division standings and 15th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by D Adam Clendening (6-29-35), C Stefan Matteau (12-16-28) and LW Nathan Gerbe (8-17-25).

 

WOLVES PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-5 home loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday, the Chicago Wolves enter tonight’s game at 24-22-3-2 on the season. With 53 points, the Wolves currently rank fourth in the AHL’s Central Division standings and eighth in the Western Conference. Chicago is currently led in scoring by C Lucas Elvenes (11-31-42), LW Curtis McKenzie (13-20-33) and C Gage Quinney (14-17-31).

 

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Sunday marks the third of four meetings between the Monsters and Wolves this season and the first of two clashes between the two teams at Allstate Arena this year. Cleveland is 2-0-0-0 vs. Chicago overall this season with a +5 goal differential (8/3) both overall and at home this season.

MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:

35 Veini Vehvilainen	OVERALL	27 GP, (10-14-2), 3 SO, 2.54 GAA, .909 S%
	LAST APP.	(29/32) in 2-4 L at GR 2/14/20
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	2 GP, (2-0-0), 1 SO, 1.00 GAA, .962 S%
	ON THE ROAD	12 GP, (5-6-1), 0 SO, 2.73 GAA, .904 S%
39 Brad Thiessen	OVERALL	6 GP, (3-2-0), 0 SO, 2.45 GAA, .910 S%
	LAST APP.	(22/25) in 1-4 L at RFD 2/15/20
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	N/A
	ON THE ROAD	3 GP, (0-2-0), 0 SO, 2.17 GAA, .891 S%

WOLVES GOALTENDERS:

35 Oscar Dansk	OVERALL	29 GP, (18-7-2), 3 SO, 2.35 GAA, .914 S%
	LAST APP.	(23/28) in 2-5 L vs GR 2/15/20
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 5.36 GAA, .872 S%
	AT HOME	12 GP, (8-3-1), 1SO, 2.25 GAA, .913 S%
40 Garrett Sparks	OVERALL	22 GP, (5-14-3), 2 SO, 2.86 GAA, .902 S%
	LAST APP.	(25/32) in 3-7 L vs MIL 1/31/20
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 3.00 GAA, .880 S%
	AT HOME	11 GP, (1-7-3), 0 SO, 3.21 GAA, .888 S%

 

KEYS TO SUCCESS:

• FABULOUS FORTIER: Monsters RW Maxime Fortier is currently in the midst of a three-game point streak (2-1-3).
• DEPENDABLE DEREK: Cleveland C Derek Barach is scoring at a point per game pace in his last four outings (2-2-4).
• FINISH STRONG: Despite posting an 0-2-0 record in the first two legs of their three-in-three weekend trek, the Monsters have an opportunity to right the ship Sunday against a Chicago team against whom Cleveland is 2-0-0 so far this season.