Monarchs Head to Conference Finals with 2-1 Win
May 12, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
WILKES-BARRE, PA - For the third time in franchise history, the Monarchs have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals after beating the Penguins in a decisive Game 5 on Tuesday night, 2-1. It will be Manchester's first trip to the Conference Finals since 2010.
Adrian Kempe and Nick Shore scored the Monarchs' only goals of the game, with both tallies coming in the first period.
It marks the second time in franchise history the Monarchs won a seven-game playoff series in five games or less. They beat Portland in a four-game sweep in the 2010 Atlantic Division Semifinals.
Kempe started the scoring at 2:01 in the opening period when he jammed in a rebound right in front of Matt Murray. It was the rookie's second goal in the playoffs.
Shore gave the Monarchs a 2-0 advantage when he beat Murray with a wrist shot from the left wing at 14:57 in the first period. The Penguins pulled Murray in favor of Jeff Zatkoff following the goal.
The Penguins cut the lead to 2-1 at 18:43 in the second period when Conor Sheary netted his fifth goal of the postseason and third goal of the series.
J.F. Berube earned his seventh win of the playoffs by making 28 saves on 29 shots. It was his eight career win in the postseason, two shy of Jonathan Bernier (10 wins) for the most in club history.
The Monarchs will face the winner of the Hershey and Hartford series in the Conference Finals, which is tied at two games apiece.
Notes:
The Monarchs improved to 7-0 in these playoffs when scoring the first goal of the game.
Adrian Kempe's goal at 2:01 in the first was the seventh time the Monarchs scored within the game's first three minutes in these playoffs and their second time doing it in as many games (Weal at 0:42 in Game 4).
David Van der Gulik (assist) recorded at least one point in all five games of this series with two goals and four assists total.
Jordan Weal led the Monarchs with eight points (5 goals, 3 assists) in the five-game series. His 15 points in the playoffs (10 goals, 5 assists) are two shy of Patrick O'Sullivan for the most ever by a Manchester player in a single playoff.
This marked the sixth playoff series win in Monarchs history (6-12) and they improved their all-time playoff record to 40-52.
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