Monarchs' Moller returns to lineup

The Manchester Monarchs are holding onto first place in the Atlantic Division of the AHL and the two teams at their skateheels will be in town this weekend.

The Monarchs (5-2-0 for 10 points) host Bridgeport (4-3-0, 8) tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Verizon Wireless Arena and Providence (4-2-0, 8) tomorrow night at 7 p.m.

The Sound Tigers opened the season with four consecutive wins, but have since dropped three straight. That includes a 4-0 loss to Lowell on Tuesday.

But Monarchs head coach Mark Morris knows that Bridgeport coach Jack Capuano will have his team looking to rebound tonight.

"Jack Capuano runs a good bench. He's got a lot of years of experience and he does his homework," Morris said. "He's a good hockey man with a good head for the game. His teams are always well-prepared."

Capuano is a New Englander (Cranston, R.I.) and was a standout player at the University of Maine in the late 1980s. His Sound Tigers are led by another Black Bear, Greg Moore, who leads the team with three goals and two assists for five points.

As for the Monarchs offense, it will get a boost from the return of center Oscar Moller, who was sent down from Los Angeles on Tuesday. Moller played two games with the Kings but did not record any points. He returns to the Monarchs as the third-leading scorer (3-2-5) despite missing two games.

"We're going to welcome him back with open arms," Morris said. "He gives us an extra dimension as a sure-handed forward."

In Moller's absence, the new line of Bud Holloway, Scott Parse and Andrei Loktionov flourished. Moller has been centering Corey Elkins and Brandon Segal in practice this week.

"We're hoping he can create some chemistry with some other players," Morris said. "If we like (the Moller, Elkins, Segal) line we'll get the opportunity to stick with it."

As for Providence, the Bruins enter tomorrow's game on a scoring hot streak similar to Manchester's.

"They're a typical Providence team," Morris said. "They're quick and aggressive on the penalty kill. We're familiar with their personnel."