Monarchs Weekly Preview
April 4, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
Manchester Monarchs Mix it up with the Adirondack Thunder
(Manchester Monarchs)
GAMES
Friday, April 8, 7 p.m. - Adirondack Thunder - Verizon Wireless Arena
Saturday, April 9, 7 p.m. - Adirondack Thunder - Glens Falls Civic Center
WEEK IN REVIEW
The Monarchs played two games this past weekend, dropping both contests to North Division teams.
Friday night, the Monarchs visited the Toledo Walleye and dropped a hard-fought battle, 5-4. The Monarchs fell behind on two early first period Toledo goals, but Michael Boivin's 8th goal of the season made the game 2-1 heading in to the first intermission. Toledo scored the only goal in the second period to push the lead to 3-1, but Matt Fornataro and Joey Diamond scored early in the third period, to tie the game. After another Walleye goal, Diamond lit the lamp again to tie the game, but Tyson Spink sealed the win for Toledo late in the third period, ending the ferocious Monarchs comeback.
Saturday in Wheeling, the Monarchs again fell behind on two first period goals. Fornataro would cut the lead in half midway through the second period, but that was all the offense the Monarchs could muster, falling, 2-1, in West Virginia.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
The Monarchs (85 points) begin the week leading the East Division by three points over the surging Reading Royals, and look to clinch the East Division and a guaranteed top-3 spot in the playoffs this week, as their magic number to clinch is only two points. There are a few ways the Monarchs can clinch the East, but the easiest is to win one of their final two games.
LEADING THE WAY
Maxim Kitsyn leads the way for the Monarchs with 52 points on 26 goals and 26 assists. Joey Diamond sits in second on the Monarchs scoring list with 49 points (20g, 29a) and Gasper Kopitar (8g, 23a) is tied with Michael Boivin (8g, 23a) in third with 31 points.
SILENCING THUNDER
The Monarchs skate with the Thunder for the 14th and 15th times this season, with the Monarchs holding a 7-5-0-0 advantage in the season series. Entering today, the Thunder hold a game in hand on the Monarchs, with the extra game coming Tuesday night, when they play the Elmira Jackals. The Monarchs have dominated the Thunder in the last six meetings between the two clubs, posting a 5-0-1-0 record in those games, outscoring Adirondack, 19-14.
THE BAND IS BACK TOGETHER
The Monarchs received some familiar faces this past week, with the return of Yann Sauvé and Darik Angeli, who both were playing in the AHL. Sauvé returns to Manchester after being traded by the Portland Pirates to the Stockton Heat on March 7. With the Heat, Sauvé played in three games without recording a point. When he was traded, Sauvé was third in scoring for the Monarchs with 29 points (7g 22a).
Angeli returns to the Monarchs after being loaned to the Manitoba Moose on March 8. With the Moose, Angeli played in 10 games, scoring one goal and two assists. The first-year skater returns from his second call to the AHL, and his 15 points (6g, 9a) gives Manchester 15 players with double-digit points on their roster heading into the playoffs.
WIN AND TAKE THE CROWN
The easiest way for the Monarchs to clinch the East Division crown is to win one of their two games against the Thunder. The Monarchs enter the week averaging 3.06 goals per game this season, while the Thunder have averaged 2.68 goals a contest. Adirondack has scored the fourth-fewest goals at home in the ECHL (85 goals), while the Monarchs have scored the second-most goals on the road in the league (117).
POWER OUTAGE
The Thunder have struggled lately, going 3-8-0-0 in their last 11 games. The scoring has not been there for Adirondack during that stretch, averaging 2.09 goals per game (23), while giving up 3.18 goals per game (35). During their tough run, Adirondack was also shut out at home in four consecutive games.
ZERO AFTER TWO
The Monarchs and Thunder enter the week without regulation losses when leading heading into the third period. Manchester boasts a 25-0-1-3 record in those games, and Adirondack is a stunning 29-0-2-0 when taking a lead into the third period.
TICKETS
The Monarchs return to the Jungle ice Friday, April 8 (7 p.m.), when they host the Adirondack Thunder in the final home game of the regular season on Fan Appreciation Night, sponsored by Energy North. As a thank you to Monarchs Country, the Monarchs will be drawing winners for the Shirt Off Our Back promotion and will be giving away Monarchs prizes all night long! In partnership with Autism Speaks, this will be Autism Awareness Night and 4,000 fans will leave the Jungle with a custom Monarchs Puzzle!
The home finale will also be March of Dimes Night!
To purchase tickets, visit ManchesterMonarchs.com or contact the Front Office at 603-626-7825!
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 Manchester Monarchs Mix it up with the Adirondack Thunder |
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