Monarchs Rhett One Get Away
Published on April 1, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
BRIDGEPORT, CT - Center Rhett Rakhshani's overtime blast gave the Manchester Monarchs their first overtime defeat of the season as they fell to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 3-2, at Webster Bank Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Manchester (36-31-1-3) ranks second in the Atlantic Division with 76 points. Bridgeport (37-24-3-6) is in first place in the Northeast Division with 83 points. "We showed a lot of character today," said Monarchs Head Coach Mark Morris. "We battled extremely hard despite having several players that were playing injured from last night. We also lost Marc-Andre Cliche during the game. Our guys deserve credit for tying the game up in the third period. We had a tough call in overtime that you hate to see a game get decided on but they deserve high marks for competing their tails off in less than desirable circumstances and for their high compete level."
Rakhshani scored the overtime-winner for the Sound Tigers at 1:45 of the extra session. With Bridgeport on the power play, defenseman Matt Donovan cycled the puck from the top of the right wing face-off circle to defenseman Mark Katic at the middle point. Katic played it to Rakhshani at the top of the left wing face-off circle where he fired a slap shot that beat Monarchs goaltender Jeff Zatkoff for his 18th goal of the season.
The Sound Tigers opened the scoring at 18:30 of the first period off the stick of Donovan. As the penalty expired, Donovan came out of the box and took control of a loose puck in the Sound Tigers zone. Donovan passed the puck to right wing Trevor Frischmon who gained the Monarchs zone down the left wing. Donovan took a pass from Frischmon in between the hash marks before lifting a backhander top shelf on Zatkoff for his 10th tally of the season.
Right wing Trent Hunter tied the game at 1-1 on the power play 56 seconds into the second period. Right wing Stefan Legein released a shot that deflected off the end boards and to the front of the net. Hunter scooped up the puck at the right doorstep of Sound Tigers netminder Kevin Poulin and chipped it into an open net. Center Justin Azevedo also tallied an asisist on Hunter's fourth goal of the season.
Left wing John Persson gave Bridgeport a 2-1 lead at 15:21 of the middle stanza. Rakhshani won the face-off in the Monarchs zone back to Persson in the left face-off circle. Persson carried the puck around the back of the net and deflected the puck off the pads of Zatkoff and into the net for his second goal of the season.
Monarchs defenseman Jake Muzzin tied the game at 2-2 at 2:20 of the third period. Right wing Linden Vey took a pass from right wing Brandon Kozun at the left wing half wall in the Sound Tigers zone. Vey found Muzzin at the left point and the defenseman carried the puck to the center point. Muzzin then launched a slap shot through traffic and into the back of the net for his sixth goal of the season.
Zatkoff (20-16-1) took his first overtime loss of the season making 35 saves on 38 shots. Poulin (22-17-4) earned his 22nd victory of the season stopping 33-of-35 shots.
Manchester went 1-for-3 on the power play. Bridgeport went 1-for-6 with the man advantage.
Notables: The Monarchs earned three of four points over the weekend...The Monarchs are in the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference with 76 points. The Portland Pirates rank ninth and are just three points behind the Monarchs with 73 points...Left wing Ray Kaunisto had a four-game point streak (1-34) end.
The Monarchs travel to play the Hartford Whalers at the XLCenter at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 6. Catch all the play-by-play action of Monarchs hockey with Ken Cail on the Monarchs Radio Network WGIR 610 AM, WGIR.com and at www.manchestermonarchs.com, presented by Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.
American Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2012
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- Rampage Shutout by Rivermen 1-0 - San Antonio Rampage
- Oklahoma City Youth Hockey Association Teams Show Well - Oklahoma City Barons
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- B-Sens Earn 6-5 Shootout Win Over Bears - Binghamton Senators
- Playoff Push Continues - Falcons Beat Sharks 3-2 - Springfield Falcons
- Monarchs Rhett One Get Away - Manchester Monarchs
- Sound Tigers Beat Monarchs 3-2 in Overtime - Bridgeport Islanders
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- Bulldogs Soar Past Aeros 3-2 In Overtime - Hamilton Bulldogs
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