AHL Manchester Monarchs

Living Strong: Monarchs defeat Providence 4-2

March 8, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


MANCHESTER, NH - Right wing James Livingston picked up two goals on his birthday to lead the Manchester Monarchs to a 4-2 victory over the Providence Bruins at the Verizon Wireless Arena as they honored fallen MIT Police Officer Sean Collier for American Pride Day on Saturday night.

Manchester (38-16-2-6) leads the Atlantic Division with 84 points. Providence (31-21-1-7) sits in third place in the Atlantic Division with 70 points.

"They out-skated us; got to give them credit," said Monarchs Head Coach Mark Morris. "We're a team they want to knock off. They came in ready and last night's game was pretty taxing. They were more prepared than we were. We hung around and were able to scratch a goal out there. I thought we turned it up a notch in the second. I thought their goalie did a good job for the most part. They eventually cracked and we took advantage of it. I just told our guys we got to skate, we're getting out skated out there. Kept it simple; started intercepting pucks; made them play in their end. (Livingston's) a nuts and bolts guy. Can't have enough of those when you surround some young prospects with someone with seasoning, and he has that. He's a strong guy. Like to have those guys around to have the younger players earn their ice."

A goal by Livingston at 14:46 of the middle frame made it a 3-1 game. Forward Colin Fraser sent the puck to right wing Steve Quailer, who proceeded through the neutral zone with the puck. Quailer fired a shot on net and Livingston buried the rebound over the goaltender for his fifth goal of the season, and first tally in a Monarchs uniform.

The Bruins struck first with a goal by center Alexander Kokhlachev at 18:33 in the first period. Right wing Seth Griffith won the puck from the face-off and sent it off to defenseman Blake Parlett at the point. Parlett proceeded to pass the puck to Kokhlachev who was located in the front of the net. With a scrum in the crease, Kokhlachev buried the puck into the net for his 17th tally of the season.

Forward Nick Shore opened the scoring for the Monarchs at 3:18 of the second period. Defenseman Andrew Campbell picked up the puck along the right wing boards and passing it off to Shore at the front of the net. Shore fired a slap shot past netminder Niklas Svedberg. Right wing Zach O'Brien also made an assist Shore's 13th goal of the season.

Right wing Scott Sabourin passed the puck to center Linden Vey at the blueline. Vey sent the puck cross-ice to left wing Andy Andreoff who skated up the left wing and cut toward the net. As he approached the net, he did a toe drag and fired the shot. Andreoff's ninth goal of the season came at 5:58 of the second period.

Providence pulled within one with left wing Justin Florek's 15th tally of the season at 15:42 of the final stanza. Khoklachev sent the puck toward the net and Florek buried the pass behind Monarchs netminder J.F. Berube. Left wing Craig Cunningham also assisted.

The Monarchs answered back with an unassisted goal by Livingston. The right wing stole the puck away from a Bruins player and carried it down the left wing before beating Svedberg for his second goal of the night at 17:12 of the third period.

Berube (21-14-2) earned his 21st win of the season, stopping 34-of-36 shots. Svedberg (20-13-3) took his 13th loss of the season with 30 saves on 34 shots.

Manchester was 0-for-3 on the power play. Providence went 1-for-3 with the man advantage.

Notables: Right wing James Livingston scored his first two goals in a Monarchs uniform...The Monarchs record against the Bruins is 7-3-0-0 this season...The Monarchs are undefeated in regulation (7-0-0-1) in their last eight home games...Manchester improved their record on Saturdays to (17-5-0-1).

The Monarchs will play at home at the Verizon Wireless Arena for a 3:00 p.m. contest against Hartford Wolf Pack on Sunday, March 9. Catch all of the play-by-play action of Monarchs hockey with Ken Cail on Monarchs Radio Network WGIR AM 610, WGIRAM.com, and at manchestermonarchs.com presented by Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.



American Hockey League Stories from March 8, 2014


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