LAST WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTSAt Bridgeport (11/25): The Manchester Monarchs scored three first period goals to beat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 3-1, at the Arena at Harbor Yard on Wednesday night. Right wing Geoff Walker scored his first AHL goal, right wing Kevin Westgarth tallied his first of the year and center Corey Elkins picked up his seventh of the season to give the Monarchs a three-goal advantage. Left wing Jesse Joensuu scored the lone goal for the Sound Tigers. Monarchs goaltender Jonathan Bernier (9-5-2) earned his ninth win of the season with 29 saves on 30 shots. Sound Tigers netminder Nathan Lawson (5-5-0) took his fifth loss of the season with 14 saves. Manchester went 1-for-2 on the power play. Bridgeport was 0-for-5 with the man advantage.
Vs. Springfield (11/27): The Manchester Monarchs netted four first period goals to beat the Springfield Falcons, 4-2, at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Friday night. Defensemen Patrick Mullen and Drew Bagnall picked up tallies for the Monarchs along with centers Marc-Andre Cliche and Gabe Gauthier. Left wings Bryan Lerg and Viatcheslav Trukhno tried to bring the Falcons back into the game but their goals were the only ones that stood on the scoreboard. Monarchs goaltender Jonathan Bernier (10-5-2) earned his 10th win of the season with 29 saves on 31 shots. Falcons netminder Aaron Sorochan (1-3-0) took his third loss of the season with 24 saves. Manchester went 1-for-3 on the power play. Springfield was 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
At Springfield (11/28): Goaltender Jeff Zatkoff made 28 saves and stopped 3-of-5 snipers in the shootout to give the Manchester Monarchs a 3-2 shootout victory over the Springfield Falcons at the MassMutual Center on Saturday night. Monarchs left wing Bud Holloway and center Gabe Gauthier put the puck in the net for regulation and center Corey Elkins, defenseman Patrick Mullen and center Oscar Moller scored in the shootout. Right wing Colton Fretter and center Chad Wiseman tied the game in regulation while left wing Viatcheslav Trukhno and Wiseman scored in the shootout. Monarchs goaltender Jeff Zatkoff (5-2-0) earned his fifth win of the season and second shootout victory with 28 saves on 30 shots. Falcons netminder Andrew Perugini (0-0-1) took his first shootout loss of the season in his AHL debut stopping 32 shots. Manchester went 0-for-3 on the power play. Springfield was 1-for-3 with the man advantage.
The Manchester Monarchs (15-6-1-2) regained sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division this week with three wins for 33 points and are ranked third overall in the AHL behind the Rochester Americans (17-3-1-0, 35 points) and the Texas Stars (15-5-2-2, 34 points).
The Monarchs are 9-1-0-1 at the Verizon Wireless Arena this season with their only regulation loss coming at the hands of the Hershey Bears on Saturday, November 7. Manchester won their first six home games this season.
Manchester is on a three-game winning streak.
The Monarchs penalty kill is ranked fourth in the AHL. They have given up 10 goals in 110 attempts when their opponent has had the man advantage.
Manchester has been outshot by their opponent 19-of-24 games thus far this season.
The Monarchs collected the lowest number of shots in one game thus far this season with shooting only 17 pucks on net in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Rookie center Andrei Loktionov leads the Monarchs in assists with 11 and points with 17 (6-11=17). He was recalled by the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, November 23 and suffered an upper body injury in his debut on Wednesday, November 25 against the Edmonton Oilers.
Loktionov's 17 points are also tied for fourth among the AHL's rookies.
Center Oscar Moller moved into second place on the Monarchs roster with 16 points (8-8=16). His eight tallies also lead Manchester.
Moller's three game-winning goals are tied for fourth place in the AHL.
Moller is also tied with right wing Scott Parse, who is up with the Los Angeles Kings, for the team lead in the plus/minus category with a plus-8.
Moller has been held off the scoreboard in the last four games.
Left wing Bud Holloway (7-7=14) scored four points (1-3=4) in the last two games to move him into a tie for third place with right wing Brandon Segal (6-8=14).
Holloway has recorded eight points (3-5=8) in his last eight games.
Segal was recalled by the Kings on Monday. He made his Kings debut on Wednesday in Edmonton.
Segal has played in three games with the Kings and has increased his playing time in each game.
Center Corey Elkins scored his seventh goal of the season on Wednesday in Bridgeport to move him into a tie for second place on the roster for goals scored and is ranked fifth in scoring with 12 points (7-5=12).
Elkins is also on a four-game scoring streak with four points (2-2=4).
Center Gabe Gauthier (4-7=11) is tied for sixth place with 11 points. He is currently on a three-game scoring streak with four points (2-2=4).
Goaltender Jonathan Bernier has a record of 10-5-2 in 17 games of the season. His 10 wins are tied for third place in the AHL.
Bernier is ranked third in the league with a 1.75 goals-against-average and is ranked second with a .948 save percentage.
In seven games with the Monarchs, netminder Jeff Zatkoff has a 5-2-0 record. He is tied for eighth in the AHL with a 2.10 goals-against-average and a .938 save percentage which is good for third place in the AHL.
MONARCHS PROMOTIONS
Winter Hat Night - The first 2,000 fans to the Monarchs game on Saturday, December 5 when they host the Worcester Sharks will receive a Monarchs winter hat.
MONARCHS IN THE COMMUNITY
Catholic Medical Center - Two Monarchs players and Max will be at Catholic Medical Center on Monday, November 30 to meet fans in the cafeteria. Max will be there from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. and the players will be there from 12:30-2:30 p.m.
MONARCHS TRANSACTIONS
11/23/09: The Los Angeles Kings (NHL) recalled center Andrei Loktionov and right wing Brandon Segal from the Manchester Monarchs (AHL).
MONARCHS INJURY REPORT
11/25/09: Center Andrei Loktionov is month-to-month with an upper body injury.
11/23/09: Defenseman Thomas Hickey is month-to-month with an upper body injury.
11/18/09: Center Justin Azevedo is month-to-month with a lower body injury.
11/11/09: Right wing Trevor Lewis is month-to-month with an upper body injury.
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