AHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs Weekly Report

Published on January 26, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


LAST WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS

At Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (1/21): The Manchester Monarchs had two goals tipped into the net by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the 4-1 loss at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza on Wednesday night. Left wing Matt Moulson scored for the Monarchs. The Penguins picked up goals from right wing Bill Thomas (2), center Mark Letestu and center Connor James. Monarchs' goaltender Daniel Taylor (1-1-0) took his first loss of the season stopping 23-of-26 shots. Penguins' goaltender John Curry (13-7-0) earned his 13th win of the season with 29 saves. Manchester went 1-for-3 on the power play. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was 1-for-4 with the man advantage.

At Philadelphia (1/23): Goaltender Scott Munroe stopped 43 shots as the Manchester Monarchs fell, 2-1, to the Philadelphia Phantoms at the Wachovia Spectrum on Friday night. Right wing Scott Parse scored the lone goal for the Monarchs. Defenseman Michael Ratchuk and right wing Matt Clackson found the back of the net for Philadelphia. Monarchs' goaltender Jonathan Bernier (10-13-3) took his 13th loss of the season with 19 saves. Phantoms' netminder Scott Munroe (19-10-1) earned his 19th win of the season stopping 43-of-44 shots. Manchester went 0-for-6 on the power play. Philadelphia was 1-for-4 with the man advantage.

At Hershey (1/24): The Manchester Monarchs dropped their third straight game with a 2-1 loss to the Hershey Bears at the Giant Center on Saturday night. Defenseman Alec Martinez scored the lone goal for Manchester. Centers Keith Aucoin and Alexandre Giroux netted goals for the Bears. Monarchs' goaltender Jonathan Bernier (10-14-3) took his sixth consecutive loss and 14th loss of the season with 26 saves. Bears' netminder Michal Neuvirth (3-2-1) earned his third win of the season stopping 29-of-30 shots. Manchester went 1-for-5 on the power play. Hershey was 1-for-5 with the man advantage.

MONARCHS NEWS & NOTES

Manchester (18-22-0-5) is in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with 41 points in 45 games. The Providence Bruins (25-18-2-1) lead the Atlantic Division with 53 points.

The Monarchs have dropped their last three contests and are 2-8-0-0 in their last 10 games.

The Monarchs are in 21st place in the AHL on the power play. The team is 34-for-217 with the man advantage for a 15.7-percent rating.

Manchester has stopped their opponent 188 times on 227 power play opportunities for an 82.8-percent rating this season, good for 16th place.

The Monarchs have a winning record on two days of the week, Wednesdays and Fridays. Manchester is 4-2-0-1 on Wednesdays and 7-5-0-2 on Fridays.

The Monarchs are 4-11-0-0 on Saturday's this season.

When the Monarchs score first, they have gained a point in every game but three. Manchester is 13-3-0-4 in the 20 games where they have scored first.

Manchester is 11-2-0-3 when they have the lead following the first period. They are 12-2-0-2 when leading after two periods.

The Monarchs are undefeated when scoring four or more goals (8-0-0-0) and are 9-3-0-2 when tallying three goals in a game.

After going 2-4-0-1 in the month of October, the Monarchs went 7-4-0-2 in November and 7-6-0-1 in December. Manchester is 2-8-0-1 in the month of January.

Right wing Trevor Lewis (10-18=28) leads the Monarchs in points and goals. He was recalled by the Kings on December 18 and made his NHL debut against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, December 19 and scored his first NHL goal against the Detroit Red Wings on December 20. Lewis had three points (1-2=3), zero penalty minutes and a zero plus/minus rating in five games with the Kings this season. Lewis was reassigned to Manchester on Tuesday, December 30.

Center Marty Murray (5-18=23) and center Gabe Gauthier (5-18=23) are tied for second place on the Monarchs in scoring and lead the team in assists.

Gauthier is ranked sixth on the Monarchs all-time assists list with 83 helpers over three seasons. He is also ranked 10th in goals scored with 42 and ranked eighth with 125 points.

Manchester's fourth leading scorer, reigning AHL Rookie of the Year right wing Teddy Purcell (9-11=20), returned from his recall with the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, January 18.

Purcell was recalled to the Kings on December 10. In 17 games with the Kings this season, Purcell registered seven points (1-6=7) and two penalty minutes.

Purcell was named to the Canadian AHL All-Star team. The 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications will be held at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts, on January 25-26. Purcell participated in the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic and was named the MVP of the All-Star Game after he scored three goals in regulation and the game-winning shootout tally for Team Canada.

In Sunday's 2009 AHL All-Star Skills, Purcell went 3-for-7 in the Charter Communications Accuracy Shooting event and also participated in the Bud Light Pass & Score and EA Sports NHL09 Breakaway Relay events as a member of Team Canada.

Left wing Scott Parse (9-10=19) is in fifth place on the Monarchs roster with 19 points. Parse's plus/minus rating of plus-6 leads the team.

Right wing David Meckler (10-6=16) is tied with Lewis for the team lead of 10 tallies. He also took over sole possession of sixth place on the Monarchs squad with 16 points.

Left wing Matt Moulson (7-8=15) ranks seventh on the Monarchs squad with 15 points in 19 games.

Center Justin Azevedo (5-9=14) is tied with left wing Vladimir Dravecky (2-12=14) for eighth place on the Monarchs squad 14 points each.

Azevedo has been plagued by injuries this season but when he has been in the lineup, he's averaged a point per game.

The rookie center is currently on a three game assist streak (0-3=3). Azevedo has also scored in every game he's played in since his return from a high ankle sprain on January 9. He has six points (1-5=6) in six games. (Even though he has scored in all six games since his return, Azevedo's streak is only good for the last three games because he was a healthy scratch on January 17. Streaks end when the player does not score in a game or does not play.)

Goaltender Daniel Taylor returned to the Monarchs lineup after spending the first half of the season with the ECHL's Reading Royals. He began the season with the Royals and collected a 3-17-1 record, a 3.96 goals-against-average and a .881 save-percentage in 23 games. The 5-foot-11, 179-pound netminder was born in Plymouth, England, and split the 2007-08 season between Manchester, Los Angeles and Reading. He registered a 13-5-2 record, a 2.40 goals-against-average and a .921 save-percentage in 23 games with the Monarchs and was undefeated in five games with the Royals going 3-0-0 with a 2.63 goals-against-average and a .917 save-percentage last season. Taylor made his NHL debut with the Kings against the Dallas Stars on March 29, 2008. He stopped eight shots in 20 minutes of play and let in two goals in his lone NHL game.

Taylor earned his first win of the season in a Monarchs uniform on Saturday, January 17 by making 26 saves on 28 shots for a 3-2 win against Portland.

Netminder Jonathan Bernier was recalled by the Kings on Sunday, January 18. The rookie goaltender is 10-12-3 with a 2.79 goals-against-average and a .897 save-percentage in 25 games with the Monarchs this season. He returned to the Monarchs lineup on Thursday, January 22.

Bernier has lost his last six consecutive games which ties a franchise record.

MONARCHS TRANSACTIONS

1-19-09: The Manchester Monarchs (AHL) signed goaltender Jeff Jakaitis to a professional tryout agreement.

1-20-09: The Manchester Monarchs (AHL) released right wing Jon Rheault from his professional tryout agreement.

1-20-09: The Manchester Monarchs (AHL) released center Dusty Collins from his professional tryout agreement.

1-22-09: The Los Angeles Kings (NHL) returned right wing Kevin Westgarth to the Manchester Monarchs (AHL).

1-22-09: The Los Angeles Kings (NHL) returned goaltender Jonathan Bernier to the Manchester Monarchs (AHL).

1-22-09: The Manchester Monarchs (AHL) released goaltender Jeff Jakaitis from his professional tryout agreement.

1-22-09: The Los Angeles Kings (NHL) recalled center Brad Richardson from his conditioning stint with the Manchester Monarchs (AHL).

1-24-09: The Manchester Monarchs (AHL) released right wing Ryan Murphy from his professional tryout agreement.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 26, 2009


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