Monsters Head to Laval, Face Rocket Tonight
Dec 4, 2019In the fifth of eight meetings between the two teams this season, the Cleveland Monsters, affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, drop the puck vs. the Laval Rocket, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, on Wednesday with full coverage, live from Place Bell in Laval, QC, underway at 7:00 pm on Alt 99.1, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-3 home loss to the Rochester Americans on Saturday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 11-9-1-1 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 (5-12-17), C Ryan MacInnis (3-10-13) and D Adam Clendening (5-7-12).
ROCKET PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-6 road loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds on Saturday, the Laval Rocket enter tonight’s game at 12-9-3-0 on the season. With 27 points, the Rocket currently rank fifth in the AHL’s North Division standings and eighth in the Eastern Conference. Laval is currently led in scoring by C Lukas Vejdemo (7-7-14), RW Riley Barber (5-8-13) and C Alex Belzile (6-6-12).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Wednesday marks the fifth of eight meetings between the Monsters and Rocket this season and the third of four meetings between the two clubs at Place Bell this year. Cleveland is 2-2-0-0 vs. Laval overall with a -1 goal differential (8/9) while the Monsters are 2-0-0-0 vs. the Rocket on the road with a +4 goal differential (7/3).
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 | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 1.53 GAA, .948 S% | |
| 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 | 10 GP, (6-2-2), 0 SO, 2.75 GAA, .898 S% |
| LAST APP. | (34/39) in 2-5 L at CHA 11/27/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.00 GAA, .931 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 6 GP, (3-1-2), 0 SO, 3.40 GAA, .882 S% |
ROCKET GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Keith Kinkaid | OVERALL | N/A |
| LAST APP. | N/A | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| AT HOME | N/A | |
| 35 Charlie Lindgren | OVERALL |
12 GP, (5-5-2), 1 SO, 2.71 GAA, .893 S% |
| LAST APP. | (26/28) in 4-2 W at SYR 11/29/19 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 1.51 GAA, .938 S% | |
| AT HOME | 7 GP, (3-4-0), 0 SO, 3.38 GAA, .875 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- STENLUND’S SUCCESS: Monsters C Kevin Stenlund is currently in the midst of a five-game point streak (3-2-5).
- ROCKIN’ RYAN: Cleveland C Ryan MacInnis is currently riding a five-game point streak (0-6-6).
- ROAD WARRIORS: The Monsters are 2-0-0-0 vs. Laval on the road this season with a+4 goal differential (7/3).