Monsters Hit the Road to Face Americans

Nov 15, 2019

In the second 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 Rochester Americans, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, on Friday with full coverage, live from Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, NY, underway at 7:00 pm on Alt 99.1, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.

 

MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-4 home loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Tuesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 8-6-0-1 on the season. With 17 points, the Monsters currently rank fifth in the AHL’s North Division standings and 11th in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is currently led in scoring by LW Nathan Gerbe (4-8-12), C Zac Dalpe (6-4-10) and C Justin Scott (3-6-9).

 

AMERKS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 4-3 home win over the Syracuse Crunch on Wednesday, the Rochester Americans enter tonight’s game at 8-3-1-2 on the season. With 19 points, the Amerks currently rank third in the AHL’s North Division standings and fifth in the Eastern Conference. Rochester is currently led in scoring by RW Tage Thompson (6-6-12), C Jean-Sebastien Dea (6-4-10) and C Curtis Lazar (4-5-9).

 

REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the second of eight meetings between the Monsters and Amerks this season and the second of four games between the two teams at Blue Cross Arena this year. Cleveland is 1-0-0-0 vs. Rochester both overall and on the road this season with a +1 goal differential (4/3) vs. the Amerks.

 

MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:

35 Veini Vehvilainen	OVERALL	7 GP, (3-4-0), 1 SO, 2.17 GAA, .923 S%
	LAST APP.	(19/22) in 2-4 L vs GR 11/12/19
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	N/A
	ON THE ROAD	2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 1.53 GAA, .947 S%
39 Brad Thiessen	OVERALL	N/A
	LAST APP.	N/A
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	N/A
	ON THE ROAD	N/A
80 Matiss Kivlenieks	OVERALL	7 GP, (5-1-1), 0 SO, 2.37 GAA, .909 S%
	LAST APP.	(23/26) in 5-3 W at GR 11/6/19
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 2.77 GAA, .903 S%
	ON THE ROAD	4 GP, (3-0-1), 0 SO, 3.12 GAA, .888 S%

AMERKS GOALTENDERS:

31 Jonas Johansson	OVERALL	8 GP, (3-2-2), 0 SO, 2.47 GAA, .909 S%
	LAST APP.	(28/31) in 4-3 W vs SYR 11/13/19
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	N/A
	AT HOME	4 GP, (2-1-1), 0 SO, 2.72 GAA, .895 S%
35 Andrew Hammond	OVERALL	8 GP, (5-1-1), 1 SO, 2.92 GAA, .892 S%
	LAST APP.	(28/28) in 6-0 W at UTI 11/2/19
	HEAD-TO-HEAD	1 GP, (0-0-1), 0 SO, 2.77 GAA, .842 S%
	AT HOME	3 GP, (2-0-1), 0 SO, 2.22 GAA, .909 S%

 

KEYS TO SUCCESS:

• SNAPPING THE SKID: For the first time this season, the Monsters have fallen short in three consecutive games. Cleveland’s active three-game losing streak is currently tied for the league’s third-longest such active streak.
• MAKING HISTORY: Monsters C Zac Dalpe is now one goal away from moving into second-place alone in Monsters franchise history with 59 career goals to his credit in a Cleveland uniform while the Monsters’ top goal scorer is also one power-play tally from tying former Monster Andrew Agozzino for first in club history with 20 career extra-man strikes for Cleveland.
• TEMPER, TEMPER: Monsters LW Marko Dano currently ranks in the AHL’s top-five in penalty minutes (43, 4th) while Cleveland D Doyle Somerby currently ranks tied for second league-wide with three major penalties to his credit this year.