Monsters host Grand Rapids Griffins

The Cleveland Monsters return to action after a two-week break and will play host to the Grand Rapids Griffins Saturday night.

Due to circumstances beyond their control, the Cleveland Monsters last played on March 6 in Chicago. After a two week break the Monsters return to action and host the Grand Rapids Griffins at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Cleveland’s 9 points on the year currently has them in 4th place in the AHL Central Division with a 4-3-1 record. The Monsters 8 games played is the fewest in the division, the next lowest being 11 by from Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids is in 3rd place with 14 points (3-2-0) and won the previous two games against the Monsters. Cleveland will be looking for a different result on Saturday.

Riley Barber leads the Griffins in points with 13 on 8 goals and 5 assists. Barber is the leading goal scorer for Grand Rapids while their leader in assists is Taro Hirose with 8. The Griffins split their goaltending duties pretty evenly with Kevin Boyle making 6 appearances and Pat Nagle one less with 5. Nagle ranks 12th in the AHL with a 2.46 GAA and Boyle is 15th with 2.55.

It will be a tough matchup for the Monsters Saturday as Grand Rapids already has defeated them twice on the year. Perhaps Cleveland can turn the tables and extend their winning streak to four straight games while making the losing streak for Grand Rapids three games.