Monarchs Playoff Report
Published on April 23, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
LAST WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS
Vs. Worcester (4/18): Defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky collected three points to lead the Manchester Monarchs past the Worcester Sharks 5-2 at the Verizon Wireless Arena to take game one of the best-of-seven 2007 Calder Cup Atlantic Division Semifinals Series A on Wednesday night. Manchester took the early 3-1 lead with goals by defenseman Peter Harrold, right wing John Zeiler and Tverdovsky. Right wing Graham Mink tallied the lone first period goal for Worcester. The Monarchs finished off the Sharks with goals by center Marty Murray and left wing Petr Kanko. The Sharks collected one more tally from right wing Grant Stevenson. Monarchs netminder Barry Brust stopped 27-of-29 shots for the first playoff win of the season. Sharks goaltender Thomas Greiss stopped 8-of-11 shots before being replaced by Dimitri Patzold at the 13:15 mark of the opening period. Patzold made 18 saves. Manchester went 2-for-8 on the power play. Worcester was 1-for-6 with the man advantage.
Vs. Worcester (4/20): Right wing John Zeiler scored his second game-winning goal of the series, this time in double overtime, to lift the Manchester Monarchs over the Worcester Sharks 4-3 in double overtime at the Verizon Wireless Arena to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series on Friday night. Right wing Tim Jackman and centers Matt Ryan and Patrick O'Sullivan scored in regulation for Manchester. Worcester collected goals by center Mike Iggulden and left wing Mathieu Darche (2). Zeiler flipped in the game-winner with 48 seconds remaining in the second overtime to give Manchester the win. Monarchs goaltender Jason LaBarbera made 44 saves for his first playoff win of the season. Sharks netimnder Thomas Greiss stopped 43 shots in the loss. Manchester went 2-for-10 on the power play. Worcester was 2-for-7 with the man advantage.
At Worcester (4/21): Goaltender Jason LaBarbera stopped all 26 shots he faced as the Manchester Monarchs won Game 3 of the best-of-seven 2007 Calder Cup Atlantic Division Semifinal Series A 5-0 against the Worcester Sharks at the DCU Center on Saturday night. Left wing Noah Clarke and centers Brian Boyle, Marty Murray, Patrick O'Sullivan and Matt Ryan tallied for Manchester. Sharks goaltender Thomas Greiss took the loss stopping 26-of-31 shots. Manchester went 1-for-7 on the power play. Worcester was 0-for-5 with the man advantage.
MONARCHS PLAYOFF NEWS & NOTES
Manchester has taken a 3-0 lead in the 2007 Calder Cup Atlantic Division Semifinal Series A over the Worcester Sharks.
With Game 4 scheduled for Wednesday, April 25, the Monarchs could eliminate the Sharks and advance to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs for the first time in their six year history. The team has advanced to the playoffs every season but has failed to proceed past the first round.
2001-02 Hartford won the series 3-2
2002-03 Bridgeport won the series 3-0
2003-04 Worcester won the series 4-2
2004-05 Providence won the series 4-2
2005-06 Hartford won the series 4-3
2006-07 Manchester leads series 3-0
The Monarchs have tied the all-time playoff record for the most wins in a season (3).
Manchester has set a new record for home playoff wins with two.
In three post-season games, 10 different Monarchs players have tallied goals: forwards Marty Murray (2), Patrick O'Sullivan (2), Matt Ryan (2), John Zeiler (2), Tim Jackman (1), Petr Kanko (1), Brian Boyle (1) and Noah Clarke (1) and defensemen Peter Harrold (1) and Oleg Tverdovsky (1).
Tverdovsky leads the team with five assists and six points (1-5=6).
Harrold is the only player to have a point in every playoff game.
Boyle scored his first professional goal in Saturday's 5-0 shutout of the Sharks.
Zeiler tallied the game-winning goal in Wednesday's 5-2 win and the double overtime game-winning goal in Friday's 4-3 victory. He is the only Monarchs player to tally two game-winning goals in one season.
Ryan and defenseman Brendan Buckley lead Manchester with a plus/minus of plus-4 this playoff series.
Clarke leads the Monarchs all-time with nine goals and 14 points in 22 playoff games from 2004-present.
Clarke also shares the team's lead for all-time playoff power play goals of four with right wing Adam Mair.
Monarchs goaltender Jason LaBarbera played in 159 minutes of hockey in less than 24 hours. He collected two wins, one shutout, a goals-against-average of 1.13 and a .959 save-percentage.
Manchester netminder Barry Brust stopped 27-of-29 shots for a 2.01 goals-against-average and a .931 save-percentage in Wednesday's 5-2 win.
TRANSACTIONS
The Monarchs did not have any transactions this week.
INJURIES
1-19-07 - Right wing Ryan Murphy is month-to-month after undergoing shoulder surgery.
American Hockey League Stories from April 23, 2007
- Stars Edge Knights 2-1, Lead Series - Abbotsford Heat
- Stars Reign Over Knights - Iowa Chops
- Ellis' Overtime Shortie Gives Griffs 2-1 Win, 2-1 Lead - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Penguins Slip Past Admirals in Overtime, Claim 2-1 Series Lead - Norfolk Admirals
- Bears Win To Move Within One Victory Of Division Finals - Hershey Bears
- Dogs Continue First-round Playoff Tilt With Amerks - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Flames Return Krahn To Knights - Abbotsford Heat
- Wolf Pack Weekly - Connecticut Whale
- Bulldogs add Troy Bodie from ECHL - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Game four in Glens Falls Monday - Hershey Bears
- Moose Recall Bolduc - Manitoba Moose
- AHL Morning Skate - AHL
- Wolves Weekly Notes - Chicago Wolves
- Monarchs Playoff Report - Manchester Monarchs
- Calder Cup Playoff Action Returns to Scope - Norfolk Admirals
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