Two of the AHL’s top teams through the first month of the regular season meet when the Milwaukee Admirals visit the Cleveland Monsters this Saturday in the FloHockey AHL Game of the Week (5:00 p.m. ET).

It will be the first get-together between the clubs since the 2021-22 season, and it comes with the Monsters (10-4-0-1) owning a six-game winning streak that has them in contention for the North Division lead. Rookie defenseman Denton Mateychuk, taken 12th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets, continues his standout performance and was just named the Howies Hockey Tape/AHL Player of the Week.

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Following a 9-2-0-0 start, the Admirals only picked up one of four points last week (0-1-0-1) in a pair of home games. That slip dropped them to second in the Central Division at 9-3-0-1. New addition Vinnie Hinostroza is tied for the AHL scoring lead with 5-14-19 in 13 games after signing with the Nashville Predators organization in the offseason.

Both clubs reached the AHL’s final four last spring in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Cleveland pushed Hershey all the way to a Game 7 overtime in the Eastern Conference Finals before finally falling to the eventual Calder Cup champion Bears. The Admirals fell in five games to Coachella Valley as the Firebirds ended their season in the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive year.

The FloHockey AHL Game of the Week will stream live and free across FloHockey's social media platforms. See below for details on how and where to watch.

What You Need To Know About Milwaukee vs. Cleveland

Game Details

Milwaukee Admirals at Cleveland Monsters, Saturday, 5:00 p.m. ET*

Where to Watch: Subscribers can continue to watch via FloHockey.tv or the FloSports app 

Free Streams: Follow the game across FloHockey's social channels including YouTube, Facebook and X. More details below.

Milwaukee Admirals -- What To Watch For

Well-structured as always, the Admirals have allowed just 2.15 goals per game, second-best in the AHL. They are going with an all-new goaltending tandem this season after Yaroslav Askarov’s trade to the San Jose Sharks and Troy Grosenick departing as a free agent to the Minnesota Wild. Nashville brought in Matthew Murray from the Texas Stars and also added Magnus Chrona as part of the return in the Askarov deal, and the pair have combined to give Milwaukee a .932 save percentage.

Like Cleveland, the Admirals have an impressive group of top prospects. Forwards Joakim Kemell (5-6-11), Reid Schaefer (8-1-9), and Fedor Svechkov (5-3-8) all are first-round picks. Veterans Kieffer Bellows (6-5-11) and Cal O’Reilly (1-7-8) have joined Hinostroza to supply additional production. 

On the back end there is former Monster Nick Blankenburg (3-4-7), who also is a new face in Milwaukee this season.

Cleveland Monsters -- What To Watch For

Along with Mateychuk, the Monsters received David Jiricek on loan from the Blue Jackets this past Wednesday. Jiricek, 20, struggled to find a regular role in the Columbus defensive rotation and only appeared in six games. After splitting last season between Columbus and Cleveland, he had a strong performance in the Monsters’ playoff run last season while also contributing 3-8-11 in 14 games. Columbus took him sixth overall in the same 2022 draft class as Mateychuk. With Jiricek, Mateychuk, and Corson Ceulemans, the Monsters now have three Columbus first-rounders on their blue line.

Long-time AHL sniper Rocco Grimaldi has charged the Cleveland attack as well. Added on the first day of the regular season after going unsigned all summer despite a 37-goal season with the Chicago Wolves, Grimaldi has heated up lately with 3-7-10 in four games last week. Despite missing some time earlier this season, Grimaldi has shot up to a second-place tie in AHL scoring with 6-12-18 in only 11 games.

Grimaldi helps to head up a well-balanced Cleveland offense that features Trey Fix-Wolansky (6-9-15), Owen Sillinger (5-9-14), and second-year prospect Luca Del Bel Belluz (6-7-13). And there is also forward Roman Ahcan, who has broken loose with seven goals in his first 15 contests after he had nine all last season.

The Monsters have excelled on the power play and rank fourth in the AHL at 24.1 percent.

Nashville Predators Prospects To Watch From Chris Peters

Joakim Kemell, RW

A gifted goal scorer with high-end skill, Kemell is on pace to dwarf his rookie numbers from last season. The 2022 first-rounder had five goals and 11 points going into the weekend as he takes greater charge of the offensive attack in Milwaukee. Kemell is still waiting for his first NHL recall, but it seems like the 20-year-old is trending towards that opportunity coming.

Reid Schaefer, C

Another 2022 first-rounder, Schaefer has shown some increased goal-scoring touch this season with a team-high eight goals heading into the weekend. The former Edmonton Oilers prospect who came over to Nashville in the Mattias Ekholm trade seems to have a greater handle on how to play his game as a pro. He has two-way skills and great size, which will be coveted at the next level. His improved offensive touch this season is an added bonus.

Columbus Blue Jackets Prospects To Watch From Chris Peters

Denton Mateychuk, D

The reigning AHL player of the week, Mateychuk has been on fire of late and is now over a point per game from the blue line. Seven of his 16 points have come in the last week, but his game has been trending this way ever since he stepped foot in the AHL. Mateychuk's ability to take charge and dictate from the back end is what will make him an impactful player at the next level. He moves pucks and has shown the ability to score goals from the blue line. The Blue Jackets knew they had a top-end prospect in Mateychuk, but he's only enhancing the excitement with his play in the AHL so far.

David Jiricek, D

Sent down earlier this week by the Blue Jackets, Jiricek will have a chance to get his game on track. If not for Columbus, then perhaps for a trade. Jiricek had 11 points in 14 playoff games last postseason in helping the Monsters reach the Eastern Conference Finals. He's appeared in just six games with Columbus and has one assist. Getting big minutes and getting a chance to play his offensive game more in the AHL could help. Plus, if things work out, maybe one day he and Mateychuk could be a long-term pairing.

How To Watch AHL Free Stream On YouTube

On Saturday nights throughout the season, the AHL and FloHockey will present a free Game of the Week on YouTube. The home team's broadcast will be shared as a free stream on FloHockey's YouTube page. The free broadcast will begin shortly before puck drop. Check FloHockey and AHL social channels to see which game will be streaming each week.

WATCH HERE

How To Watch AHL Free Stream On X

On Saturday nights throughout the season, the AHL and FloHockey will present a free Game of the Week on X (formerly known as Twitter). The home team's broadcast will be shared as a free stream on FloHockey's Twitter page. The free broadcast will begin shortly before puck drop, posted on FloHockey's X feed. Check FloHockey and AHL social channels to see which game will be streaming each week.

WATCH HERE

How To Watch AHL Free Stream On Facebook

On Saturday nights throughout the season, the AHL and FloHockey will present a free Game of the Week on Facebook. You can access the game multiple ways on the Facebook. FloHockey will stream both home and road (if available) broadcasts on its Facebook page. The game can also be found live on the AHL's Facebook page.

WATCH HERE

How To Watch The AHL On FloHockey 

The AHL is streaming on FloHockey and the FloSports app. Live games, replays, highlights and breaking news will be on both platforms. 

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