Monarchs Game Day Capsule
January 27, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
WHERE WE STAND
The Monarchs head into the week atop the Division standings after a week in second place, with a 25-12-1-4 record and 55 points. The Adirondack Thunder remain on the Monarchs heels with 54 points and the Elmira Jackals round out the top three with 45 points. The 55 points ranks second in the Eastern Conference, trailing only the Florida Everblades (59 points), and third in the ECHL with Missouri taking the top spot (66 points).
FUN IN THE SUN
The Monarchs will travel to Orlando, Fla. for the first time in team history to battle the Orlando Solar Bears in a three-game series. The Monarchs have had good success away from The Jungle this season, posting a 13-7-0-1 record in opposing barns. Orlando currently sits in last place in the South Division with a 17-16-2-3 (39pts.) record, and are currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Despite their overall record, Orlando has been playing well of late, posting a 7-3-0-0 record in the last 10 games, but have struggled at home, notching a 6-9-0-0 record on home ice.
Orlando forward, T.J. Foster, is tied for first amongst ECHL rookies in goals scored with 15.
LEADING THE WAY
Matt Leitner continues to lead the Monarchs in scoring with 35 points, and his 27 assists ranks second in the ECHL for first-year skaters. Maxim Kitsyn continues to be hot with 30 points on 15 goals and 15 assists. Kitsyn's 15 goals leads the team in the category and has 10 points (5g, 5a) in his last eight games. Yann Sauvé sits in third for Monarchs scoring with 24 points (5g, 19a), tied for sixth in the ECHL for defensemen.
SPECIAL ON THE ROAD
The Monarchs special teams have been particularly good on the road this season, ranking 6th in the ECHL in both power play and penalty kill percentage. Offensively, the Monarchs are converting on 20.3% of their man-advantage chances away from the Jungle, while their penalty kill runs an 85.9% success rate.
Special teams may play a big part this week in Orlando, and as the numbers look, the Monarchs should have an advantage. At home, the Solar Bears rank 26th in the ECHL in power play percentage, sitting at 9.8%, while their penalty kill is only turning away 80.0% of opposing opportunities, good for 24th in the league for home teams.
The Monarchs will have to watch out while on the man-advantage, as Orlando has scored eight shorthanded goals this season, good for second most in the ECHL.
NEVER SAY DIE
The Monarchs now have 12 wins when trailing after the first period of games, second most in the ECHL, and lead the entire league in wins when trailing after two periods (6). The two come-from-behind victories over Adirondack were significant not only in the standings, but also marked firsts for the Thunder. Manchester handed Adirondack its first regulation loss when leading after the first period (17-1-1-1) Saturday, and their second loss (20-0-2-0) when leading after two periods Sunday afternoon.
GOING STREAKING
Heading into the week, linemates Joey Diamond and Danick Paquette find themselves with hot hands. Diamond is riding a five-game point streak (2g, 5a) with 18 shots on net and a +3 rating. Paquette is carrying a four-game point streak (2g,2a) since returning from suspension, adding 13 shots and a +2 rating.
Doug Carr has not lost a game in regulation since Dec. 13, posting a 4-0-0-3 record in that time frame.
BUMP TO THE OFFENSE
The Monarchs welcome back Alex Lintuniemi for the series with Orlando, marking the first time the 20-year-old will skate for the team since Nov. 13. Lintuniemi was activated off of Injured Reserve yesterday (Jan. 26) and will bring offensive power to the blue-line, as he has scored five points (5a) in the eight games he has played this season.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Last Game - Never played
All-Time - 0-0-0-0
MONARCHS POINTS LEADERS
Matt Leitner: 35 points (8g, 27a)
Maxim Kitsyn: 30 points (15g, 15a)
Yann Sauvé: 24 points (5g, 19a)
MONARCHS GOALTENDING LEADERS
Doug Carr: 5-1-0-4, 2.08 GAA, 0.938 save %
Colin Stevens: 8-5-1-0, 2.51 GAA, 0.913 save %
SOLAR BEARS POINTS LEADERS
Brady Vail: 36 points (12g, 24a)
T.J. Foster: 33 points (15g, 18a)
Johnny McInnis: 23 points (11g, 12a)
SOLAR BEARS GOALTENDING LEADERS
Rob Madore: 7-9-1-3, 2.99 GAA, 0.913 save %
Ryan Massa: 10-7-1-0, 3.03 GAA, 0.909 save %
ECHL Stories from January 27, 2016
- Fuel Winning Streak Comes to An End in Cincinnati - Indy Fuel
- Slow Start Plagues IceMen in Wichita - Evansville IceMen
- Solar Bears Blanked 3-0 by Monarchs - Orlando Solar Bears
- Jackals Fall to Royals in Wild Wednesday Affair, 7-5 - Elmira Jackals
- Iles Shines as Cyclones Earn Second Straight - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Monarchs Freeze Solar Bears, 3-0 - Manchester Monarchs
- ECHL Transactions - January 27 - ECHL
- Moose Recall Harstad to Manitoba - Tulsa Oilers
- Fuel, IceMen to Wear Garfield and Odie Jerseys Saturday Night - Indy Fuel
- Americans Autograph Friday Features Postgame Skate with Players - Allen Americans
- Forward Mike Pereira Returned to Reading - Reading Royals
- The Force Awakens at Wings Event Center this Weekend - Kalamazoo Wings
- Schwartz Returns to Solar Bears After Loan to Marlies - Orlando Solar Bears
- Jackals Hold Court with Royals in Town - Elmira Jackals
- Game Day Capsule: Evansville at Wichita, January 27th - Wichita Thunder
- Jackals Receive Garbowsky and McPherson from Rochester - Elmira Jackals
- Game Notes - January 27 vs Indy - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Monarchs Game Day Capsule - Manchester Monarchs
- ECHL Today - January 27 - ECHL
- Josh Robinson Sets New ECHL Record in Mavericks Win over IceMen - Kansas City Mavericks
- Oilers Overcome Americans, 2-0 - Tulsa Oilers
- Oilers Blank Americans 2-0 - Allen Americans
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
