ECHL Eastern conference recap – Week 9

ORLANDO, FLA – After weeks of little change in the standings, the ECHL’s Eastern conference saw two new teams atop the divisions at the end of week nine. With a week to go before the Christmas break, here is a look at last week’s results.

Manchester Monarchs (16-9-0-1, 33 points)

The Monarchs finally ran down the Adirondack Thunder and passed them thanks to a week which saw Manchester pick up two wins and points in three of four games.

The Monarchs started the week on the road in Brampton where Darik Angeli, Austin Block and Danick Paquette al scored goals before Zac Larraza netted the game-winner with 20 seconds left in regulation to beat the Beast. Friday in Elmira, Angeli had the lone goal and goalie Doug Carr stopped 36 of 37 shots through overtime but the host Jackals came away with the win. Yann Sauve, Gasper Kopitar and Matt Leitner all had multiple point games including scores but it was David Kolomatis who scored the overtime game-winner to beat Adirondack in Glens Falls. The week finished with a return match against the Thunder in Manchester where Carr again starred with 32 saves but the Monarchs were shut out.

Next up: Thursday – at Kalamazoo, Friday – at Ft. Wayne, Saturday – at Toledo

Adirondack Thunder (15-3-1-1, 32 points)

The Thunder fell from the number one spot in the division following a week that saw them lose two out of three games.

On Friday, the Thunder hosted Norfolk but it was the visiting Admirals who brought the big guns. Jeff Silengo had the lone goal for Adirondack in a 6-1 loss. Ryan Lomberg, Gunnar Hughes and Alexandre Carrier each lit the goal light on Saturday but it was not enough as Manchester took down the Thunder in overtime. Adirondack did get some revenge on Sunday as Dana Fraser and Michael Kirkpatrick each scored and goalie Drew Fielding stopped all 30 shots he faced in a win over the Monarchs.

Next up: Wednesday – Elmira, Friday – at Norfolk, Saturday – at Norfolk

Elmira Jackals (16-9-0-0, 32 points)

The Jackals stayed hot on the heels of Manchester and Adirondack with a perfect 3-0 week.

On Wednesday, Kevin Clare, Tyler Currier, Mike Seidel and Allan McPherson all scored in support of netminder Niklas Lundstrom who made 51 saves in a 4-3 win over Norfolk. On Friday, McPherson had the lone goal in regulation and C.J. Motte stopped 44 shots in net but Clare was the hero with the winner in a shootout to beat the Monarchs. A return match with the Admirals on Saturday went very well as Lundstrom stopped all 46 shots he faced while Clare, Seidel, Mark Bennett and Justin Kea all notched goals in a 4-0 shutout victory.

Next up: Wednesday – at Adirondack, Friday – at Reading, Saturday – at Reading

Reading Royals (11-10-1-2, 25 points)

The Royals played three games in sunny southwest Florida during the week, losing two of them in either overtime or a shootout before ending with a win.

On Wednesday, Cam Reid and newly acquired Scott Tanski each scored while Connor Knapp made 32 saves through overtime but the host Florida Everblades beat Reading 3-2 in a shootout. On Friday, Reid and Robbie Czarnik lit the goal light while goalie Adam Morrison turned away 27 of 30 shots in an overtime loss to the Everblades. Saturday’s final game of the set finally went the way of the visitors as Yannick Tifu and Mike Periera had goals and Knapp foiled 29 of 30 Florida shots in a 2-1 win for the Royals.

Next up: Wednesday – at Norfolk, Friday – Elmira, Saturday – Elmira

Norfolk Admirals (9-16-0-1, 19 points)

The Admirals spent the week on the road, winning twice in four matchups.

On Wednesday, Alexandre Ranger, Nick MacNeil and Tommy Mele scored goals but it was not enough as host Elmira took a 4-3 victory over the Admirals. Friday night in Glens Falls, goalie Adam Courchaine stopped 28 of 29 shots while Jonathan Lessard, Michael Pelech, Alexis Loiseau, Scott Allen, Radoslav Illo and Mele scorched the Thunder with goals in a 6-1 win. On Saturday, the Admirals were back in Elmira and were blanked by the Jackals. Norfolk moved across the border on Sunday where Mele and Loiseau each scored twice while Allen and Pelech added one apiece in a thrilling 6-5 overtime win over Brampton. Loiseau netted the game-winner in the three-on-three extra period.

Next up: Wednesday – Reading, Friday – Adirondack, Saturday – Adirondack

Wheeling Nailers (13-9-1-2, 29 points)

The Nailers ascended to the top of the division thanks in part to a solid week with two wins and at least a point in all three games the team played.

On the road in Indianapolis on Thursday, Matt Tabrum and Derek Army each scored once while goalie Brian Foster made 30 saves in a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Indy Fuel. Friday night in Toledo, Riley Brace had the lone score and netminder Franky Palazzese had 36 saves through overtime but the host Walleye came away with a shootout victory. Back home in Wheeling on Saturday, John McCarron scored twice while Brace, Zack Torquato, Cody Wydo and Harrison Ruopp added one apiece in a 6-2 thumping of the Walleye.

Next up: Friday – at Quad City, Saturday – at Quad City

Toledo Walleye (12-7-1-3, 28 points)

The Walleye relinquished the lead in the division following a week which saw them win just once in three tries.

Alden Hirschfeld was the offensive hero on Wednesday with two goals while goalie Jake Patterson stopped 33 shots but the visiting Walleye lost to Evansville 3-2. On Friday, Austin Wuthrich scored in regulation before A.J. Jenks netted the game-winner in the shootout as the Walleye won. Goalie Jeff Lerg made 33 saves through overtime and three more in the shootout to post the victory. Jenks and Josh Shalla each scored on Saturday in Wheeling but it was not near enough as the Nailers won big.

Next up: Wednesday – Indy, Thursday – at Brampton, Saturday – Manchester, Sunday – at Indy

Kalamazoo Wings (10-13-1-1, 22 points)

The K-Wings had a perfect week, picking up a pair of wins over Brampton.

David Gilbert scored twice while Ludwig Blomstrand and Justin Taylor each added one in Friday’s shutout win over the Beast. Goalie Joel Martin made 34 saves to earn the victory. The next night, Blomstrand, Gilbert and Lane Scheidl all scored in support of Martin who stopped 37 of 38 shots in a 3-1 win.

Next up: Thursday – Manchester, Friday – Atlanta, Saturday – Atlanta

Brampton Beast (8-14-2-0, 18 points)

The Beast had a difficult week, losing three road games before coming home and falling in overtime.

On Wednesday in Manchester, Chris Auger, Jeff Brown and Travis Brown all scored goals but the Beast lost by one to the Monarchs. Brampton then headed to Kalamazoo on Friday where it was blanked by the host K-Wings. Jeff Brown had the lone goal in Saturday’s rematch loss before the Beast headed home. On Sunday, Jeff Brown scored twice while Auger, Jeremie Blain and Reggie Traccitto had one each but the visiting Norfolk Admirals came away with the overtime victory.

Next up: Thursday – Toledo, Saturday – at Ft. Wayne, Sunday – Reading

Florida Everblades (18-9-0-0, 36 points)

The Everblades maintained their lead in the South division thanks to two wins in three games against Reading.

On Wednesday, Matt Marquardt scored two third period goals to send the game to overtime before Ryan Martindale scored the deciding goal in the shootout to give the Everblades the win. Game two of the series on Friday saw Martindale and Marquardt each score in regulation before defenseman Mark Nemec netted the game-winner in overtime. Saturday’s final meeting saw Marquardt score the lone goal while goalie Daniel Altshuller made 28 saves in a 2-1 loss to the Royals.

Next up: Wednesday – Orlando, Friday – at South Carolina, Saturday – at South Carolina

South Carolina Stingrays (15-9-1-1, 32 points)

The Stingrays finished off a long road trip with a loss before heading home and picking up two victories.

Friday in Duluth, Georgia, Brett Cameron and Derek DeBlois were the goal scorers while goalie Mark Dekanich made 18 saves in net but the Stingrays lost 3-2 to Atlanta. Back home on Saturday, Joe Devin celebrated with a hat trick while Joey Leach and Paul Rodrigues added one each and Dekanich made 30 saves in a 5-1 win over Greenville. On Sunday, Andrew Rowe, Bobby Shea and Nick Jones lit the goal light while Branden Kromm made 25 saves in net in a 3-2 win over Atlanta.

Next up: Friday – Florida, Saturday – Florida

Atlanta Gladiators (13-9-1-0, 27 points)

The Gladiators had three games on the schedule for the week and won two of them before losing on Sunday.

Friday night, Max Everson, Mike Merrifield and Derek Nesbitt were the goal scorers while netminder Kent Patterson stopped 29 shots as the Gladiators downed South Carolina 3-2. Saturday night against Orlando, Daniel Bahntge scored in regulation before Tyler Murovich netted the game-winner in overtime to edge the Solar Bears. Murovich and Brock Higgs scored goals on Sunday and goalie Matt Ginn made 31 saves but it was not enough as host South Carolina took down the Gladiators.

Next up: Wednesday – at Evansville, Friday – at Kalamazoo, Saturday – at Kalamazoo

Orlando Solar Bears (10-8-2-3, 25 points)

The Solar Bears played three games on the road against division rivals during the week, winning once in overtime.

On Thursday night in Greenville, T.J. Foster scored a pair of third period goals but Orlando fell 6-2 in the contest. The next night, Brady Vail and Eric Baier scored in regulation before rookie Jack Rodewald netted the winner in overtime as the Solar Bears edged the Swamp Rabbits. On Saturday, Vail had the lone tally and goalie Ryan Massa made 37 saves in his third game in three nights as Orlando lost to Atlanta in overtime.

Next up: Wednesday – at Florida, Saturday – at Greenville, Sunday – at Greenville

Greenville Swamp Rabbits (11-12-3-0, 25 points)

Greenville had three games in three nights on the schedule and started off well with a win before falling in the final two.

Thursday night, Michael St. Croix scored two goals while Jack Combs, Josh Nicholls, Bretton Cameron and Rob Kwiet chipped in with one apiece as the Swamp Rabbits toppled visiting Orlando. On Friday, goalie P.J. Musico made 34 saves while Combs and Jordan Knackstedt each scored in regulation but Greenville fell in overtime. Saturday in South Carolina, Knackstedt was the only Swamp Rabbit to find the back of the net as Greenville lost to the Stingrays.