Ian Clark's Monarchs Insider: Monarchs all about sharing the wealth

MANCHESTER – The Manchester Monarchs have been all about sharing the wealth.

Off to a 9-2-1 start for 19 points (tied for most in the AHL with Rochester), the Monarchs are getting it done with great goaltending and by spreading the scoring around the lineup.

Of the 23 skaters who have suited up for at least one game with Manchester this year, 21 of them have at least one point. Nearly half of those players have four points or more.

"I think that there's some intangibles of chemistry on this team that helps everybody feel good about one another and sharing the scoring has been a real positive for us," said Monarchs head coach Mark Morris. "It seems like this group likes one another a lot. They share the puck, they are willing to do all the necessary dirty work to produce."

The diversified scoring means that there is less pressure on the top lines to carry the load on a given night.

"When you've got guys who might not be in a more offensive role scoring, it takes pressure off the top couple lines," said winger Brandon Segal, who is fourth on the team in points with three goals and six assists. "They can just go about their game and not have to worry about scoring every night."

Ahead of Segal are rookie Andrei Loktionov (5-7-12), Scott Parse (who is up with Los Angeles, but had 2-9-11 in seven games) and Oscar Moller (4-5-9). The varied scoring also means that opposing teams can't key on one line.

"I don't think we're at a stage now where we can say we have a dominant line," Morris said. "That's always a quandary for an opposing team when you really don't know who their top line is. It makes it difficult to target specific players."

Contributions from less likely sources have also been big for Manchester. Tough guys like Kevin Westgarth (three assists) have chipped in and the defensive corps, led by Slava Voynov's three goals and three assists, has accounted for 17 points this year with 10 goals.

"I think that it's important that everyone contribute. I think it's big that our forwards have been using the (defensive) points a lot this year," said defenseman Drew Bagnall, who has a goal and three helpers. "Any time that people can contribute that haven't necessarily in the past or it's not their job to, it takes pressure off of guys on top lines and creates an atmosphere in the room that everybody can have fun with it and it can come from anywhere. You don't have to worry about who's on the ice at any given time. Anyone can produce."

The Monarchs play at Worcester on Friday night and then host Hershey at 7 p.m. Saturday at Verizon Wireless Arena.

BERNIER TOP STOPPER: Monarchs goalie Jonathan Bernier was named Reebok/AHL Goaltender of the Month this week. Bernier was 6-1-0 in seven appearances in October, with a 1.29 goals-against-average, .963 save percentage and two shutouts.

WALKER SENT DOWN: The Monarchs assigned forward Geoff Walker to the ECHL's Ontario Reign earlier this week. Walker had no points in two games this year. He led the Reign with 48 points (21-27-48) last year.

Ian Clark covers the Manchester Monarchs for the New Hampshire Union leader and Sunday News. His e-mail address is iclark@unionleader.com.