After playing their first five games of the 2008-09 season at home, the Lake Erie Monsters travel to Iowa to take on the Chops for the first time in franchise history.  Faceoff is set for 8:05 pm EST at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. 

The Monsters enter tonight's contest in second place in the North Division with a record of 3-1-0-1, after defeating the Milwaukee Admirals at home, 4-3, on Wednesday evening at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.  After the team's first five games, captain Brian Willsie leads Lake Erie with seven points (5G, 2A), while center T.J. Hensick follows close behind with six points (2G, 4A). 

The Chops, currently in fourth place in the West Division, are 3-2-0-0 on the season and are led by right wing Bobby Allen with seven points (2G, 5A) and center Andrew Ebbett with six points (3G, 3A). 

Both clubs are ranked in the AHL's top 20 rankings for team power play percentage with Lake Erie ranked eighth, scoring on 20.8 percent of their power plays, while Iowa is ranked 20th, scoring on 13.8 percent of their man-advantages.

After tonight's game, the Monsters will travel to Peoria, Illinois, to face the Rivermen on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at the Peoria Civic Center-Carver Arena.  Heading into the weekend, Peoria is 2-2-1-0 on the season and in fifth place in the West Division.  Center Julian Talbot leads the Rivermen in scoring with five points (4G, 1A) in five games.

After this weekend, the Monsters will play three more games away from home before returning to The Q on Sunday, November 9th to host their North Division rival Hamilton Bulldogs.