Monarchs, Penguins Series Preview
May 5, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, NH - The Manchester Monarchs, primary affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, will face the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins in the Calder Cup Playoffs' Eastern Conference Semifinals with Game 1 set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
The complete schedule is as follows:
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS SCHEDULE
Game Date / Time Home Away Broadcast
1 May 6 / 7 p.m. Manchester Wilkes-Barre/Scranton AHL Live
WSMN 1590 AM
2 May 7 / 7 p.m. Manchester Wilkes-Barre/Scranton AHL Live
ESPN 900/1250 AM
3 May 9 / 7:05 p.m. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Manchester AHL Live
ESPN 900/1250 AM
4 May 11 / 7:05 p.m. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Manchester AHL Live
WSMN 1590 AM
5* May 12 / 7:05 p.m. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Manchester AHL Live
WSMN 1590 AM
6* May 15 / 7 p.m. Manchester Wilkes-Barre/Scranton AHL Live
WSMN 1590 AM
7* May 16 / 7 p.m. Manchester Wilkes-Barre/Scranton AHL Live
WSMN 1590 AM
Monarchs and Penguins
- This marks the first ever meeting in the postseason between Manchester and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Monarchs went 3-1-0-0 against the Penguins during the regular season and won their first three games against them.
- The Monarchs have advanced to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs for the first time since they went to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2010. Manchester has a 36-51 all-time record in postseason play.
- Jordan Weal led all Monarchs scorers with seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in four regular-season games against the Penguins this season.
- J.F. Berube went 3-0-0 with a 2.00 goals against average and .906 save percentage in three starts against the Penguins this year.
- Matt Murray led all AHL goalies in GAA (1.58) and save percentage (.941) while making 40 starts during the regular season. In his only start against the Monarchs, he pitched a 32-save shutout on Mar. 7, a 3-0 win.
Mersch Bombards Pirates
- Michael Mersch led all players in the AHL with eight points (5 goals, 3 assists) in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. It marks the most points in a single postseason by a Monarchs player since Bud Holloway (11 points) and Justin Azevedo (10 points) in the 2011 campaign. His five goals are the most by a Monarchs rookie in the postseason since Dustin Brown also scored five goals in the 2005 playoffs.
- Among AHL rookies during the playoffs, Mersch ranks first in goals (5) and shots on goal (16), and his plus-5 rating is tied for first.
- Mersch has the most points in a single postseason by a Monarchs rookie since Dwight King (9 points), Andrei Loktionov (9 points) and Corey Elkins (8 points) in the 2010 playoffs.
- Mersch scored at least one point in four of Manchester's five games in the first round. He had a team-high two three-point games, scoring two goals and one assist in both Game 2 and Game 5.
- During the regular season, Mersch placed among AHL rookie leaders in goals (T-2nd, 22), points (T-7th, 45), shots (2nd, 223) and plus/minus (4th, plus-20).
Pirates Wrap Up
- The Monarchs beat Portland in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, three games to two. Manchester's win in Game 5 was the franchise's first ever victory in a winner-take-all playoff game (1-3). It was the Monarchs' first series win since the 2010 Division Finals against Worcester.
- Jordan Weal (5 goals, 2 assists) and Mersch became the first pair of Monarchs teammates to score at least five goals in the same playoff run since Bud Holloway (7), Gabe Gauthier (7) and Trevor Lewis (5) did it in 2010.
- The Monarchs scored at least five goals in all three of their wins in the series and outshot the Pirates 152-104.
Monarchs' All-Time Playoff Points Leaders
Player Games Goals Assists Points Seasons
Bud Holloway 23 11 14 25 2009-11
Justin Azevedo 27 7 14 21 2009-12
Patrick O'Sullivan 16 8 9 17 2006-07
Noah Clarke 35 9 8 17 2003-07
Gabe Gauthier 35 8 8 16 2006-10
John Zeiler 41 8 8 16 2006-11
Marty Murray 16 6 8 14 2006-07
Dwight King 23 4 10 14 2009-11
Pavel Rosa 9 6 7 13 2002-04
Corey Elkins 21 5 8 13 2009-11
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