Cleveland Monsters (13-10-4-0) vs. GRIFFINS (15-10-2-2)

Griffins Game #30 * Home Game #16 * AHL Game #425

Season Series: 1-0-0-0 Home Series: 0-0-0-0 Road Series: 1-0-0-0
All-Time Series: 51-28-4-10 All-Time Home Series: 29-14-1-2 All-Time Road Series: 22-14-3-8

Griffins vs. Monsters
Second of four meetings overall, first of two at Van Andel Arena…Grand Rapids has points in nine of the last 10 meetings (7-1-0-2), including five in a row (4-0-0-1) and four straight victories…The Griffins have scored 20 goals in the last three matchups and 24 in the last four…At Van Andel Arena, the Griffins have points in eight of the last 10 meetings (7-2-0-1), including wins in three of the last four…As part of the league’s realignment last summer, Cleveland moved to the Eastern Conference’s North Division, while San Antonio and Texas joined the Central…The Griffins and Monsters will meet four times this season, a stark decrease compared to recent years when the squads squared off eight times in 2017-18, 12 in 2016-17, 18 in 2015-16 (including playoffs) and 10 in 2014-15…Head coach Ben Simon is a native of Shaker Heights, a Cleveland suburb…Captain Matthew Ford spent most of his first three pro seasons (2008-11) with the Monsters, totaling 69 points (39-30—69) in 126 appearances...First-year Griffin Carter Camper is from Rocky River, a Cleveland suburb…Appearing in 53 games with the Monsters last season, Camper posted 42 points (13-29—42) and finished the season as Cleveland’s leading scorer, despite being traded to Tucson on Feb. 26…Colin Campbell has two career hat tricks and both have come against Cleveland (12/26/15 away and 4/14/18 home).

Monster Mashing
In the first meeting between Grand Rapids and Cleveland on Nov. 4 in Ohio, the Griffins fell behind 4-2 at the 0:28 of the third period and then rallied to score six unanswered goals. The eight-goal total was Grand Rapids’ highest-scoring game since tallying nine at Rockford on Feb. 5, 2016. The six goals collected in the third frame was one shy of the franchise record for most goals in a period (seven at Chicago on Nov. 27, 2010). As a team, Grand Rapids finished with a +35 rating and 13 of 18 skaters notched at least a point. Filip Zadina and Dominik Shine both had two goals.

Last Game (Sunday): Griffins 1 at IceHogs 2 - Read the full recap here
No goals were scored until the 11:31 mark of the third period…Chris Terry spoiled Collin Delia’s shutout bid at 19:50…Due to injury, suspension or recall, the Griffins were missing 43% of their offensive production…Grand Rapids outshot Rockford 38-29…The Griffins are winless in their last eight games (0-4-1-3) at the BMO Harris Bank Center.

Status Update
The Griffins are situated in fourth place in the Central Division standings with a 15-10-2-2 (34 points) overall mark. Grand Rapids earned three points in its four games last week. The Griffins have still been on an impressive run the last 22 games, recording points in 17 of those (13-5-2-2). Grand Rapids hosts Cleveland tonight and then will head north of the border for a two-game weekend set at Manitoba before breaking for the holiday.

Friendly Confines
The Griffins have points in 13 of their first 15 games at Van Andel Arena (10-2-1-2), including in eight consecutive (6-0-1-1). The eight-game point streak is Grand Rapids’ longest since an eight-game run from Nov. 25, 2016-Jan. 4, 2017 (6-0-0-2). The Griffins’ 23 points at home is third in the AHL. Grand Rapids is a +12 in goal differential at home while averaging 3.67 goals, compared to –13 and 2.57 on enemy ice.

Puempel Suspended
As announced by the AHL yesterday, Matt Puempel has been suspended for two games as a consequence of an illegal check to the head of an opponent in a game vs. Milwaukee on Dec. 15. Puempel was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 21.1 after being assessed a match penalty. He missed Grand Rapids’ game on Dec. 16 at Rockford, and will also miss Grand Rapids’ game tonight.

‘Tis the Season
Grand Rapids has suffered just two regulation losses at home in December since Dec. 10, 2014, going 18-2-3-3 (0.808) in its last 26 games on home ice during the last month on the calendar. The Griffins have notched an overall winning mark in December in eight consecutive seasons, showing a 62-32-9-7 (0.636) combined record since 2010-11.

Back Up Terr
The AHL’s leading scorer from a season ago, Chris Terry is atop the league’s goal leaderboard with 18 and has found twine six times in the last eight games. His power play tally last Friday marked his 200th career goal in the AHL. The 10th-year pro also shows points in 10 of the last 12 contests, accumulating 13 (7-6—13) in that span. Since Nov. 1, Terry has a league-high 15 goals and his 24 points in that period tie for fourth.

Between the Pipes
Harri Sateri has points in six of his last seven starts (5-1-1), including two wins in overtime and one in a shootout. Patrik Rybar has collected points in nine of 13 starts this season (6-4-3) – his first in North America – and is ninth in the AHL with a 2.52 GAA.

Shots, Shots, Shots
Grand Rapids is one of only three teams (Bakersfield, Tucson) to rank in the top 10 in both shots for (31.21, T9th) and against (27.03, 5th). The Griffins have out shot 19 of 29 opponents and have eclipsed the 40-shot mark on three occasions (Dec. 7 at RFD, Nov. 23 vs. MIL, Nov. 10 at MB).

Moore Recalled, Spezia Signed
The Griffins on Sunday recalled forward Bryan Moore from the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye and signed forward Tyler Spezia to a professional tryout. Both players made their Griffins debuts later that day at Rockford. For Spezia, a rookie, it was also his AHL debut.

This Date in Griffins History
2012: In his Griffins debut, former University of Michigan captain and East Grand Rapids High School star Luke Glendening – the first Greater Grand Rapids native to ever play for the Griffins – scores the game’s first goal on his first shot during his first shift, sparking the home squad to an eventual 4-2 victory over Rochester. Francis Pare pots an insurance goal into an empty net with 52 seconds remaining, joining Michel Picard (158) as the only players in franchise history to reach 90 goals.
2014:Sparked by Andy Miele’s prolific five-point (1-4—5) performance, the Griffins set season highs for goals, margin of victory and power play goals (4) in a dominant 7-1 win over Toronto.
2015: The Griffins shoot down Texas 6-1 to extend their franchise record with their 14th consecutive win and equal a team standard with their 10th straight victory at Van Andel Arena.

PROMOTIONS

Winning Wednesday presented by Farm Bureau Insurance: Every time the Griffins win at home on Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday game. All fans who were in attendance for the Griffins’ win against the San Antonio Rampage on Dec. 5 can redeem their ticket stub for a free ticket to this game. To redeem a Winning Wednesday ticket, please visit the box office following the Winning Wednesday game, The Zone during normal business hours, or the Van Andel Arena box office prior to the next Wednesday game beginning at 5:30 p.m. Fans who exchange their Winning Wednesday ticket at The Zone on a non-game day will receive 20% off the purchase of one item (excluding jerseys). One discount per person present.

Post-Game Parties at Peppino’s: After every Wednesday game, join Griffins players and staff for the official post-game party at Peppino’s Sports Grille downtown.

Library Nights: For all Wednesday and Sunday games, fans can present their Grand Rapids Public Library card or Kent District Library card at the Van Andel Arena box office on the night of the game or at The Zone anytime during the store’s regular business hours to purchase either an Upper Level Faceoff ticket for $14, an Upper Level Center Ice ticket for $17, or a Lower Level Faceoff ticket for $20. Limit four tickets per card per person, subject to availability.

Pepsi Reading Goals Redemption Date: Children with Griff’s Reading Goals bookmarks who have completed the required three hours of reading can redeem their bookmark for two free upper level tickets to this game.

Photo by John Saraya/Cleveland Monsters