AHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs Weekly Report

February 1, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


LAST WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS

At Portland (1/26): The Manchester Monarchs were topped by the Portland Pirates with a shootout goal by right wing Mark Mancari, a 3-2 shootout loss at the Cumberland County Civic Center on Tuesday night. Monarchs goaltender Jonathan Bernier stopped three shootout snipers but could not contain defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani and Mancari. Pirates netminder Jhonas Enroth stopped 4-of-5 shooters in the shootout. Center Gabe Gauthier was the only Monarchs player to score in the shootout. Left wing Richard Clune and center Corey Elkins picked up regulation goals for the Monarchs. Left wing Brad Larsen and center Travis Turnbull scored in regulation for Portland. Bernier (19-11-5) took his fifth shootout loss of the season stopping 33-of-35 shots in regulation and three shootout snipers. Enroth (16-14-1) picked up his 16th win of the season with 24 saves in regulation and four shootout saves. Manchester was a 1-for-4 on the power play. Portland was 1-for-6 with the man advantage.

At Providence (1/29): In a battle of the netminders, the Manchester Monarchs came out on top as goaltender Jonathan Bernier stopped all 34 shots he faced for his fifth shutout of the season as they blanked the Providence Bruins, 2-0, at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Friday night. Manchester recorded goals from right wings Jon Rheault and Geoff Walker. Bernier (20-11-5) earned his 20th win and his fifth shutout of the season by stopping all 34 shots he faced in the game. Bruins goaltender Dany Sabourin (18-16-0) took his 16th loss of the season with 23 saves on 24 shots. Manchester was a 1-for-6 on the power play. Providence was 0-for-3 with the man advantage.

At Hartford (1/30): Goaltender Jonathan Bernier recorded back-to-back shutouts as he stopped 20 shots in the Manchester Monarchs 2-0 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday night. Right wings John Zeiler and Jon Rheault scored for the Monarchs. Bernier (21-11-5) earned his 21st win and his sixth shutout of the season by stopping all 20 shots he faced in the game. Wolf Pack goaltender Matt Zaba (3-7-1) took his seventh loss of the season with 33 saves on 35 shots. Manchester was 0-for-4 on the power play. Hartford was also 0-for-4 with the man advantage.

NEWS & NOTES

After sharing the first place lead in the Atlantic Division on Saturday, January 23 with the Lowell Devils (29-17-3-1, 62 points) for the first time since October 18, the Manchester Monarchs (29-14-2-5, 65 points) have regained sole possession of first place by picking up five of a possible six points in the standings last week. Manchester is ranked third overall in the AHL behind the Hershey Bears (37-9-0-2) who have 76 points in 48 games and the Hamilton Bulldogs (31-12-3-4) who have 69 points in 50 games.

The Atlantic Division standings are tight as the Worcester Sharks (29-14-2-2, 62 points) and the Devils (29-17-3-1, 62 points) are nipping at the Monarchs heels for first place.

The Monarchs are 17-6-0-2 at the Verizon Wireless Arena this season.

The Monarchs penalty kill is ranked third in the AHL. They have given up 27 goals in 209 attempts when their opponent has had the man advantage.

Their power play is ranked fourth in the league with 39 goals on 192 opportunities with the man advantage.

Manchester has been outshot by their opponent in 36-of-50 games thus far this season.

The Monarchs are 15-1-0-0 when scoring the first goal on home ice.

Center Corey Elkins (16-19=35) leads Manchester with 35 points.

Elkins' six-game point streak came to an end on Friday when he was held off the scoreboard in Providence. He ended his streak with five goals and three assists for eight points from January 16 " 26. It is the longest point streak by a Monarchs player this season.

Left wing Bud Holloway (14-15=29) is ranked second on the Monarchs roster in both points and goals.

Holloway is tied for fifth in the AHL with five game-winning-goals this season.

Center Gabe Gauthier (8-20=28) leads the Monarchs with 20 assists and ranks third in points with 28.

Defenseman Viatcheslav Voynov (8-16$) leads Monarchs bluliners and ranks fourth overall on the team with 24 points.

Right wing Scott Parse (3-10=13), who is currently on recall with the Kings, leads the team in the plus/minus category with a plus-11. Defenseman Drew Bagnall (2-6=8) and right wing Kevin Westgarth (8-9=17) are close behind with a plus-10.

Right wing Jon Rheault (2-2=4) lit the lamp with back-to-back insurance goals this weekend. Rheault scored his first goal of

the season into the empty net on Friday night and then picked up the insurance tally in Saturday's 2-0 win over Hartford.

Goaltender Jonathan Bernier has a record of 21-11-5 in 38 games of the season. His 21 wins are tied for third in the AHL.

Bernier's six shutouts lead the AHL.

Bernier is ranked third in the league with a 1.90 goals-against-average and is ranked second with a.942 save percentage.

Netminder Jeff Zatkoff has played in 14 games for the Monarchs this season, recording an 8-5-0 record, a 2.36 goals- against-average, a.932 save percentage and two shutouts.

MONARCHS TRANSACTIONS

1/21/10: The Manchester Monarchs (AHL) re-signed defenseman Johann Kroll to a professional tryout agreement.

1/20/10: The Los Angeles Kings (NHL) assigned defenseman Alec Martinez to the Manchester Monarchs (AHL).

1/18/10: The Manchester Monarchs (AHL) released defenseman Johann Kroll from his professional tryout agreement.

1/17/10: The Manchester Monarchs (AHL) signed defenseman Johann Kroll to a professional tryout agreement.

MONARCHS INJURY REPORT

1/23/10: Center Marc-Andre Cliche is day-to-day with a lower body injury.

1/23/10: Center Juraj Mikus is day-to-day with an upper body injury.

1/16/10: Defenseman Drew Bagnall is week-to-week with a lower body injury.

1/11/10: Defenseman Patrick Mullen is week-to-week with an upper body injury.

12/29/10: Center Shawn Bates is week-to-week with a lower body injury.

11/25/09: Center Andrei Loktionov is month-to-month with an upper body injury.

11/23/09: Defenseman Thomas Hickey is month-to-month with an upper body injury.

11/11/09: Right wing Trevor Lewis is month-to-month with an upper body injury.



American Hockey League Stories from February 1, 2010


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