After last week's games, the Minnesota organization saw its fair share of backroom drama unfold. For a hot minute, Julian had some doubts about being able (or even wanting) to make it to 1000 games in a Monarchs jersey. However, after a good night's sleep for everyone and a few good talks here and there, the plan remains unchanged and Julian is still very much set on reaching that 1000 game milestone.

After the last update, Minnesota had 1 point, from an overtime loss against the Winnipeg Aurora. And surely the Monarchs were hoping that one point was the start of their way to beating the Casino-line.

Game 873 : Atlanta Inferno (10-0 Loss)

Folllowing the overtime win against Winnipeg, the Monarchs are roaring to go again and see if they can pick up some more points. The Inferno, however, did not play ball. With the Monarchs being outshot by more than 2-1, and not being able to muster more than 1 high quality shot they never really had a chance to get anything from this matchup. In fact, the Minnesota team had to wait until deep into the third period before getting that daunting zero of their scoreboard as Grindle Waters-Johnson managed to score on a decent shot.

A game to quickly forget for the whole team, Julian included.

Game 874 : Texas Renegades (4-3 Loss)

The first of two games in a row against the team from Texas for our Monarchs. And as is also visible from the scoreline, it was a pretty close matchup. It didn't start close though, as Texas took a two - nil lead after 12 minutes of play. And while Grindle Waters-Johnson narrowed the margin to one five minutes later, the Texans quickly restored the 2 goal lead before the end of the first period.

The second period saw Minnesota growing stronger, and a goal by new addition to the team Outdoor Truck put the Monarchs with just one goal to overcome and twenty more minutes to play. However, the scoring for the third line was tied as both teams scored once. Jarrod Lakemore's goal (assisted by Julian Flörsch) a bit over halfway of the third period was not enough to pull a win or OT here.

A solid defensive night from Flörsch today, as he finishes on a +1 plus/minus and picks up 3 hits and 2 blocks in the process as well.

Game 875 : Texas Renegades (5-4 Overtime Loss)

Game 2 in a row against the Renegades, and one that started a bit different than the last one. After 20 minutes, two goals by Julian Flörsch and another banger by Grindle Waters-Johnson had put the Monarchs comfortably in a 3-0 lead. A goalless 2nd period had the Monarchs completely unworried, and confident the first regular time win was up for grabs. However, 4 succesive goals by the Texas team in the third period had the Monarchs chasing again. And while the game tying goal by Nick Kodiak was well deserved, it wasn't enough to prevent the game from going to OT. Overtime was only 36 seconds long, as Hirano walked into a minor penalty for tripping, and the Texas team was quick to capitalize on the ensuiing power play.

Two goals for Julian Flörsch in this game, for another solid performance from the veteran.

Game 876 : New Orleans Specters (8-5 Loss)

A spicy matchup, as the newly acquired Minnesota goalie Lodge takes on his previous team. Two quick goals by the Specters in the first few minutes of the game was probably not what he was hoping for, but his team wasnt about to let him go down easily. Goals by Grindle Waters-Johnson, Jarrod Lakemore and Squilliam Fancyson kept the damage in the first period limited to a one goal deficit. And Ian Scochnikov III even cheekily tied the game up after two minutes in the second period. However, quickly after the New Orleans team pulled away with three goals, and despite an early 3rd period goal by Outdoor Truck the Monarchs were not going to get close to taking points from the Specters in this matchup. It didn't help that they spend quite a bit of time in the sin bin in the final third, while the Specters managed to keep it clean for the clutch 20 minutes.

Julian had a physical night, recording a team high 6 hits. He also got to be quite busy on the penalty kill, and not unsuccesfully as the Specters were only able to convert on one power play late into the third period.

Game 877 : Winnipeg Aurora (4-3 Loss)

It's only been 5 games since the Monarchs were able to snag a point from the Winnipeg Aurora, and surely the team is hoping for a repeat or better. Winnipeg wasn't ready to give up points here though, and scored three in the first twenty minutes against the one scored by Outdoor Truck for the Monarchs. 2 goals by Scochnikov III were separated by the second break and another Winnipeg goal, putting the ginal score of 4-3 in faour of the Aurora on the board. The Monarchs did a better job of keeping out of the penalty bo than last game, but the part of their play that really needs a lot of improving is the number and quality of shots.

4 blocked shots for Julian today, but offensively he wasn't able to contribute anything meaningful.

Game 878 : Tampa Bay Barracuda (8-5 Loss)

The Tampa Bay Barracuda are one of the top teams in the league at the moment, and from the opening face-off the Monarchs were on their backfoot. The team did really well to keep up with the Barracuda throughout the first twenty minutes, scoring twice (by Ivan Scochniko III and Damien Hirano) to keep the score at 4-2 after the first period. An early second period goal by Hirano gave the Monarchs some hope, but it was the Tampa Bay team who scored the next two. And despite another goal by Scochnikov III in the second period, and a late third period power play goal by Normand Marineau, Tampa Bay cruised to a win here.

A mediocre nights for Julian Flörsch, who got two takeaways, but recorded as many giveaways and didn't do much else noteworthy.

Game 879 : Calgary Dragons (9-1 Loss)

The Monarchs are facing another top team in the league as they take on the current SHL leader; the Calgary Dragons. And the Dragons weren't holding back any punches in the opening part of the game. 5 shots and three goals in 6 minutes had the Monarchs GM pull their goalie. Grindle Waters-Johnson had the sole Minnesota goal early in the second period.

Flörsch had a great defensive game, which feels weird to say after a 9-1 loss, as he managed to come out with a net zero plus/minus rating and 3 blocked shots.

Game 880 : Edmonton Blizzard (6-5 Overtime Win)

The Edmonton Blizzard are a solid top ten team at the moment, despite playing in one of the stronger divisions. However, neither Lodge or any of the Monarch's skaters showed any fear of taking the Blizzard head on in the opening period of this game. In minute five, two strikes within 20 seconds had Damien Hirano and Turtle Bob put the Monarchs up by two. And while the Blizzard scored one as well, Grindle Waters-Johnson brought the score back to a two goal lead before the end of the period. Unfortunately that was all undone in the second period, as the Blizzard found their way past the Monarchs' goalie twice to tie it up. And two Blizzard goals in the third period had the Monarchs chasing again. And chase they did! Darnell Mohamed Johnson II and Trevor Lopez beat the Blizzard goalie halfway through the third period with two powerpay goals to take the game to overtime. And this time, Outdoor Truck forces an end to the game and scores the first winner for the Minnesota Monarchs!

Game 881 : New England Wolfpack (7-2 Loss)

Coming from a high, having just won their game against the Blizzard, the Monarchs take on the New England Wolfpack. Another one of the stronger teams, tho with the position the Monarchs are in, there are no easy games anyway. 4 minutes into the game, and the Wolfpack had already put the puck in the Monarchs net twice. And they'd do that another 5 times this game. Grindle Water-Johnson and Normand Marineau scored the Monarchs' goals, but the Minnesota team fell well short of being competitve in this game.

Game 882 : Los Angeles Panters (7-4 Loss)

Another tough opponent in this tumultuous part of the season. Only 51 seconds into the game, the Panthers already took the lead, but Ian Scochnikov III only needed a minute after the opening goal to tie it all up again. Two more LAP goals in the first twenty minutes saw Minny facing two goal deficit by the first intermission though. The Monarchs started the second period strong, with Outdoor Truck reducing the Los Angeles lead to one goal, assisted by Julian Flörsch. However, the Panthers regrouped and ran up their end of the score to six during this period. The Monarchs came back alive in the third period, With Darnell Mohamed Jonson II and Grindle Waters-Johnson closing the gap down to just two. But a seventh goal by the Panthers slammed the door on all hopes the team may have had.

An assist for Flörsch, and a positive TA/GA ratio along with a few blocks for a decent game performance. Nothing spectacular, but it'll do for a regression old chap.

Game 883 : Chicago Syndicate (6-2 Win)

We go back to playing against one of our own division teams; the Chicago Syndicate. It's our fourth game against them this season, and we've lost the first three by a bit of a margin. However, in this game it was Minnesota who took the initiative and didn't let go. Julian Flörsch opened the score after not even three minutes, unassisted. And Damien Hirano and Lewis Holl enlarged the gap to three within the first ten minutes of the game. Chicago brought themselves back into the game by scoring two before the end of period one, but the Monarchs scoring two quick goals in the second period (Normand Marineau and Grindle Waters-Johnson) and Marineau scoring the only third period goal had the Monarchs secure their first actual win of the season.

Nobody really expected today's performance, in which we even managed to outshoot the Syndicate by 31 to 24. It help that we converted on 50% of our power plays. Julian had a good game, scoring a goal and recording a +2 plus/minus as well as a few blocks. He did take another trip to the penalty box, but without any consequences.

Game 884 : Buffalo Stampede (4-3 Overtime Win)

If you want to pick up points, or even wins, teams like Buffalo are probably the ones you may have a shot against. The Stampede aren't in the best spot in the league, and the Monarchs are coming off a winner against Chicago. However, the first period wasn't the continuation of the previous game that the Monarchs were hoping or aiming for. 20 Minutes into the game, the Monarchs were facing a one goal deficit. In the second period, unanswered goals by Damien Hirano and Normand Marineau put the Monarchs back into the drivers seat. Period three was for Buffalo again, as they scored two versus the one goal scored by Scochniko III in the final third to tie it and bring it to overtime. And in that overtime, it was none other than Julian Flörsch who pulled the trigger after just 10 seconds of play.

Julian scored the game winner in OT this game, which cames as a total shocker as he didn't contribute much else offensively. 

Game 885 : Montreal Patriotes (7-3 Loss)

Clearly inspired by two good games in a row, the Monarchs opened the score in this game with a goal by Normand Marineau. The patriotes score two this period, divided by the Monarchs second of the game from the stick of Hirano to make it a tied game after twenty minutes. The Monarchs did not have a response to the Patriotes second period performance though, as the Montreal team scored four unanswered goals. After that, the third period was just a formality. It was Carter Crutchfield who had the last word in the game, and scored the third Minnesota goal.

Game 886 : Buffalo Stampede (4-1 Loss)

A tie game in terms of shots, but an unlucky performance by Lodge in the Monarchs net and a good performance by Montagne on the other side gave the Stampede the edge this time. The Stampede took a one goal lead in the first period, and despite Nick Kodiak tying it up early in the second period, the Stampede scored three more in the second half of the second period to win the game.

Flörsch got into a little scrap with Abdi Smokes early in the game, and picked up another minor penalty later in the game.

Game 887 : San Francisco Pride (7-4 Loss)

17 seconds into the game, and Julian Flörsch already manages to find a way past the Pride goalie. However, two powerplay goals by the San Fransisco team undo his lead shortly after. Trevor Lopez manages to tie the game for the Monarchs again, scoring a shorthanded goal on a Flörsch assist, and before the first intermission Jarrod Lakemore converts a Monarchs powerplay to put them up by 3 to 2. One shorthanded goal by Damien Hirano, again assisted by Julian Flörsch, in the second period can't compete with the three power play and one een strength goal by the Pride in the same timeframe, and another power play goal (to bring it to 5 PPG, out of 7 scored) by the Pride in the third period seals the deal.

Julian Flörsch came out of this 7-4 loss with a +3 plus/minus, and had a goal and two assists, as well as 5 blocked shots. A decent game for the old Swiss forward. The team gave up an awful lot of power play goals though.

Game 888 : Hamilton Steelhawks (5-2 Loss)

There are no easy games against the Hamilton Steelhawks, as they always seem to be able to pull some surprise out of their hats. And this time is no different. Period one was a boring stalemate, but t he game had a rather eventful start of the second period, with the Steelhawks scoring twice before Grindle Waters-Johnson managed to score for the Monarchs in the fourth minute. Hamilton found the net once more in the second period. Grindle Waters-Johnson scored his second of the game early in the third period, to bring the Monarchs back to a one goal difference. However, a power play goal and empty net goal put the game out of reach of the Monarchs again.

Julian had a game to quickly forget, with 5 giveaways and a minus three plusminus.

Game 889 : New Orleans Specters (6-2 Loss)

Another game against our goalie's former team, and facing our own former goalie in their net. And it's the Monarchs' Lodge who sees the pucks soaring past him into the net first. Three goals by the Specters in the first 3 minutes of the game have the Monarchs chasing the facts in this first period. And Minnesota's response wasn't enough to get back into a spot from which they could have a significant impact on the outcome. Damien Hirano made it three to one in the first period, and Jarrod Lakemore brought the Monarchs back within a one goal margin halfway through the second, but NOLA regained their stride and scored another three in the final half of the game.

4 hits, a takeaway and a blocked shot, but also a minus three plusminus for Julian Flörsch. Not the greatest game of his career or season so far.

Team recap

The Minnesota Monarchs manage to pick up their first three wins,  including their first actual win in regulation. And they aren't taking the wins from the easiest of opponenets as two of the three opponents currently are top 10 in the standings. The team is still dead last in the standings, 9 points behind Toronto with 5 fewer games played. They have already broken the minus 100 goal difference, a number that's likely only going to increase.

On the leaderboards, Grindle Waters-Johnson is still tearing up the shots, currently tied for fourth in shots. Dieter Frühstuck is topping the leader board for penalty minutes, and third in shots blocked (dropping a few places compared to last time). Ivan Scochniko III is 7th in penalty minutes among forwards, further putting emphasize on the discplinary record of the team. Among forwards, Julian Flörsch (3rd), Ian Scochniko III (6th) and Normand Marineau (8th) are also doing well in the shot blocking category, while in defense Trevor Lopez is tied for second in defenders scoring shorthanded goals, 9th in hits, and 6th in PIMS. Defenders Lewis Holl and Turtle Bob are 5th and 10th among defenders in shot%.

Julian Flörsch recap

Julian is putting up decent defensive numbers, being 3rd among the league's forwards for shots blocked. However his points production is lagging behind compared to his younger teammates, a very different scenario than we saw last season. His shot% is only 8.5%, which is total ass for a forward. Julian's defensive strength is recognized by the team's staff, as evidenced by his constant presence on the ice for shorthanded situations.