How They Got Here
After finishing the AHL regular season with a league high 109 points, the Manchester Monarchs began the postseason facing the 8th seed Portland Pirates. Oddly enough, this matchup proved to be the toughest challenge for the Monarchs in reaching the Calder Cup Finals. Portland rallied from 0-2 down in the series to force a deciding game five, where the Monarchs proved victorious, 5-3.
In the second round Manchester faced the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a series that was closer than it appeared. While the Monarchs did win the series 4-1, three games were decided by one goal, including a thrilling first game that went to triple overtime.
The Eastern Conference Final wasn’t much of a series, as the Monarchs swept the Hartford Wolfpack in four games. Only the first game was close as the Monarchs dominated play throughout most of the series. Manchester appeared to be hitting on all cylinders during this series, so it’ll be interesting to see what 10 days off between the Conference Final and Calder Cup Finals will do to their chemistry.
Offense
Much like in the regular season, Jordan Weal and Brian O’Neill having been an offensive dynamo. Weal is currently the leading scorer in the playoffs, while regular season scoring champion, O’Neill, is fourth.
The secondary scoring for the Monarchs has also stepped up in the playoffs with Michael Mersch, Sean Backman and Nick Shore all generating quality chances throughout much of these playoffs. The Monarchs will need this to continue if they expect to beat the Utica Comets and goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who has not lost two games in a row all postseason.
Defense
Manchester’s defense has been able to shut down teams for much of these playoffs. Through the first three rounds the Monarchs have only been outshot three times, including twice where they were outshot by one. Much like their parent team, the Los Angeles Kings, the Monarchs want to win the Corsi battle each night, and so far they’ve been doing it in these playoffs.
With a decent mix of youth in Derek Forbort and Colin Miller, and veteran leadership from Jeff Schultz and Andrew Bodnarchuk, the Monarchs defense looks like they’re able to handle whatever Utica throws at them offensively.
Goaltending
Jean-Francois Berube has been less than stellar during the Monarchs run to the Finals, sporting just a .894 SV%. His 2.38 GAA and lack of a shutout in the playoffs are also a cause for concern. He will have to be better if the Monarchs want to win.
Prediction
While the Monarchs were the best regular season team, the Comets didn’t win the West for nothing. They will be the toughest test the Monarchs have had. Home ice is always nice to have, and with their extended rest time it’s hard not to pick the Monarchs to win this series.
Expect Markstrom to steal a game or two, especially if the Monarchs come out slowly after their time off. However, Utica has played three more games in these playoffs, and with a little more wear and tear, we’ll see if it affects them.
Monarchs in 7 games
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