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ECHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs Game Day Capsule

April 2, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


Manchester Monarchs Defenseman Yann Sauve
Manchester Monarchs Defenseman Yann Sauve
(Manchester Monarchs)

HEAD-TO-HEAD - The Monarchs and Nailers meet for only the second time this season, with the Monarchs grabbing the first ever meeting between the teams, 6-2, February 14 at the Verizon Wireless Arena. Matt Fornataro (2g) and Joey Diamond (1g, 1a) led the way against the Nailers in round one with two points each. Nailers defenseman, Mathew Maione, has had success against the Monarchs this season, as he has played five games against Manchester this season with Wheeling and Brampton, and has scored three points on three goals.

PLAYOFF PICTURE - The Monarchs magic number to clinch the East Division crown remains at four points. Adirondack plays host to the Brampton Beast tonight, and with a win and an Adirondack loss, the Monarchs would clinch the Division crown and a guaranteed top-3 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The Monarchs find themselves eight points behind the Walleye for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and six points behind South Carolina.

WELCOME BACK! - Yann Sauvé could make his return to the Monarchs lineup tonight, as he has been loaned to Manchester by the Stockton Heat (AHL). Sauvé was traded by the Portland Pirates on March 7 to the Heat, and played three games during his time in California. Sauvé's return will boost the blue line for the Monarchs, but will also bring some scoring, as his 29 points (7g, 22a) was good for third on the team at the time of his departure.

THE RIGHT TIME - The Monarchs catch the Nailers at a good time, as Wheeling has played to a 0-3-1-0 record in their last four games. Before the losing streak, Wheeling went 8-0-1-1, playing themselves into playoff contention.

SHUT THEM DOWN - Wheeling enters tonight's game with the majority of their goal scoring coming from Riley Brace and Cody Wydo. Brace (25g, 36a) sits in a tie for sixth in ECHL scoring, and Wydo is fifth in the ECHL in rookie goal scoring with 22 goals. The pair have accounted for 23.2% of the Nailers goals this season.

SHOOTOUT? - If the game heads into the skills competition to decide the result, the Monarchs have a bit of an advantage. While both teams convert on 23.1% of their shootout attempts, the Monarchs sit ninth in the ECHL, stopping 74.4% of attempts against them (29-for-39). Wheeling on the other hand has only stopped 38.5% of shootout attempts (5-of-13), 27th in the league.

COMEBACK KIDS - Third period leads will not be safe tonight, as the top-two teams in the ECHL in third period comeback wins will face-off. The Monarchs lead the ECHL with nine final period comebacks, but Wheeling sits in second with six comebacks. Something will have to give however if a team is to come back, as Manchester holds a 25-0-1-3 record when leading after two periods (14-0-0-0 on the road) and Wheeling enters the game at 23-1-0-1 when taking a lead into the third period, 12-0-0-1 at home.

Monarchs (38-22-4-5) at Wheeling Nailers (34-26-4-4)

Saturday, April 2, 2016 - 7:35 p.m. - WesBanco Arena

MONARCHS POINTS LEADERS

Maxim Kitsyn: 51 points (26g, 25a)

Joey Diamond: 48 points (20g, 28a)

Gasper Kopitar: 31 points (8g, 23a)

MONARCHS GOALTENDING LEADERS

Colin Stevens: 15-7-2-0, 2.71 GAA, 0.911 save %

Doug Carr: 9-8-0-5, 2.75 GAA, 0.916 save %

NAILERS POINTS LEADERS

Riley Brace: 61 points (25g, 36a)

Matthew Maione: 49 points (9g, 40a)

Cody Wydo: 48 points (22g, 26a)

NAILERS GOALTENDING LEADERS

Franky Palazzese: 19-15-1-1, 2.76 GAA, 0.904 save %

J.P. Anderson: 2-1-1-0, 2.21 GAA, 0.917 save %




Images from this story

Manchester Monarchs Defenseman Yann Sauve
Manchester Monarchs Defenseman Yann Sauve
   



ECHL Stories from April 2, 2016


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