It was a good weekend for the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs, who had a three-game road swing and claimed five out of a possible six points.
On Thursday, the Monarchs beat Charlotte 6-4, after they took a 3-0 lead. Corey Elkins and Dwight King each had two goals, Bud Holloway had three assists, Justin Azevedo and Marc-Andre Cliche each had one goal and one assist, Jordan Nolan had two assists and goalie Martin Jones stopped 32 of 36 shots.
On Friday, the Monarchs lost to Charlotte 6-5 in a shootout. The Monarchs trailed 4-1 in the second period but scored three goals in the final 12 minutes of the third period to tie the game and claim a point. Andrei Loktionov had one goal and two assists, Cliche had one goal and one assist, David Kolomatis, Thomas Hickey and Viatcheslav Voynov each had one goal, Oscar Moller had three assists and goalie Jeff Zatkoff stopped 39 of 44 shots.
On Saturday, the Monarchs beat Binghampton 4-3, as David Meckler broke the tie with 3:17 remaining in the third period. Loktionov, Cliche and Elkins also had goals, and Jones stopped 38 of 41 shots.
For the season, the Monarchs’ two AHL All-Stars are leading the way. Jones has a 16-3-0 record and is first in the AHL in save percentage (.939) and fourth in goals-against average (1.93). Voynov has a team-high 32 points (9 goals, 23 assists), Holloway has 31 points (13 goals, 18 assists), Loktionov has 31 points (8 goals, 23 assists) and Meckler has 13 goals. The Monarchs, at 27-14-1-2, are in first place in the Atlantic Division.
Call up Loktionov and Moller NOW!!!
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Clamdigger Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 10:48 pm
@CB14, what about Voynov, Voynov has a team-high 32 points (9 goals, 23 assists) not bad for a defenceman!
Where does he fit on our team next year?
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holly Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 12:05 am
@Clamdigger, Hopefully helping our PP, which is where a lot of his points come in this year.
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Sam Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 9:33 am
@holly, If I was a betting man I would say Martinez gets moved as he’s an RFA next year anyways, Voynov gets the call then. If not, next year Wiske doesn’t start at the NHL level.
Bickleton Wigglesworth III Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 11:42 am
@Clamdigger, for the Kings the best place for Voynov would probably be on another team. Lombardi will eventually need to make a move to get the team to the next level, that move will likely be giving up a number of quality young assets for an established goal-scorer. While I’m sure the Kings would be happy to keep him, with Doughty and Johnson as well as a several other young defensemen Voynov isn’t really “needed” like he might be for other organizations.
With those sort of number he’s a very marketable commodity and my guess is he’ll be packaged up and traded away either this season or this summer for some first line talent.
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Way to go Manchester. Couldn’t be more proud. Hope to see guys like Hollaway, Clune, Meckler, and others get a few call ups as the season continues.
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Wow Martin Jones
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sure will be interesting to see what happens with Jones. looks like he is the real deal.
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puck73 Reply:
January 16th, 2011 at 10:42 pm
@Dave, Of course, thats what we thought about Bernier and he has been brought down to earth early on in the NHL. That being said, he is only 22 and I dont expect him to come into his own for another 2 to 5 seasons. As for Jones, to say he has been a surprise is an understatement ! I never thought he would take over the starting position from Zatkoff so early on…WOW !
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Micheal Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 11:56 am
@Dave, I too am liking Jones. Im liking Jones a whole lot more than Bernier lately. If Bernier doesnt get on track after a few more starts Id like to play Zattkof or Jones a bit to see how they play. Bernier isnt playing up to par yet and the team seems to run all over when he is in goal because I dont think they are comfortable with him.
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DLB Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
@Micheal, it’s a matter of getting a lot of starts and adjusting to the NHL. When Bernier was the #1 in the AHL and getting a lot of starts, he had numbers like that.
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i did when i saw him at rookie camp… not this past camp but the one before. He still had a year left in juniors i felt the same way about kozun as well i think there both really really underrated, dont understand why they both have great skill set.
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jones and kozun
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Jones has excelled in every league, at every level at which he’s played. No surprise he’s at the top of the AHL. We may be seeing him backing up Bernier in a couple of years, especially if Quick gets traded for our first superstar since Ziggy Palffy.
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I was at the two Charlotte games. Great team work and chemistry. Friday was a blast when they came all the way back. Hollaway was very good on the ice. Hickey was also very strong. Too bad they don’t come back to Charlotte again this year. Oh well, maybe in the playoffs. Go Kings Go! Two big games the next two days.
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Eventually our goalie will be Jones…Quick hit as good as he’s gonna get…Bernier has potential but is too small for this butterfly revolution of goaltending…Jones is massive and plays the butterfly amazingly…as for Voynov call him up for injuries and when they don’t resign Mitchell (unless he proves he can be healthy for lengthy stretches)
- Play Bernier more…he has potential…let Jones develop
- Voynov replaced the next D that leaves LA (D who actually play not Harold or DD2)
- Moller replaces Ponikarovsky…3.5 mil should not be resigned for the 4th line
- Loktionov spends another year in the minors since Schenn will replace Handzus…Loktionov will eventually replace Stoll
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Paul G Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 5:06 am
@Paul G, sorry for Poni that’s 3 mil with a 200K bonus (3.2Mil) ^^
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nykingfan Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 7:19 am
@Paul G,
The last time we “annonted” a goalie as the future it was Bernier. He still may be, or Jones might be the one,or Quick but it’s waaaaay too early to think in those terms. Let’s see how he continues tod evelop. So far, so good.
The other problem with your thoughts on replacing guys with the young kids…how many rookies are you going to go with when you’re trying to win a cup?
You’re talking about working in 3 guys next year. I’m not saying it won’t happen, but rookie mistakes are usually costly.
I still think Voynov will be used in a package for an elite scorer.
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LW Anybody? Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
@nykingfan, Voynov, Bernier and a pick would be a pretty good package to get something decent up front in return.
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I don’t see Voynov going anywhere if the chances to make the playoff’s are slim. What do we need a elite scorer for just to make the playoff’s. A deal has not presented itself all season, DL said at about the 20 game mark, there would be players available, and if the deal was the right fit and made sence…..then!!!! So far the BIG deals were Fleishmann & rescently Wolski, the cap has tought all teams the value of their young, and how hard it is to move Salary…..
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Bringing Sturm here was a salary dump situation, we give up a future Mecker, King, Lokti for help now. Voynov holds alot more value, since he is out preforming other young prospects, but is there a current king D-man we could move for the same or greater value?? Or do we give him a chance next season……….I felt he was Johnson’s replacement, but with Doughty’s average season so far, and Johnson’s long term deal, these two similar style D-men may create quite a delema!! Would Martinez have more value in a trade than Voynov??
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src Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 8:19 am
@Bossy22,
Not to mention that Hickey is not tearing it up, but a solid +/- and some descent numbers. Fight between Hickey, Voynov, Muzzin and Martinez for the 6th slot. DD2 comes too cheap to give away, can be the 7th man. At this point I would think that martinez and Muzzin have the upper hand- They can play physical.
Would not surprise me to see Voynov and or Hickey traded.
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LW Anybody? Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
@Bossy22, Hickey and Voynov should be dealt. Martinez and Muzzin are already on the fast track for staying here, and Teubert serves as more of a shutdown, stay at home, heavy playing, physical D man. Just don’t see a spot for Voynov and Hicks. They should be traded while they still have value. Not enough D spots, not enough high end talent up front.
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Gee, having Morris as a coach has turned out well for the Monarchs. Couldn’t we bring him here to put back the oomph in the Kings..if only for a short time?
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DominicK Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 8:55 am
@poe,
You don’t think the Monarchs will miss him?
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LW Anybody? Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
@poe, Morris employs the same system as Murray. Don’t see the point.
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