ECHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs Game Day Capsule

April 8, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


Manchester Monarchs vs. the Adirondack Thunder
Manchester Monarchs vs. the Adirondack Thunder
(Manchester Monarchs)

HEAD-TO-HEAD - The Monarchs and Thunder meet for the 14th time this season to begin a crucial home-and-home series, with the Monarchs holding a 7-5-1-0 record against their East Division rival. The Monarchs have had good success against the Thunder in the recent past, posting a 5-1-0-0 record in the last six meetings between the two teams. Maxim Kitsyn, Joey Diamond and Gasper Kopitar are all tied with seven points against the Thunder this season, while Michael Kirkpatrick and Greg Wolfe lead the way with nine points each against the Monarchs.

PLAYOFF PICTURE - The Monarchs can clinch the East Division tonight with a win, no matter the outcome of the Reading Royals game against the Wheeling Nailers. A win would lock up the third seed in the Eastern Conference, securing home-ice advantage for the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The playoff picture is murky at the bottom of the structure, as Reading, Adirondack, Wheeling, Kalamazoo and Elmira are all within three points of each other for the final four spots in the tournament.

THANK YOU! - The Monarchs will host Fan Appreciation Night at the Jungle in the final home game of the regular season, and would like you thank all fans for another great season in Monarchs Country! We will be drawing winners for the Shirt Off Our Back promotion and will be giving away Monarchs prizes all night long! In partnership with Autism Speaks, this will be Autism Awareness Night and 4,000 fans will leave the Jungle with a custom Monarchs Puzzle sponsored by Energy North! The final home game of the regular season will also be March of Dimes Night, as the Monarchs and March of Dimes will be raising awareness and funds to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

POWER PLAYS - The Monarchs enter tonight's important East Division game with the ECHL's fourth-ranked power play, converting at 19.3%. Adirondack enters with the 13th best power play (16.9%), but the fourth-best road power play, converting on 21.5% or their chances.

SHOOTING THE MOON - Manchester has lead the league for most of the season in average shots on goal, and sits at 34.63/game. That might be a disadvantage against Adirondack, as the Thunder hold a 17-6-2-3 record when being outshot in a game versus going 19-20-0-1 when outshooting their opponent. Despite Adirondack's strong record when being outshot, the Monarchs will look to get plenty of rubber on net, as they boast a 28-10-3-4 record when outshooting their opponent in a game.

TOUGH ROOKIE - Michael Kirkpatrick, Adirondack's standout rookie, will be one to watch tonight, as the first-year skater sits in third place amongst rookie skaters with 56 points. Kirkpatrick leads all rookies with 28 goals, is second with eight power-play goals, third in power-play points (17), and leads all ECHL skaters with 244 shots on goal.

AFTER TWO - Manchester and Adirondack enter tonight's game as two-of-six teams without a regulation loss on their record when leading the game after two periods. At home, the Monarchs are 11-0-1-3 while the Thunder are15-0-1-0 on the road in those situations. The Monarchs have grabbed four of their league-leading nine final period comebacks at home this season, and the Thunder have won all three of their third period comeback wins on the road.

ONE GOAL GAMES - The Monarchs have played in the most games in the ECHL that have been decided by one goal. In the 36 close contests, the Monarchs are tied for the second-most wins with 20, and have grabbed points in 29 of those contests to lead the league. Adirondack on the other hand has played in only 25 one-goal games, coming away with 12 regulations wins (5th fewest in the ECHL).

Adirondack Thunder (37-27-2-4) at Monarchs (38-23-4-5)

Friday, April 8, 2016 - 7 p.m. - Verizon Wireless Arena

Fan Appreciation Night

MONARCHS POINTS LEADERS

Maxim Kitsyn: 52 points (26g, 26a)

Joey Diamond: 49 points (20g, 29a)

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

Michael Boivin: 31 points (8g, 23a)

MONARCHS GOALTENDING LEADERS

Colin Stevens: 15-8-2-0, 2.68 GAA, 0.912 save %

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

THUNDER POINTS LEADERS

Michael Kirkpatrick: 56 points (28g, 28a)

Greg Wolfe: 38 points (14g, 24a)

Ryan Lomberg: 35 points (18g, 17a)

THUNDER GOALTENDING LEADERS

Ken Appleby: 16-9-1-1, 2.21 GAA, 0.924 save %

Drew Fielding: 12-11-1-3, 2.68 GAA, 0.912 save %




Images from this story

Manchester Monarchs vs. the Adirondack Thunder
Manchester Monarchs vs. the Adirondack Thunder
   



ECHL Stories from April 8, 2016


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