Monarchs win
John Zeiler scored with 48 seconds left in the second overtime and Manchester beat Worcester 4-3 to a take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series. Jason LaBarbera, in his first game back after a knee injury, made up for lost time as he saved 44 of 47 shots in 99 minutes, 12 seconds on the ice. The Monarchs also got goals from Tim Jackman, Patrick O'Sullivan and Matt Ryan. Oleg Tverdovsky had three assists, including one on the game winner. Game 3 is Saturday night in Worcester.

Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at 

Thanks Rich, we'll take any tidbits of info you happen across!