Bruins Battle Back for Shootout Win, 3-2

December 26, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


Providence, RI - Nathan Robinson scored once in regulation to tie the game, and was the only scorer in the shootout, to lift the Providence Bruins (14-12-1-1) to a 3-2 victory over the Lowell Lock Monsters (12-17-1-4) at the Dunkin Donuts Center on Monday night.

The first period in Providence moved quickly, with only a handful of faceoffs and no penalties through the first half of the frame. Neither team was able to tickle the twine on their pair of power plays after that, and the opening stanza remained scoreless. Providence outshot Lowell 7-5 during the period, with G Tim Thomas for the Bruins and G Kevin Nastiuk for the Monsters tending the crease for their squads.

Early in the second the Bruins had the first close call for lighting the lamp. A blast from the right point snuck through Nastiuk and dinged off the post, setting underneath the rookie goalie. The Bruins crashed the net and the ensuing scrum appeared to wake up the Monsters. Moments later, Johnny Boychuk leveled Pascal Pelletier with a big hit and Colin Forbes was denied on brilliant chance from the doorstep. Just minutes after that Lowell earned a power play and took the lead. Danny Richmond started a rush out of the Lowell zone and finished it by redirecting a centering feed through the wickets of Thomas to make it 1-0. The period ended with excitement, with Providence having another near-miss off a post, a tilt between Richmond and Jeremy Reich and a last-second breakaway by Ben Guite thwarted by a diving sweep check by Monsters D Mikko Viitanen.

A burst of three goals in the span of a minute and 14 seconds changed the face of the defensive battle. Nathan Robinson tied the game with a power play goal at 7:14 of the third. But just 29 seconds later, rookie Brad Richardson regained the lead for Lowell by sending his fourth of the season to the top shelf, making it 2-1. Richmond chalked up an assist to go along with his goal and fighting major. The Bruins answered 45 seconds later with Nate Thompson's fourth, again leveling the score. Assisted by a pair of power plays, Providence controlled the play over the last 10 minutes of regulation, which ended 2-2.

Neither team scored in overtime, totaling just three shots between them despite some wide open action. In the shootout, with the first nine shooters unable to score, the table was set for Robinson, who sent a backhander to the top shelf over the glove of Nastiuk to end the game in dramatic fashion. The Bruins edge Lowell in the standings by one point with the win.

Monsters Memos: The Colorado Avalanche reassigned G Tom Lawson to San Diego of the ECHL and replaced him on the Monsters roster with G Tyler Weiman, from San Diego... LW Paul Healey wore the ‘C' as he returned to the Lowell lineup after missing the last five games to injury. Keith Aucoin, Colin Forbes and Jeff Finger were the alternate captains... C Mike Zigomanis has yet to play since being assigned by Carolina December 13th... Lowell scored the first goal of the game tonight for the first time in 10 contests.

The Bruins come to Tsongas Arena for a 7:05 rematch on Wednesday, December 28th at Tsongas Arena. That night, the first 1,500 kids 12 and under will get a free Lock Monsters Scarf, courtesy of MassBank. It's the only home game for Lowell until January 14th.

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. Flex Packs and Holiday Hat Trick packages are on sale now for all those last-minute holiday shoppers. Contact the Lock Monsters ticket office at (978) 458-PUCK (7825) for tickets or more information.

All games home and away can be heard live on 980 WCAP, and viewed through B2 Networks, the official broadband provider of the AHL, with the "Voice of the Lock Monsters" Ryan Johnston. Log on to www.lockmonsters.com to watch or listen online.



American Hockey League Stories from December 26, 2005


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