Manchester update

Don gives an update on the Manchester Monarchs:

-----

With the Kings long out of playoff consideration, it’s a good time to check in with the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs.

On Sunday afternoon, goalie Jonathan Quick stopped all 27 shots he faced, and Brady Murray redirected a blast from defenseman Troy Milam for the game’s only tally in the Monarchs’ 1-0 shutout victory over the Lowell Devils. The victory enabled Manchester (69 points) to pull to within one point of the fourth place Springfield Falcons, who lost on Sunday 3-2 to San Antonio. The Falcons currently hold the fourth and final playoff spot in the AHL’s Atlantic Division.

On Saturday, the Monarchs defeated the Hartford Wolf Pack 3-1 on goals from David Meckler, Matt Moulson and Lauri Tukonen. Goaltender Daniel Taylor stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced.

With only 13 games remaining on the schedule, Manchester (30-28-5-4) looks ahead at two of the next three against the Falcons (this coming Wednesday and then again Sunday), and likely needs to win both contests, as their schedule doesn’t get any easier. The Monarchs play eight of their remaining games on the road where they have won 16 of 32 contests, but the team has been surprisingly mediocre at home, where they have won only 14 of 35.

The Monarchs’ final three regular season contests are against the Providence Bruins, the top team in the AHL with 97 points.

Forward Matt Moulson leads the team with 24 goals, followed next by Brian Boyle and Gabe Gauthier, who each have 23 tallies. Gauthier injured his left knee early in the first period of Sunday's game and did not return. His prognosis is unknown and was reported to have boarded the team bus on crutches. Teddy Purcell is the overall team leader in points with 66 (18 goals, 48 assists). Rugged winger/some-time defenseman Paul Crosty leads the team with 196 penalty minutes.

Oft-injured center Marc-Andre Cliche has come on of late since returning to the Monarchs’ lineup, and has points in six of the last seven games.

Cliche was acquired by the Kings last season in the deal that sent controversial forward Sean Avery to the New York Rangers.

Goalies Quick (5-6-0) and Taylor (11-5-2) are now splitting duties between the pipes, since the promotion of Ersberg.