Big Benn Strikes Two
March 20, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, NH - Right wing Benn Ferriero potted two goals, including the game-winner, as the Manchester Monarchs took a 3-2 loss against the Worcester Sharks Sunday afternoon at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
Manchester (41-23-3-6, 91 points) is ranked second in the Atlantic Division, two points behind the Portland Pirates (43-18-5-2, 93 points). Worcester (32-26-4-8, 76 points) is ranked fourth in the Atlantic Division with 76 points.
"It was a good third period, but it's a sixty minute game," explained Monarchs Head Coach Mark Morris following Sunday afternoon's loss. "Give those guys a lot of credit for how hard they played and how physical they were at the start of the game. It won them the game.
"You need to match or exceed their intensity level and we didn't do that. If we can play like we did in the third, we're going to win that game," said Morris. "We had a defensive breakdown on the first goal, we've got to get our guys to communicate."
Ferriero scored his second goal of the night at 19:34 of the second period. Right wing Dan DaSilva found Ferriero streaking through the neutral zone. After carrying the puck over the blueline, Ferriero dropped a pass back to defenseman Mike Moore, who fired a shot on Monarchs goaltender Jeff Zatkoff. The netminder was unable to corral the puck and a crashing Ferriero chipped the puck into the net, earning the winger his second goal of the game.
The Sharks opened up the scoring at the 12-minute mark of the first period with a goal by right wing Patrick Davis. The play began with a face-off win in the Monarchs zone by center Nathan Longpre, who sent the puck to his right. Left wing Frazer McLaren sent a quick backhand shot on goal. Davis, who was camped in front of Zatkoff, deflected the puck downward and into the net for the first goal of the game.
Worcester's second goal, a power play goal, came at 18:11 of the first period, as Ferriero scored his 14th goal of the season. In the umbrella formation, defenseman Matt Irwin cycled the puck to right wing Tommy Wingels, positioned at the top of the right face-off circle. Wingels then crossed the puck to Ferriero who unleashed a slap shot from the left face-off dot that beat Zatkoff in the top right corner.
Right wing Oscar Moller scored his 23rd goal of the season at 1:45 of the third period. Left wing Dwight King found defenseman David Kolomatis skating through the neutral zone. Shortly after crossing the Worcester blueline, Kolomatis fed a cross-ice pass to Moller who put a hard wrist shot from the left face-off dot into the top corner, beating Sharks goaltender Carter Hutton short side.
Center Corey Elkins scored his 18th goal of the season, a power play goal, at 6:19 of the final frame. Kolomatis was positioned high at the left point when he sent a hard pass to right wing Brandon Kozun, standing on the goal line. Kozun attempted to put a pass into the slot, but the puck was deflected by a Worcester defenseman. The puck ricocheted right onto the stick of Elkins, positioned on the far post. Elkins took a quick snap shot over Hutton and under the cross bar.
Zatkoff (18-14-5) took his 14th loss of the season, stopping 25-of-28 shots on goal. Hutton (8-4-2) earned his eighth win of the season with 37 saves on 39 shots.
Manchester went 1-for-6 on the power play. Worcester was 1-for-3 with the man advantage.
Notables: The Monarchs current three-game losing streak ties the longest losing streak of the season as Manchester dropped three games from November 6-13...Right wing Oscar Moller reached the 50 point (23-2750) mark with his 23rd goal of the season...Defenseman David Kolomatis collected his second two-point game of the season with two assists tonight...Center Corey Elkins recorded eight shots on goal this afternoon, marking the fourth time a Monarchs player has accomplished that feat this season...Left wing Ray Kaunisto and defenseman Jake Muzzin each played in their 50th professional game tonight.
The Monarchs travel to the Norfolk Scope to take on the Norfolk Admirals at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 25. Catch all the play-by-play action of Monarchs hockey with Ken Cail on the Monarchs Radio Network WGAM 900/1250 AM and at www.manchestermonarchs.com .
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American Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2011
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