Aucoin Shines as Monsters Drown River Rats, 4-1

Published on November 16, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


Lowell, Mass. - Keith Aucoin scored twice and Vitaly Kolesnik kicked out 38 shots as the Lowell Lock Monsters (8-6-0-2) defeated the Albany River Rats (4-10-0-0) 4-1 at Tsongas Arena Wednesday night. The Monsters jumped two teams to settle into second place in the Atlantic Division with the victory.

The first period was not without scoring chances or power plays. The Monsters took the 1-0 advantage on the power play when Keith Aucoin batted in a deflected shot that lobbed over G Ari Ahonen for his seventh of the season at 5:12. The Lock Monsters had their chances to extend it with six power plays in the frame, but took the 1-0 lead into the dressing room. They led in shots 17-12.

More penalties came in the second period with 29 infractions accumulating 40 more minutes in penalties in the second period alone. Lowell's power play connected again to make it 2-0 late in the frame as Aucoin buried his second of the night with 5:04 remaining. Jeff Finger picked up his second assist of the night and Tomas Slovak, playing in his third game since being reassigned from San Diego of the ECHL, recorded his second point with an assist.

Also assigned this week by Colorado, Frantisek Skladany pushed the lead to 3-0 just three minutes into the third stanza. The River Rats continued to pelt G Vitaly Kolesnik with shots in the third, and finally solved the rookie from Kazakhstan. Ilkka Pikkarainen snapped the shutout bid with less than five minutes left on the clock and the Rats approaching 40 shots in the contest. While shorthanded with less than a minute left in the game, David Gove iced it for Lowell with an empty net tally, and Lowell extended Albany's losing streak to six games. Kolesnik finished the game with 38 saves.

On Friday the first place Portland Pirates come into town for a 7:35 p.m. start. After a Saturday night game in Manchester the Monsters return home to host the Monarchs on Sunday. That game features the annual Hannaford Food Drive. Anyone bringing in a Hannaford-bran non-perishable food item will receive two tickets to the Monsters home game on December 7th. All proceeds will go toward Catholic Charities of Merrimack Valley.

After the game, there's a free post-game skate on the ice at Tsongas Arena. Skate rental and the ice time is free to everyone in attendance at the game. That night is also the first Louie's Little Monsters Kid's Club Game. All members of Louie's Little Monsters, sponsored by Jeanne D'Arc Credit Union, receive free admission to all Sunday home games. Contact Chase Runyon at the Lock Monsters office at (978) 458-PUCK for more information, or to sign up your little monster! Sunday is also the first Family Fourpack game. Families can get two adult tickets and two children's tickets, plus four hot dogs and four sodas for only $49. Contact the Lock Monsters office for more information. All games home and away can be heard live on 980 WCAP with the "Voice of the Lock Monsters" Ryan Johnston.

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.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 16, 2005


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