Albany Hands Lowell Their First Loss, 5-3

Published on October 21, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


Lowell, Mass. - Aleksander Suglobov scored twice as the Albany River Rats (2-3-0-0) defeated the Lowell Lock Monsters (2-1-0-0) at the Tsongas Arena on Friday night, spoiling the professional debut of Lock Monsters rookie G Kevin Nastiuk.

Nastiuk was tested often in the first period, but he stood strong, stopping all 16 shots he faced in the opening frame, including several on Albany's three first period power plays. D Danny Richmond had the best opportunity of the period for the Lock Monsters, making a deke at the red line and driving into the Albany zone on a 2-on-1, but he was denied by rookie G Frank Doyle, and the period remained scoreless. Lowell managed 10 shots on goal in the period.

Albany jumped out to the lead early in the second with Ilkka Pikkarainen's second tally of the season just over a minute in, finishing an odd-man rush with a perfect rip to the top left corner. Just less than two minutes later the Rats extended the lead when Peter Vrana sent a wrist shot trickling through Nastiuk's pads for the 2-0 lead. Pavel Brendl didn't waste time putting Lowell on the board, though. His blast from the right point on a rush found the top shelf to cut the lead to one, all in the first four minutes of the second.

The Rats kept pushing, earning a power play near the midway point of the game and they converted. Suglobov potted his first of the season to regain the two-goal advantage for Albany, and David Hale's first of the year on a rebound opportunity later in the stanza made it 4-1. Veteran Craig Adams notched his second of the season with just 1:40 to play in the period cut the lead back to two.

Chelmsford native Keith Aucoin pulled the Monsters within a goal at 11:11 of the final period with his first tally of the season, burying a wrist shot from the right circle. Lowell pulled their netminder in the final minute for one last chance. But Ilkka Pikkarainen and Suglobov each tallied empty net goals as the Rats skated to the win.

Lowell heads to Albany on Saturday to wrap up the home-and-home series with a 5:00 p.m. face off. On Sunday they head to Portland for a 4:05 p.m. start. They return home for a 7:05 p.m. start against the reigning Calder Cup Champion Philadelphia Phantoms on Wednesday, October 26th. All games, home and away, can be heard on 980 WCAP with the "Voice of the Lock Monsters" Ryan Johnston. New in 2005-06 is B2 Networks live video streaming as well. Watch your Lock Monsters play in any arena in the AHL from the comfort of your own computer. Log on to www.lockmonsters.com.

Individual tickets are on sale now at the Tsongas Arena box office, which is open from 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:00 - 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Full season, 20-game, mini-plans and Flex Packs are now on sale as well; contact the Lock Monsters ticket office at (978) 458-PUCK (7825) for remaining seat availability.

The Lock Monsters will donate $3 of every individual and group ticket purchased for an October home game to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief fund.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 21, 2005


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