Monsters Head to Rockford Next, Face Icehogs
Feb 15, 2020In the fourth 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 Rockford IceHogs, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, on Saturday with full coverage, live from BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, IL, underway at 7:00 pm on Alt 99.1, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-4 road loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Friday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 23-24-2-2 on the season. With 50 points, the Monsters currently rank eighth in the AHL’s North Division standings and 14th 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).
ICEHOGS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 5-2 road win over the Manitoba Moose on Thursday, the Rockford IceHogs enter tonight’s game at 24-25-1-2 on the season. With 51 points, the IceHogs currently rank fifth in the AHL’s Central Division standings and ninth in the Western Conference. Rockford is currently led in scoring by LW Tyler Sikura (13-18-31), RW Dylan Sikura (12-17-29) and LW Brandon Hagel (17-9-26).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the fourth of four meetings between the Monsters and IceHogs this season and the second of two clashes between the two teams at BMO Harris Bank Center this year. Cleveland is 3-0-0-0 vs. Rockford overall this season with a +12 goal differential (15/3) and the Monsters are 1-0-0-0 vs. the IceHogs on the road with a +1 goal differential (3/2).
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 | 5 GP, (3-1-0), 0 SO, 2.32 GAA, .917 S% |
| LAST APP. | (37/39) in 6-2 W vs GR 2/11/20 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.00 GAA, .949 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 2 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 1.54 GAA, .905 S% |
ICEHOGS GOALTENDERS:
| 1 Collin Delia | OVERALL | 23 GP, (11-10-1), 1 SO, 2.84 GAA, .907 S% |
| LAST APP. | (17/19) in 40:00 of relief in 5-2 W at MB 2/13/20 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 7.00 GAA, .750 S% | |
| AT HOME | 12 GP, (6-5-1), 0 SO, 2.87 GAA, .909 S% | |
| 30 Kevin Lankinen | OVERALL | 21 GP, (8-10-2), 0 SO, 3.03 GAA, .909 S% |
| LAST APP. | (16/16) in first 20:00 of 5-2 W at MB 2/13/20 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 3.11 GAA, .900 S% | |
| AT HOME | 11 GP, (6-5-0), 0 SO, 2.82 GAA, .916 S% | |
| 31 Matt Tomkins | OVERALL | 10 GP, (5-5-0), 0 SO, 2.91 GAA, .906 S% |
| LAST APP. | (41/48) in 1-7 L vs MIL 2/1/20 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (0-1-0), 0 SO, 5.07 GAA, .884 S% | |
| AT HOME | 5 GP, (2-3-0), 0 SO, 3.03 GAA, .907 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- ROOKIE SENSATION: Monsters RW Trey Fix-Wolansky currently ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders in power-play goals (4, T6th) and game-winning goals (3, T4th).
- DEREK’S DOMINANCE: Monsters C Derek Barach is currently in the midst of a three-game point streak (2-2-4).
- MR. CLUTCH: Cleveland C Stefan Matteau currently ranks tied for the AHL lead in overtime goals (2), ranks tied for third league-wide with three shorthanded goals this season and is scoring at a better than point per game pace vs. the IceHogs this season (3 GP, 1-3-4).