All Square After Four!
Published on April 20, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
WORCESTER, MA â Three third period power play goals and a second consecutive shutout from goaltender Adam Hauser powered the Manchester Monarchs to their most lop-sided playoff victory in franchise history, a 6-0 blanking of the Worcester IceCats before a crowd of 1,743 at the Worcester Centrum Centre on Tuesday night. With the win, the Monarchs tied their best-of-seven Atlantic Division semifinal series with the IceCats at 2-2. Game 5 of the series is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Thursday, April 22. Plenty of seats remain for Thursday's game.
Hauser (2-0) finished with 26 saves, including 11 in the third period, to post his second straight blanking of the IceCats, who now have gone over 260 minutes without a goal on home ice in playoff competition. Their scoreless streak dates back to April 11, 2002.
In 120 minutes of action in the series, Hauser has faced 51 shots and stopped them all. He blanked the IceCats, 2-0, with 25 saves on Sunday at the Centrum.
The Monarchs led 3-0 after two periods, and then added to their lead with power play goals from rookie left wing Noah Clarke, defenseman Bryan Muir and right wing Leon Hayward. The three power play goals in a game matched a Monarchs playoff record set against the Hartford Wolf Pack on April 17, 2002 (6-2 Monarchs win).
Clarke registered his second goal of the game and third of the series with 11:57 remaining in the final period. He took Rosa's offering and stuffed it home from near the right post. Zizka also earned an assist on the tally, registered with the Monarchs enjoying a 5-on-3 power play advantage.
The Monarchs minutes later cashed in on their second two-man advantage of the period with Muir's first playoff goal. Muir made it 5-0 Monarchs with his rising slap shot, triggered from the right point with 5:07 remaining in the contest. Zizka and center Yanick Lehoux shared assists on the play.
Hayward made it 6-0 with his first playoff goal, scored from the slot with 3:58 to go. Rookie right wing Petr Kanko and rookie defenseman Tim Gleason assisted with the man-advantage marker.
The Monarchs led 2-0 after one period, thanks to Kanko and Clarke. Kanko five-holed goaltender Curtis Sanford from the right circle with 3:48 remaining. Left wing Scott Barney and Zizka assisted on Kanko's first career playoff strike, with Zizka's neutral ice steal setting up the scoring chance.
The Monarchs doubled their lead 2:29 later when Clarke took center Lehoux's behind-the-net feed and sliced it by Sanford. Right wing Pavel Rosa also assisted on the play, extending his Calder Cup Playoff scoring streak to four games. Rosa finished the game with a goal and two assists. He leads all scorers with seven points (2-5=7) in the series.
The Monarchs skated most of the second period short-handed, but still scored the only goal. Rosa netted his second point of the game by scoring short-handed with 2:31 remaining in the period. Lehoux's center ice steal of defenseman Jame Pollock set up the play.
Meanwhile, the IceCats failed to convert on four power play chances in the period. Through 40 minutes, they were 0-for-6 with the man-advantage. They finished 0-for-8.
Sanford (2-2) took his second straight loss. He finished with 29 saves.
The Playoff Picture: The Monarchs/IceCats series shifts to the Verizon Wireless Arena for Game 5 on Thursday, April 22 at 7:05 p.m. Game 6 of the series will be played at the Worcester Centrum Centre on Saturday, April 24 at 7:05 p.m., and if necessary, Game 7 of the series will be played at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Sunday, April 25 at 4:05 p.m.
Monarchs Calder Cup Division Semifinal Schedule: Series tied at 2 games apiece
Game 1: Thursday, April 15 -Worcester 2, Manchester 1 (Verizon Wireless Arena) Game 2: Saturday, April 17 â Worcester 3, Manchester 2 (OT) (Verizon Wireless Arena) Game 3: Sunday April 18 â Manchester 2, Worcester 0 (Worcester Centrum Centre) Game 4: Tuesday, April 20 â Manchester 6, Worcester 0 (Worcester Centrum Centre)
Game 5: Thursday, April 22, 7:05 p.m. (Verizon Wireless Arena ) Game 6: Saturday, April 24, 7:05 p.m. (Worcester Centrum Centre) Game 7: Sunday, April 25, 4:05 p.m. (Verizon Wireless Arena â If necessary)
Atlantic Division semifinal series ticket prices are $17.50 and $13 for adults and $10.50 for children. Semifinal tickets are on sale now at the Verizon Wireless Arena box office, which is open Monday through Friday from 10-6 p.m., Saturday from 10-2 p.m., with additional hours on game day. Semifinal tickets may also be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (603) 868-7300, by visiting Ticketmaster on-line at www.ticketmaster.com, or by visiting all Ticketmaster locations, including Filene's at the Mall of New Hampshire.
American Hockey League Stories from April 20, 2004
- Bulldogs Lead Series 1-0 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- 'Cats blanked in game four- Monarchs even series - Worcester IceCats
- All Square After Four! - Manchester Monarchs
- Sound Tigers Go Up Three Games To One - Bridgeport Islanders
- Cullen for Kids nets $3655 - Houston Aeros
- Grizzlies See Paid Attendance Grow During 2003-04 Season - Utah Grizzlies
- Calder Cup Update - AHL
- Calder Cup Update - AHL
- P-Bruins, Dunkin' Donuts jersey auction raises $10,000 for Hasbro Children's Hospital - Providence Bruins
- Crunch and SkyChiefs Announce Special Ticket Offer - Syracuse Crunch
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
