Monarchs Game Day Capsule
April 13, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
HEAD-TO-HEAD - The Monarchs and Thunder meet in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals tonight from the Jungle, in what will be the 16th overall meeting between the two teams this season. The Monarchs hold an 8-6-1-0 record against the Thunder, and have gone 6-1-1-0 in their last seven meeting with Adirondack.
CLOSE GAMES - The Monarchs and Thunder have played close games all season, as seven of the last eight games the division rivals played were decided by one goal.
YOUTH MOVEMENT - The Monarchs have five players with ECHL playoff experience, with Maxim Kitsyn and Gasper Kopitar leading the way with 23 games each. Heading into the series, the Monarchs roster consists of 11 players who will get their first taste of ECHL postseason action.
POWER PLAY PROWESS - Both teams boast strong power-play units, with the Monarchs ranking 5th overall in the league, converting on 19.5% of their overall chances and 22.8% of their away power plays, good for second in the league. Adirondack brings with them the 3rd ranked away power play the ECHL had to offer in the regular season, converting on 21.7% of their tries away from the Glens Falls Civic Center.
SCORE EARLY, SCORE LATE - The Thunder have come out early in games, scoring the fifth-most opening period goals across the league this season (70). Conversely, the Monarchs are tied for the third-most goals in the final frame (82).
WATCH OUT FOR THE ROOKIE - A Thunder player to watch for is Michael Kirkpatrick. The first-year skater finished as the runner-up for the ECHL Rookie of the Year Award, despite leading all rookies in goals (29) and finishing 2nd in points (60). Kirkpatrick has scored two points in each of his last three games, and leads all Thunder skaters against the Monarchs with 13 points.
STREAK - Maxim Kitsyn carries an 11-game home point streak with him into the playoffs, tied for the fourth-longest such streak in the ECHL this season, dating back to Jan. 24. Kitsyn has scored 13 points on eight goals and five assists in that time, and led all Monarchs with 10 points on six goals and four assists against Adirondack this season.
#6 Adirondack Thunder (0-0) at #3 Monarchs (0-0)
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game 1
Wednesday, April 13, 2016 - 7 p.m. - Verizon Wireless Arena
Media Contact: Matt Johnson (mjohnson@manchestermonarchs.com)
MONARCHS REGULAR SEASON POINTS LEADERS
Maxim Kitsyn: 55 points (26g, 29a)
Joey Diamond: 49 points (20g, 29a)
Michael Boivin: 32 points (10g, 23a)
MONARCHS REGULAR SEASON GOALTENDING LEADERS
Colin Stevens: 15-9-2-0, 2.77 GAA, 0.908 save %
Doug Carr: 10-8-0-5, 2.77 GAA, 0.915 save %
THUNDER REGULAR SEASON POINTS LEADERS
Michael Kirkpatrick: 60 points (29g, 31a)
Greg Wolfe: 40 points (16g, 24a)
Peter MacArthur: 36 points (8g, 28a)
THUNDER REGULAR SEASON GOALTENDING LEADERS
Ken Appleby: 17-9-1-1, 2.24 GAA, 0.924 save %
Drew Fielding: 12-12-1-3, 2.76 GAA, 0.909 save %
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