Preview: Monsters Start Road Trip Against Wolves
Cleveland Monsters at Chicago Wolves
Saturday, March 4th at 8pm est
Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois
Radio: 99x(99.1); 99x Online
Twitter: @Chicago_Wolves , @ChiWolvesLive , #ChicagoWolves
@MonstersHockey , #CLEMonsters
Cleveland Monsters, 25-23-3-4; 57 points; 5th Central; 9th West
vs
Chicago Wolves, 33-17-4-3; 73 points; 2nd Central; 4th West
The Monsters are riding high after beating their foe, the Grand Rapids Griffins, on Tuesday. After two hard practices on Wednesday and Thursday, the squad traveled to Chicago to take on the Wolves.
With T.J. Tynan and Oliver Bjorkstrand up in Columbus, Sonny Milano now fills the role of top scorer on the team. It won't be much of stretch for Milano to continue his reign at the top. He was already three points away from Tynan and two goals away from Bjorkstrand.
The addition to Zac Dalpe will prove helpful, as well. Luckily, the Monsters received Dalpe after the Jackets claimed him off of waivers during the trade deadline. They were in need of another solid centerman. Little did they know they would be losing Tynan to the Jackets. Look for Dalpe to start on the first line for the second game in a row.
Joe Pendenza scored two goals, almost three, in Tuesday's game against the Griffins. His intensity has been growing with each passing game. If Pendenza brings this energy and drive to tonight's game, the Monsters will give the Wolves a run for their money.
The Wolves lost their goaltender, Pheonix Copley, to the trade deadline when he was sent with Kevin Shattenkirk to the Washington Capitals. They also lost two of their leading playmakers, Ivan Barbashev and Jordan Schmaltz, to the St. Louis Blues this week.
The number 8 power play in the league belongs to the Wolves. As we found out Tuesday, the Monsters can keep the best power play unit in the league from scoring. They need to bring the clean, tight, and patient penalty kill unit to tonight's game.
The Monsters need to take the lead immediately and hold onto it as long as possible.When leading after one the Wolves have a record of 20-2-0-3. On the flipside, when trailing after one the Wolves have a record of 4-10-3-0. The record is even worse when trailing after two, 1-13-1-0.
| Wolves | Monsters | |
| 20-2-0-3 | Leading After 1 | 9-2-1-2 |
| 19-0-0-1 | Leading After 2 | 13-2-0-2 |
| 9-5-1-0 | Tied After 1 | 11-8-2-1 |
| 13-4-3-2 | Tied After 2 | 9-5-3-0 |
| 4-10-3-0 | Trailing After 1 | 5-13-0-1 |
| 1-13-1-0 | Trailing After 2 | 3-16-0-2 |
| 13-4-2-0 | Outshooting Opponent | 12-9-1-2 |
| 17-13-2-3 | Outshot by Opponent | 13-14-2-1 |
Season Series
10/30/2016 – Monsters (2) @ Wolves (4) = L – recap
11/11/2016 -Wolves (1) @ Monsters (2) = W – recap
11/12/2016 – Wolves (2) @ Monsters (4) = W – recap
12/17/2016 – Monsters (2) @ Wolves (1) = W (OT) – recap
01/26/2017 – Wolves (4) @ Monsters (2) = L – recap
01/28/2017 – Wolves (2) @ Monsters (3) = W – recap
02/22/2017 – Monsters (2) @ Wolves (4) = L – recap
03/04/2017
03/09/2017
03/21/2017
03/22/2017
04/01/2017
Stats Matchup
| Wolves | Monsters | |
| 3.39 (5) | GPG | 2.40 (29) |
| 2.68 (6) | GAPG | 2.73 (8) |
| 20.6% (8) | PP% | 13.7% (29) |
| 84.4% (6) | PK% | 85.0% (5) |
| Wade Megan, 25 | G Leader | Oliver Bjorkstrand, 14 |
| Kenny Agostino, 45 | A Leader | T.J. Tynan, 23 |
| Kenny Agostino, 63 | P Leader | T.J.Tynan, 30 |
| Brad Malone, 66 | PIM Leader | Brett Gallant, 89 |
| 20-6-1-1 | Road/Home | 11-14-1-2 |
| 8-1-1-0 | Last 10 | 3-5-1-1 |
| 5-0-1-0 | Streaks | 1-0-0-0 |