Monarchs’ Calder Cup campaign begins with Ducks affiliate

The Manchester Monarchs claimed the Eastern Conference’s top seed and will face the Norfolk Admirals in a best-of-five series that opens Friday night at Verizon Wireless Arena. Though the Monarchs are the top seed, there is the potential for the Admirals to host more games in the series.

When a 2-3 format is used because of distance between teams, the higher seed has the option of playing the first two or last three at home.

— AHL Communications (@AHLPR) April 20, 2014

 

I’ve also been told that scheduling conflicts at the Norfolk Scope Arena may have had an influence on the series’ balance. The world renowned Virginia International Tattoo Hullabaloo is booked at the Admirals’ arena between Thursday, April 24, and Sunday, April 27.

Game 1 – Friday, Apr. 25 – Norfolk at Manchester, 7:00 p.m.
Game 2 – Saturday, Apr. 26 – Norfolk at Manchester, 7:00 p.m.
Game 3 – Wednesday, April 30 – Manchester at Norfolk, 7:15 p.m.
*Game 4 – Friday, May 2 – Manchester at Norfolk, 7:30 p.m.
*Game 5 – Saturday, May 3 – Manchester at Norfolk, 7:15 p.m.
*if necessary

For what it’s worth, the second-seeded Ontario Reign opened their playoff efforts by losing two consecutive road games at the seventh-seeded Stockton Thunder and will now return home for up to three games in an inverse of the above schedule. The Monarchs will enter the playoffs without leading goal scorer Brian O’Neill, who will miss six-to-eight weeks with a leg injury, as reported by Ian Clark of the New Hampshire Union Leader. The injury stemmed from the late-game hostilities during a 4-0 win over Portland on April 12.

With Manchester leading 3-0 in the third period, the Pirates appeared to become frustrated and extracurricular activities picked up. Pirate Brett Hextall jumped O’Neill and the two fought. During the brief bout, O’Neill went down to the ice awkwardly, injuring his leg. He left the ice immediately for the locker room.

“It’s maddening to see the ugly side of the game. That was totally unnecessary. It’s a sore spot. It was a needless altercation which resulted in a major injury and no suspension,” Morris said. “It’s something we’re going to have to find a way to overcome.”

Jordan Weal finished fifth in AHL scoring with 70 points (23-47=70), while Andrew Bodnarchuk led the league with a plus-43 rating. 14 different Monarchs skaters recorded at least 10 goals this season, of which seven are healthy and currently active in Manchester. In his first year earning regular AHL starts, J.F. Berube finished 28-17-2 with a 2.37 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and three shutouts. Colin Fraser rejoined the Monarchs’ lineup and recorded an assist in Friday’s loss in Providence after missing five weeks with a broken hand.

The Monarchs did not lose more than two games in a row during the regular season and finished with 105 points as part of a 48-19-3-6 record. With 106 points, the Texas Stars narrowly edged Manchester in the race for the most points in the league.

Though Emerson Etem has been recalled by Anaheim, Norfolk (40-26-3-7) will welcome back several defensive reinforcements.

Here at AAC. Ducks have brought up Emerson Etem from AHL Norfolk and sent down G John Gibson and D Sami Vatanen.

— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) April 20, 2014

Other notable names on Norfolk include 20-year-old Irvine native Nic Kerdiles, a teammate of Michael Mersch at the University of Wisconsin who also recently turned pro, and 21-year-old Max Friberg, who had 40 points (17-23=40) in 74 games.

LAKI will have more on this first round series throughout the week.