Monarchs Win Atlantic Division Championship Playoff Series
May 14, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
PROVIDENCE, RI - Center Marty Murray's two assists and goaltender Jason LaBarbera's 27 save effort lifted the Manchester Monarchs past the Providence Bruins 2-1 to win the 2007 Calder Cup Atlantic Division Championship Series four games to two in front of 3,109 fans at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Monday night. The Monarchs will face the Hershey Bears in the Eastern Conference Finals with game one on Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Giants Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
An intense first period ended with a goal for each team. The Monarchs struck first with a power play goal at 7:29 of the opening frame. Six seconds after the puck dropped following the penalty box door closing on Bruins defenseman Dwayne Zinger, Monarchs center Brian Boyle stuffed in his third playoff goal. Defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky sent a tape-to-tape pass from the right point to Murray at the right post. Murray controlled the puck and found Boyle standing at the top of the crease for the one-timer that slipped between goaltender Hannu Toivonen's legs.
Providence answered back at 10:20 of the first period with a wrist shot by right wing Jeff Hoggan. Center David Krejci skated into the Monarchs zone on a two-on-one with Hoggan as defenseman Brendan Buckley was the lone Manchester player back. Krejci slid the puck over to Hoggan in the left face-off circle. The winger flipped a shot past LaBarbera to even to score at 1-1. Defenseman Sean Curry earned an assist on the tying goal.
Right wing Tim Jackman gave the Monarchs the lead once again at 6:09 of the second period. Buckley carried the puck deep into the Bruins zone and around the net. The veteran defenseman then gave the puck to Murray stationed behind the cage. Murray patiently waited for a Monarchs player to get open and then found Jackman at the right doorstep. Jackman fired the one-timer into the left corner of the net to give Manchester the 2-1 lead.
Center Patrick O'Sullivan nearly had his eighth goal of the season at 9:12 of the middle frame when he flipped a backhander at Toivonen from the slot. The puck flew in the air and landed on the goal line. Toivonen quickly covered up the puck for the save.
LaBarbera earned the win stopping 27 shots. Toivonen took the loss with 25 saves.
Manchester went 1-for-5 on the power play. Providence was 0-for-4 with the man advantage.
The Monarchs meet the Bears in game one of the 2007 Calder Cup Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday, May 19 at the Giants Center at 7:30 p.m. Catch all the action with Ken Cail on the Monarchs Radio Network WGIR-AM 610 and at www.monarchshockey.com. Watch the game live on B2 Networks for just $6 per game. Log onto www.monarchshockey.com and click on the link to B2 Networks ten minutes prior to each Monarchs game to watch the game live.
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