Bruins Nip Monarchs With Gellard Goal
December 6, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, NH â Left wing Mike Gellard's goal with 7:06 remaining put a halt to the Manchester Monarchs franchise record streak of 10 straight home games without a regulation loss. The Providence Bruins, embarrassed by a 7-0 blanking to the Monarchs one week ago, fought their way to a 2-1 victory over the Monarchs on Saturday night before a crowd of 9,455 fans at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
The win for the Bruins (12-8-5-0, 27 points) was their first in three games against the Monarchs this season. It pushed them into a second place tie with the Monarchs (13-10-1-2, 27 points) for second place in the Atlantic Division. The first place Hartford Wolf Pack (13-5-4-1, 31 points) leads both the Monarchs and the Bruins by two points after blanking the Lowell Lock Monsters 3-0 Saturday night at the Hartford Civic Center.
Gellard's goal was just his second in 16 games. Center Brett Nowak and defenseman and former Monarch Rich Brennan assisted as Gellard stuffed the puck inside the right post while falling to the ice.
The teams skated through a scoreless and mostly uneventful opening period as both goaltenders performed at a high level. The Monarchs Adam Hauser stopped 11 Bruins attempts, with most of the shots coming from the perimeter. The Bruins Tim Thomas, who allowed four first period goals to the Monarchs one week ago, stopped nine shots. Thomas also had a bit of help, as center Steve Kelly snapped his stick while attempting a wide-open one-timer from the slot.
Kelly found a better twig and used it to score the game's first goal just 4:08 into the middle period as he completed a 3-on-1 breakout with a labeled shot from the right circle. Left wing Noah Clarke and right wing Pavel Rosa assisted. The assist for Rosa was his league-leading 20th of the season. It was also his 55th as a Monarch, moving him into third place on the Monarchs all-time assist list.
The middle period featured no less than four fights in three minutes. Left wing Ryan Flinn and right wing Colton Orr dropped their gloves just 2:00 into the period. Defenseman Joe Rullier and left wing Doug Doull followed suit just 17 seconds later. Right wing George Parros and center Brendan Walsh, who fought twice last Saturday, squared off at 4:10. Right wing Sam Ftorek and defenseman Pete Metcalf completed the bizarre chain of events when they fought at 5:00.
Hauser entered Saturday's action with two consecutive shutout victories over the Bruins. The Baby B's finally put an end to his lengthy streak when center Andre Savage scored at 9:49. Forward Kris Vernarsky and Brennan assisted as the Bruins scored their first goal against Hauser in 149:49 minutes of play.
Center Matt Herr and right wing Carl Corazzini also had great chances to put the Bruins in front in the closing minutes of the period, but both chances were unsuccessful thanks to excellent defensive plays from Rullier and Kelly. Rullier sent Herr's wide-open attempt near the right post wide with a poke-check. Kelly's diving back-check foiled Corazzini's blast from the right circle.
THIRD ANNUAL TEDDY BEAR TOSS
Take a stuffed animal to the Monarchs game against the Utah Grizzlies on Friday, December 12 at 7:35 p.m. and throw it onto the ice to help needy children in our area have a brighter holiday season. All of the animals tossed onto the ice will be gathered and donated to local charitable organizations.
MONARCHS TICKET AVAILABILITY (AS OF 12/6/03)
Fri., Dec. 12 vs. Utah: Seats remaining in the Gold Level: Single seats. Seats remaining in the Silver Level: 2,000.
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