NHL news got you down? Let’s catch up with the boys in Manchester. Hey prospects, how you doin’?
Last Week
Game 1, Oct. 12th: Monarchs 3, Providence Bruins 1
Game 2, Oct. 13th: Monarchs 2, Albany Devils 1
This Week
Game 3: Oct. 19th, Home opener vs. Providence Bruins, 7 pm ET/4 PT
Game 4: Oct. 20th, At home vs. Portland Pirates, 7 pm ET/4 PT
Tonight: Monarchs vs. Bruins Preview
Lombardi’s in the house tonight, and the players know that a good impression could mean all the difference to their careers. This is especially true for the older pros who are closer to making the jump, such as 2012 black aces Muzzin, Hickey, Campbell, and Cliche. Of course, Loktionov continues to shine, but it looks like his best shot at a regular role in the NHL will be impressing scouts and execs on other teams. He is best at center, and the Kings simply have too many of them locked up long term. A lot more eyes are on the AHL right now, and his great start can only help.
The Monarchs are carrying a few extra players due to the lockout, and now ice time for forwards just got a little tighter. Today we got the surprise news that Dwight King was going to be allowed to play in Manchester after all. I don’t know how they managed it, but I assume they found some way around the waiver eligibility problem. He was on their “clear day” roster, and they would not risk losing a good young NHLer for nothing.
It also seems like Nikolay Prokhorkin is staying put. There was no reaction from CSKA or the KHL when he played his first game last Saturday, holding down a spot on the top line and getting his first assist. I take that as a sign the dispute has been settled, but take it with a grain of salt.
Scratches:
For the Monarchs, Jordan Nolan is out with a broken finger for a couple of weeks. Other scratches are Prokhorkhin, Hickey, Johnson, and Meckler.
For the P-Bruins, Jared Knight is out with a leg muscle pull. Goalie Michael Hutchinson, who they faced in the season opener, will be the backup to Niklas Svedberg tonight.
How to tune in: You can listen to both games live via the Monarchs’ site, or go to AHL Live to buy streamed/archived video.
I’ll post the roster and do another period by period rundown. Anyone want donuts? I also have those. Yum.
Kozun-Loktionov-Czarnik
Clune-Andreoff-Legein
Cliche-Vey-Toffoli
Pearson-Weal-O’Neill
Bodnarchuk-Voynov
Muzzin-Campbell (/Deslauriers)
Kolomatis-Deslauriers
Jones
First Period: Monarchs 0, Bruins 3
- Spooner gives the P-Bruins an early lead at 4:55 on the PP. Martin Jones went out to clear the puck and misplayed it, leading to the goal.
- Monarchs fail to convert on their 1st PP, and right after it expires, Caron beats Jones cleanly.
- Another PP goal. Bruins go up 3-0 after a shot from the right point makes it all the way through. Caron credited, with assists from Warsofsky and Bourque. The Bruins hadn’t scored a PP goal until tonight.
- Monarchs have the edge in shots, 10-7. They’re not playing terribly despite the lopsided score, but every breakdown seemed to cost them. Jones could be sharper. /
Second Period: Monarchs 3, Bruins 4
- Czarnik gets the Monarchs back in it with an early goal. Assist to Loktionov.
- Clune makes it 3-2, deflecting a puck past the goalie. That surprised even me, I think it caught Svedberg off guard. But the Monarchs are doing well.
- At 8:32, Caron gets a hat trick and widens their lead to 4-2. Deflating breakdown. I think Lokti, Bodnarchuk, and Kolomatis were on the ice for that one.
- Toffoli gets his own rebound and sends it top shelf in the final minute. All in all, a good comeback effort. Monarchs outshot the Bruins 13-6 in this period.
/
Third Period: Monarchs 3, Bruins 4 (FINAL)
- Monarchs are getting plenty of excitement going with quality scoring chances, but do not bury them.
- Kozun has been nailed with some borderline hits tonight, and survives. Muzzin went for a big check and seemed to hurt his forearm. Will he be okay?
- With Jones pulled for the extra man, Voynov rings one off the post with 30 seconds left. That seals it. Monarchs still outshot the Bruins 33 to 17, so there are some positives to build on for tomorrow./