Monsters Match up Against the Marlies
Jan 24, 2020In the fourth 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 Toronto, AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, on Friday with full coverage, live from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, underway at 7:00 pm on SportsTime Ohio, Alt 99.1, AHLTV and the Monsters Hockey Network.
MONSTERS PRE-SCOUT: Following a 2-3 home overtime loss to the Rochester Americans on Wednesday, the Cleveland Monsters enter tonight’s game at 18-20-2-2 on the season. With 40 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 (6-23-29), LW Nathan Gerbe (8-17-25) and C Stefan Matteau (9-11-20).
MARLIES PRE-SCOUT: Following a 3-7 road loss to the Charlotte Checkers on Sunday, the Toronto Marlies enter tonight’s game at 21-16-2-2 on the season. With 46 points, the Marlies currently rank fifth in the AHL’s North Division standings and 11th in the Eastern Conference. Toronto is currently led in scoring by LW Kenny Agostino (20-13-33), RW Pontus Aberg (14-18-32) and RW Jeremy Bracco (3-29-32).
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES: Friday marks the fourth of eight meetings between the Monsters and Marlies this season and the first of four clashes between the two teams at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse this year. Cleveland is 1-1-0-1 vs. Toronto both overall and on the road with an even goal differential (9/9) in both scenarios.
MONSTERS GOALTENDERS:
| 35 Veini Vehvilainen | OVERALL | 22 GP, (9-11-2), 2 SO, 2.44 GAA, .911 S% |
| LAST APP. |
(25/28) in 2-3 OTL vs ROC 1/22/20 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 1.54 GAA, .945 S% | |
| AT HOME | 11 GP, (4-6-1), 2 SO, 2.19 GAA, .918 S% | |
| 39 Brad Thiessen | OVERALL |
3 GP, (1-1-0), 0 SO, 2.60 GAA, .887 S% |
| LAST APP. | (5/6) in 20:00 of relief in 2-6 L at UTI 1/18/20 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | N/A | |
| AT HOME | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 4.00 GAA, .875 S% | |
| 80 Matiss Kivlenieks | OVERALL | 16 GP, (7-7-2), 1 SO, 3.04 GAA, .896 S% |
| LAST APP. | (34/37) in 2-5 L at BNG 1/15/20 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, 0-0-1), 0 SO, 4.63 GAA, .833 S% | |
| AT HOME | 6 GP, (4-2-0), 1 SO, 1.84 GAA, .932 S% |
MARLIES GOALTENDERS:
| 30 Kasimir Kaskisuo | OVERALL | 20 GP, (11-5-2), 1 SO, 2.67 GAA, .911 S% |
| LAST APP. | (34/37) in 3-4 SOL at CHA 1/18/20 | |
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 2 GP, (1-1-0), 1 SO, 1.53 GAA, .954 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 12 GP, (5-3-2), 0 SO, 3.03 GAA, .901 S% | |
| 35 Joseph Woll | OVERALL | 19 GP, (7-10-2), 1 SO, 3.63 GAA, .890 S% |
| LAST APP. |
(24/31) in 3-7 L at CHA 1/19/20 |
|
| HEAD-TO-HEAD | 1 GP, (1-0-0), 0 SO, 4.62 GAA, .808 S% | |
| ON THE ROAD | 11 GP, (3-6-2), 1 SO, 4.07 GAA, .887 S% |
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- CLENDO & KIVVY: Cleveland will be bolstered on Friday by the AHL return of newly-minted AHL All-Star Adam Clendening, the Monsters’ leading scorer this season, and goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks, fresh off his first NHL victory for Columbus on Sunday. Both players were assigned to the Monsters late Wednesday night.
- MAC ATTACK: Monsters C Ryan MacInnis is currently riding a three-game goal streak (3) and a three-game point streak (3-2-5).
- LIMIT LILJEGREN: Cleveland will aim to shut down Toronto D Timothy Liljegren on Friday as the puck-moving defenseman has three points to his credit (0-3-3) in three appearances vs. the Monsters this season and is currently riding a seven-game point streak (1-7-8), a seven-game assist streak (7), a six-game road point streak (1-8-9) and a six-game road assist streak (8). Liljegren’s 24 points also currently rank T11th-most among AHL blue-liners this season.