AHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs report

April 25, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


LAST WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS (SERIES TIED AT 1-1)

Vs. Providence (4/22): The Providence Bruins scored four goals in the first period to skate past the Monarchs, 5-1, in Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Friday night. The Bruins received tallies from left wing Tomas Kurka (2), center Ben Guite, defenseman Kevin Dallman and left wing Dan LaCouture. The Monarchs lone goal came off the stick of right wing George Parros midway through the second period. Monarchs goaltender Mathieu Garon (six saves, nine shots), who was replaced by Adam Hauser (16 saves, 18 shots) at 7:30 of the first period, took the loss. Bruins goaltender Hannu Toivonen earned the win, stopping 30 shots. Manchester went 0-for-5 on the power play. Providence was 1-for-4 on the power play.

Vs. Providence (4/23): Left wing Noah Clarke netted the game-winning goal with 7:49 remaining in the third period as the Monarchs evened their best-of-seven Atlantic Division Semifinal series with a 4-2 win over the Providence Bruins at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Saturday night. The Monarchs also had goals from center Michael Cammalleri and left wings Dustin Brown and Chris Schmidt.

Right wing Pat Leahy and left wing Andy Hilbert lit the lamp for the Bruins. Monarchs goaltender Mathieu Garon earned the win, stopping 21 shots. Bruins goaltender Hannu Toivonen took the loss with 30 saves. Manchester went 1-for-6 on the power play.

Providence was 0-for-5 on the power play.

MONARCHS TRANSACTIONS
4/22/05: Manchester recalled left wing Connor James from loan to Bakersfield (ECHL).

BRUINS/MONARCHS PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Atlantic Division Semifinals: Monarchs vs. Bruins (series tied at 1-1)
Date Location Time/Result
Game 1 Friday, April 22 @ Manchester 5-1 Bruins
Game 2 Saturday, April 23 @ Manchester 4-2 Monarchs
Game 3 Monday, April 25 @ Providence 7:05 p.m.
Game 4 Wednesday, April 27 @ Providence 7:05 p.m.
Game 5 Thursday, April 28 @ Manchester 7:05 p.m.
Game 6 Saturday, April 30 @ Providence 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)
Game 7 Monday, May 2 @ Manchester 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)

Playoff tickets for the Monarchs are on sale now at the Verizon Wireless Arena box office. Tickets may also be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (603) 868-7300, or by visiting Ticketmaster on-line at www.ticketmaster.com. Fans may also purchase tickets at all Ticketmaster locations, including Filenes at the Mall of New Hampshire.

News & Notes

The Monarchs evened their Atlantic Division semifinal series with the Providence Bruins at one game apiece with their 4-2 win on Saturday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena. Saturday's win snapped a Monarchs home ice playoff losing streak of seven games that dated back to April of 2002.

Prior to Saturday's victory, the Monarchs last win on home ice in the playoffs was on April 17, 2002. The Monarchs beat the Hartford Wolf Pack, 6-2, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

This is the Monarchs fourth Calder Cup playoff appearance. They have yet to win a playoff series.

2004 Atlantic Division Semifinals
Monarchs vs. Worcester IceCats (IceCats won the series 4 games to 2)
Date Site Result Att. Record
Game 1 Apr. 15 Verizon Wireless Arena Worcester, 2-1 4,233 0-1
Game 2 Apr. 17 Verizon Wireless Arena Worcester, 3-2 (OT) 6,589 0-2
Game 3 Apr. 18 Centrum Centre Manchester, 2-0 2,260 1-2
Game 4 Apr. 20 Centrum Centre Manchester, 6-0 1,743 2-2
Game 5 Apr. 22 Verizon Wireless Arena Worcester, 3-2 (3 OT) 4,652 2-3
Game 6 Apr. 24 Centrum Centre Worcester, 6-1 2,577 2-4

2003 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Monarchs vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Sound Tigers won the series, 3 games to 0)
Date Site Result Att. Record
Game 1 Apr. 12 Verizon Wireless Arena Bridgeport, 2-1 7,432 0-1
Game 2 Apr. 13 Verizon Wireless Arena Bridgeport, 6-3 6,010 0-2
Game 3 Apr. 18 Arena at Harbor Yard Bridgeport, 6-3 3,455 0-3

2002 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Monarchs vs. Hartford Wolf Pack (Wolf Pack won the series 3 games to 2)
Date Site Result Att. Record
Game 1 Apr. 13 Hartford Civic Center Hartford, 5-3 4,384 0-1
Game 2 Apr. 14 Hartford Civic Center Manchester, 4-3 3,402 1-1
Game 3 Apr. 17 Verizon Wireless Arena Manchester, 6-2 5,526 2-1
Game 4 Apr. 19 Verizon Wireless Arena Hartford, 3-1 8,759 2-2
Game 5 Apr. 20 Hartford Civic Center Hartford, 3-2 (2 OT) 4,735 2-3

Right wing Brad Smyth on Friday night made his seventh Calder Cup playoff appearance. Smyth, a Calder Cup champion with the Hartford Wolf Pack in 2000, is fourth all-time with 43 goals in 74 Calder Cup playoff games.

AHL Career Playoff Leaders – Goals
GP Goals
1. Jody Gage 115 51
2. Willie Marshall 112 48
Fred Glover 120 48
4. Brad Smyth 74 43

Smyth's 78 career Calder Cup playoff points (43-35=78) are 11th all-time. His 35 assists are tied for 23rd on the all-time list.

Calder Cup Champions

In addition to Smyth, defenseman Mike Weaver has also played for a Calder Cup champion. He won the title while skating with the Chicago Wolves in 2002.

The Monarchs coaching staff includes two Calder Cup winners. Head coach Bruce Boudreau won a Calder Cup with the Adirondack Red Wings in 1992. Assistant Coach Dane Jackson won a Calder Cup with the Rochester Americans in 1996.

Monarchs right wing Tom Kostopoulos and defenseman Jason Holland have each come close to winning the Calder Cup.

Kostopoulos twice has seen his team lose in the Calder Cup finals. His Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins lost to the Milwaukee Admirals in the 2004 finals and to the Saint John Flames in the 2001 finals.

Holland's Americans lost to the Providence Bruins in the 1999 finals.



American Hockey League Stories from April 25, 2005


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