Kalamazoo Wings (7-11-0-2) at Monarchs (11-7-1-1)
Saturday, December 3, 2016 – 6 P.M. – SNHU Arena
MONARCHS POINTS LEADERS
Joey Diamond: 18 points (9g, 9a)
Daniel Ciampini: 17 points (6g, 11a)
Justin Agosta: 15 points (5g, 10a)
David Kolomatis: 15 points (3g, 12a)
MONARCHS GOALTENDING LEADERS
Sam Brittain: 8-3-1, 2.51 GAA, 0.910 save %
Jonah Imoo: 0-1-0, 4.07 GAA, 0.852 save %
WINGS POINTS LEADERS
Justin Taylor: 15 points (7g, 8a)
Tyler Shattock: 12 points (5g, 7a)
Dajon Mingo: 12 points (1g, 11a)
WINGS GOALTENDING LEADERS
Nick Riopel: 3-5-0, 2.86 GAA, 0.900 save %
Joel Martin: 4-6-0, 3.42 GAA, 0.896 save %
WHERE WE STAND
The Monarchs (24 points) enter tonight’s game with Kalamazoo in 2nd place in the North Division, four points behind the Adirondack Thunder, and in a 3rd place tie in the Eastern Conference with the Orlando Solar Bears and Reading Royals.
DEFENSE IS OFFENSE
Justin Agosta and David Kolomatis continue to dazzle as offensive-defenseman for the Monarchs, as the blue-line duo are tied for 4th in points among defensemen in the ECHL. Agosta has five goals and 10 assists on the year, while Kolomatis has three goals and 12 assists this season.
The Monarchs catch a break as the league-leader in points by defensemen, former UNH Wildcat, Blake Kessel, is not on the Wings active roster after coming to Kalamazoo by trade from the Atlanta Gladiators. Before the trade, Kessel posted 23 points on seven goals and 16 assists, good for 5thmost among all skaters in the ECHL.
MAKING THEM COUNT
The Monarchs rank 6th in the league with 3.50 goals per-game, but have averaged the 7th fewest shots on goal per game in the ECHL at 29.85. Despite taking some of the fewest shot son goal, the team holds an 11.7% shooting percentage, second-best in the league.
SLOW STARTS
First periods have given the Monarchs the most trouble this season when it comes to scoring, having been outscored by four goals in the opening period of games, and are a combined +12 in all other periods. The Monarchs face a Kalamazoo team that has scored the second-fewest goals in the first period (11), but are 3-0-1 when taking a lead into the 1st intermission this year.
KEEP THEM DOWN
Kalamazoo comes to Manchester for the first time in franchise history, and is coming off a doozy last night in Elmira where they dropped a 7-4 contest to the Jackals, surrendered five goals in the 3rdperiod, and took 31 PIMs in the 3nd and 3rd periods.
COVERING THE STAT SHEET
Manchester’s leading scorer, Joey Diamond, is finding more than one way to lead the team on the stat sheet. Not only is Diamond leading the team in points, but he also leads the team in penalty minutes as well, with 40 thus far. The next player on that list is Kevin Morris, with 30 minutes spent in the penalty box.
