Monarchs Weekly Preview

Monarchs at Adirondack Thunder

Saturday, Dec. 27, 7 p.m.

Adirondack Thunder at Monarchs

Sunday, Dec. 28, 3 p.m.

GAMES

Saturday, Dec. 26, 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 27, 3:00 p.m.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS WITH ADIRONDACK

Last Game – Dec. 13, 2-0 Thunder

This Season – 1-3-0-0

WEEK IN REVIEW

The Monarchs played games in three different states this past week, traveling to Kalamazoo, Fort Wayne and Toledo for three games in three days.

Thursday, the Monarchs played in their final morning game of the season, beating the Kalamazoo Wings, 2-1, in a come-from-behind overtime victory. It took the Monarchs until the third period to get on the scoreboard, but Matt Leitner tied the game with his 7th goal of the season. Stefan Legein was the hero in overtime, scoring the game-winner at 2:38 in the extra frame on a breakaway, netting his 6th goal of the year.

Friday night, Manchester visited the Fort Wayne Komets for the first time in franchise history, beating the Western Conference team, 5-3. Danick Paquette notched two goals on the night, but the Monarchs found themselves fighting off a comeback by the Komets late in the game. Paquette started the scoring when the puck deflected off of his leg and into the net, late in the first period. Legein got back on the board, netting his second goal in as many nights, and Darik Angeli potted his 3rd goal of the season to give the Monarchs the 3-0 lead. Fort Wayne would cut into the lead, but Paquette added his second of the game to put the Monarchs back up by three. Fort Wayne would battle back to within one, but Maxim Kitsyn added an empty-net tally to finish the game off. Colin Stevens made his return to the lineup after missing 13 days due to an injury for the win.

Saturday night, the Monarchs were in Toledo to face the Walleye in their last game before the Christmas break. The Monarchs could only muster a season-low 15 shots, and were shut out by former Monarchs goaltender, Jeff Lerg, 2-0. Despite playing well, Monarchs goaltender, Cedrick Desjardins, took the loss.

WHERE WE STAND

The Monarchs head into the Christmas break in sole possession of first place in the East Division with 37 points, leading Elmira (36 pts.) and Adirondack (34 pts.) for the division lead. Manchester’s 37 points are good for second in the Eastern Conference, and third in the ECHL.

ROLLING THUNDER

The Monarchs will face a familiar foe this weekend, playing another home-and-home series with the Adirondack Thunder. Although still early in the season, this is an important series for both teams. Manchester may lead the Thunder by three points for East Division supremacy, but Adirondack has played in six fewer games than the Monarchs to this point. The Thunder have had the Monarchs number so far this season, taking a 3-1-0-0 record into Saturday night’s game, and boast a 6-2-0-1 record at the Glens Falls Civic Center. After starting the season 11-2-0-0, the Thunder have come back to earth a bit, going 5-3-1-1 in their last 10 games.

ROAD WARRIORS

The Monarchs ended an eight-game road point streak when they were shutout by Toledo on Saturday. During the streak, the Monarchs earned 15 of a possible 16 points, going 7-0-0-1 in that span. Manchester is second in the ECHL with 10 road wins, trailing only Quad City and Florida (11 wins) for the top spot in road victories.

LEADING THE WAY

Matt Leitner leads the Monarchs in scoring for the third straight week, tallying 29 points in his rookie season on seven goals and 22 assists. Maxim Kitsyn finds himself second on the Monarchs roster in scoring with 18 points (8g, 10a). Stefan Legein is in the top-3 for the first time this season with 17 points (7g, 10a).

MISSING THE NET

The Monarchs played one of their worst games of the season Saturday night, being shut out by the Toledo Walleye, 2-0. Even more staggering than the loss, was the lack of shots the Monarchs put on net that night. At the end of regulation, the Monarchs only registered 15 shots on goal, setting a season low for rubber on frame. The league leaders in shots on goal were only credited with two shots in the second period, yet another season low.

GETTING THE CALL

Zac Larraza and Josh Brown have received the call to the AHL once again, and have joined the Milwaukee Admirals and Portland Pirates respectively. This is the second call-up for Larraza, who was previously loaned to Portland, as well as the second time Brown has been called to the Pirates. Larraza leaves Manchester tied for second in goals (11), game-winning-goals (3) and plus/minus (+14) amongst all rookies in the ECHL. The call-ups are nothing new to the Monarchs, as eight players have been to the AHL this season, including: Darik Angeli, Derek Arnold (3), Brown (2), Larraza (2), Jordan Samuels-Thomas, Matt White, Eric Neilson and Tony Turgeon.

TICKETS

The Monarchs return to the Jungle Dec. 27 (3 p.m.), as they host the Adirondack Thunder in an East Division showdown. The Greenville Swamp Rabbits come to town for the annual New Year’s Eve game. Fans will enjoy the largest indoor fireworks display in New England after the final whistle as well as the much anticipated year-in-review video.

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.