Have skates, will travel.
That could easily be the shirt young Brayden Schenn wears while bouncing from one airport to another.
His latest stop – Binghamton, New York, for the Manchester Monarchs third playoff game vs. the hometown Senators.
After some initial confusion about if he would make it there in time to be part of the game or not, Schenn did in fact arrive for pre-skate.
Then, he was announced in the building as a scratch – well, sort of…they announced ‘Brandon’ Schenn as being scratched. However, he did in fact play and picked up an assist in his return to the Monarchs, while finishing the night with a plus-3 rating.
In what was probably a rare occasion this season though, Schenn was not the story of the night.
Instead, it was the Monarchs incredible come from behind victory.
They spotted Binghamton a 3-0 before Martin Jones came in to relieve starter Jeff Zatkoff in the second period. Here’s what followed…
Bud Holloway scored at 10:50 of the second period, assisted by Schenn, 3-1.
Holloway did his thing again with a few minutes left in the period, 3-2.
Senators scored at 7:44 of the third to regain their two goal lead, 4-2.
Jake Muzzin scored on the power play, 4-3.
Less than three minutes later, Holloway sets up Dwight King‘s goal, tied 4-4.
The game went to overtime and Monarchs fans everywhere can probably predict what happened next – Holloway scored the game-winner, just like he did so many times last year during the playoffs.
It gave him four points for the night, a victory for the team and just the second playoff hat trick in franchise history.
The only other time a Monarchs player had posted three goals in the same playoff game was – ironically – nine years ago to the day, April 17, 2002. Adam Mair turned the trick that night in a 6-2 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Holloway now has five points in the Monarchs first three games of the first round. However, it was his OT winner that prompted Chris Ryan, a New Hampshire based sports reporter to tweet “Bud Holloway is the most clutch player in the 10-yr history of Monarchs Hockey.”
It’s a point that would be hard to argue.
Other post-game notes…
* Justin Azevedo was moved off the top line to make room for Schenn. He instead centered a line with King and Tyler Toffoli.
* Holloway now holds the Monarchs post-season record for goals and points, with 10 playoff goals alongside 19 points (10-11=19) in 19 games.
* Holloway broke the previous mark set by Noah Clarke, who recorded nine goals and 17 points (9-8=17) in 35 games. Thus, Holloway accomplished the feat in 16 fewer games.
* The real scratches for the game included John Zeiler and Jordan Weal.
* To see photos from the game click here.
Manchester now leads the series 2-1. Game four is tomorrow night in Binghamton.
The Mayor
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RELATED ARTICLES:
Interview with Bud Holloway – 2011 Monarchs ‘Man of the Year’
Five Questions with Monarchs goalie Martin Jones
2010 Camping Guide – Interview with Corey Elkins
Manchester Mondays with Jake Muzzin
Interview with Noah Clarke – he tells an awesome practical joke pulled by George Parros
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note: some material from wire services and team media was used in this report
