Monarchs Weekly Preview
March 14, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
WEEK IN REVIEW
The Monarchs played four games at the Jungle this past week, and came out with a 1-2-1-0 record against three East Division rivals.
Tuesday, the Monarchs fell to the Adirondack Thunder, 4-3, in an overtime thriller. The Monarchs got out to a two-goal lead with tallies from Derek Arnold and Tyler Gjurich. Two quick goals by Adirondack brought the game to even in the third period, until Zac Larraza put the Monarchs ahead midway through the third period. A last minute Thunder goal sent the game into overtime, and Ryan Lomberg ended things just :17 seconds into the extra period.
The Monarchs welcomed the Reading Royals for two games Friday and Saturday, but things didn't go the Monarchs way. Friday, the Monarchs fell, 5-1, with the lone Manchester goal coming from Mark Anthoine.
Saturday, Reading took the game again, winning 7-4. Goals by Arnold, Joey Diamond and the first career tally for Alex Lintuniemi gave the Monarchs a 3-2 lead, but four unanswered Reading goals put the game away. Alex Roach scored a late goal, but the game was in the books by that point.
The Monarchs got back on the winning track Sunday afternoon, taking down the Elmira Jackals, 3-1. The Monarchs received goals from Diamond, Gasper Kopitar and the first career goal by Kyle Smith. Michael Houser recorded the victory, making 35 saves and was named the 1st star of the game.
WHERE WE STAND
The Monarchs (82 points) begin the week leading the East Division by eight points over the Adirondack Thunder and are 14 points ahead of the Jackals. Manchester sits one point behind the conference leading, Toledo Walleye, and third in the entire league. The 37 victories the Monarchs boast are the third-most in the ECHL.
LEADING THE WAY
Maxim Kitsyn returned from the Ontario Reign and into the top spot on the Monarchs scoring list with 47 points on 23 goals and 24 assists. Red-hot Joey Diamond sits in second with 45 points (18g, 27a), while Derek Arnold (16g, 13a) and Gasper Kopitar (8g, 21a) are tied for third with 29 points each.
ELMIRA
The Monarchs take on the Jackals in the final two meetings of the regular season in what could be a preview of the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The matchup would be a good one for the Monarchs, as they hold a 6-2-0-1 record against Elmira this season, and have won five of the last six games the two teams have played. Over the course of the season, the Monarchs have outscored Elmira, 29-17.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The Monarchs head on the road after a seven-game homestand. Although the Jungle has been good to the Monarchs, the road has been better, as the team is 19-9-0-1 away from the Verizon Wireless Arena, compared to 18-9-3-4 inside of it. Manchester is tied for the league lead with 19 road victories and their nine losses are tied for 3rd fewest in the ECHL.
KITSYN THE STREAK ALIVE
Maxim Kitsyn is back with the Monarchs after two weeks with the Ontario Reign, and the native of Siberia hasn't missed a beat. Since returning, Kitsyn recorded assists in both games he played and extended his point-streak to 15 games, tied for the longest in the ECHL this season. Kitsyn has scored 18 points on eight goals and 10 assists during the streak, and has also recorded points in 22 of his last 23 games (13g, 13a), dating back to January 6.
SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A DIAMOND
Joey Diamond has been one of the hottest Monarchs for some time now, scoring 30 points in his last 26 games on13 goals and 17 assists, dating back to January 16. In his last eight games, Diamond has tallied eight goals and one assist, including a four goal outburst in Norfolk on Feb. 27.
LOCAL FLARE
With the additions of Kyle Smith and Harry Quast, the Monarchs now have 10 players on their roster that either grew up or played collegiately in New England. Smith and Quast join Mark Fornataro as former UNH Wildcats, Mark Anthoine and Joey Diamond both attended the University of Maine, Derek Arnold and Doug Carr won a Hockey East Championship together at UMass-Lowell, Robbie Donahoe and Matt Harlow both grew up south of Boston and went to Middlebury College and Brown University respectively, and Troy Power attended UMass-Amherst.
TICKETS
The Monarchs return to the Jungle ice Wednesday, Mar. 23 (7 p.m.), when they host the Brampton Beast for the final time in the regular season.
To purchase tickets, visit ManchesterMonarchs.com or contact the Front Office at 603-626-7825!
Visit us at ManchesterMonarchs.com, follow the team on Twitter: @MonarchsHockey, and like us on Facebook for additional information.
GAMES
Friday, Mar. 18, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 19, 7:05 p.m.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS WITH ELMIRA
Last Game - 3-1 MCH, Mar. 13
This Season - 6-2-0-1
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