Monsters to take on Utica Comets

The Cleveland Monsters will play host to the Uitca Comets this weekend as they have a two-games series against the third place team in the North Division.

Winners of two-straight, the Cleveland Monsters will take on the Utica Comets at home Friday and Saturday. Cleveland is currently in eighth place in the North Division with 44 points while Utica is in third with 54. Cleveland previously faced Utica on January 18th, the Comets coming out on top by a score of 6-2.

Utica comes into town losers of four straight games, their last win coming against Cleveland earlier this month. The average score of their past four games is 4.5-2.25, with Utica on the losing end. While Cleveland has two wins in their past four games, the average score of their games is 4-3.5, with the Monsters being outscored by half a goal on average. The 6-2 loss to Utica is a major factor in this negative goal differential.

Utica has scored 162 goals this season while allowing 146. The Comets have scored the second-most goals in the division while giving up the second-most. Cleveland’s 123 goals scored this season is the least, but they have only surrendered the second-fewest (130). This weekend will be a serious battle of goal scoring versus goal prevention.

Reid Boucher leads Utica in points this season with 50 in 41 games. Boucher is tied for the team lead in goals with Justin Bailey (24). Bailey has appeared in 45 games this season. Utica’s assist leader is rookie Brogan Rafferty with 32 in 42 games.

Utica has deployed two different goalies this season with an even amount of appearances (32). Rookie Michael DiPietro edges out Zane McIntyre in average goals allowed (2.82-3.17) and save percentage (.903-.894).

Getting off on the right foot now that the All-Star festivities have concluded will be key for the Monsters. Cleveland has six straight games at home before heading out on the road. The Monsters need to take care of business at home before worrying about their performance on the road.