Final Game Of The Season Goes To Manchester
Published on April 15, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
LOWELL, MA - The Manchester Monarchs finished the regular season with a big win over the Lowell Lock Monsters, a 2-1 victory at the Tsongas Arena in front 6,713 fans on Saturday night.
Manchester (43-30-3-4, 93 points) is in third place in the Atlantic Division. Lowell (28-37-6-8, 70 points) is in fifth place in the Atlantic Division.
Right wing Ryan Murphy scored his seventh goal of the season at 12:55 of the first period to give the Monarchs the early lead. The rebound from center Greg Hogeboom's shot on Lock Monsters goaltender Kris Mayotte bounced out to the right face-off circle and onto the stick of Murphy who blasted a shot into the back of net. Right wing Konstantin Pushkarev assisted on the first goal of the game.
The Monarchs took a 2-0 lead at 15:18 of the first period with center Connor James' 17th tally of the season. With numerous bodies in front of the net on a Monarchs power play, Pushkarev threw the puck on goal and James hacked at the rebound until it jumped over the goal line for the two-goal lead. Left wing Petr Kanko also got his stick in the play to earn an assist.
Center Keith Aucoin cut the Monarchs lead in half by scoring his team leading 27th goal of the season at the 17:10 mark of the middle frame. Aucoin picked up a pass from defenseman Jeff Finger at the left face-off circle and sent a slap shot buzzing past Monarchs goaltender Barry Brust. Center David Gove assisted on the goal to bring the score to 2-1.
Brust (19-14-1) earned his 19th victory with 41 saves on the night. Mayotte (0-1-0) took the loss stopping 22 shots.
Manchester went 1-for-1 on the power play. Lowell was 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
The Providence Bruins (43-30-1-5, 92 points) are one point behind the Monarchs in the Atlantic Division and will finish off their regular season on Sunday, April 16 with a game against the Lock Monsters. If the Bruins lose Sunday's game, the Monarchs will finish the 2005-06 season in third place in the Atlantic Division. If Providence either wins or pushes the game into overtime, the Bruins will finish in third place and push Manchester into the fourth position in the Atlantic Division. The team that finishes the regular season in third place will face the Hartford Wolf Pack in the first round of the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs. The team that finishes the regular season in fourth place will face the Portland Pirates in the first round.
Catch all of the play-by-play action of Monarchs hockey with Ken Cail on the Monarchs Radio Network (WGIR-AM 610, Manchester; WGIN-AM 930, Rochester; WGIP-AM 1540, Exeter) and at www.monarchshockey.com. Watch the game live on B2 Networks for just $6 per game. Log onto www.monarchshockey.com and click on the link to B2 Networks ten minutes prior to the each Monarchs game to watch the game live!
American Hockey League Stories from April 15, 2006
- Monstrous effort falls short against Manchester, 2-1 - Albany Devils
- Schedule for West Division Semifinals set - Houston Aeros
- Rally from five goals down falls just short - Houston Aeros
- Iowa Sets New Franchise-High with Sixth Straight Home Win - Iowa Chops
- Barons Finale Fizzles in Loss to Moose - Cleveland Barons
- Bears end season with 8-3 victory - Hershey Bears
- Griffins conclude regular season with 5-3 loss - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Final Game Of The Season Goes To Manchester - Manchester Monarchs
- Iowa Stars Year-End Awards - Iowa Chops
- Phantoms End Season With Spirited Tilt vs. Penguins - Adirondack Phantoms
- 'Dogs End Season with Win - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Aeros receive Westrum, Reitz, Kopriva - Houston Aeros
- Sound Tigers Fall In Finale 5-1 To Hartford - Bridgeport Islanders
- Penguins announce end of season awards - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Wolves Add Mizzi to Roster - Chicago Wolves
- Rivermen 2005-06 Regular Season Finale on B2 Networks Tonight - Peoria Rivermen
- Bears beat Phantoms 4-1 to break 100-point mark - Hershey Bears
- AHL announces suspensions - AHL
- Division title in reach with win and Milwaukee regulation loss - Houston Aeros
- Moose Re-Assign Nolan to Columbia - Manitoba Moose
- Sanford assigned to Long Beach - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Manchester Signs Lukacevic To Tryout - Manchester Monarchs
- Falcons Host Pirates Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- Aeros Sting Knights In Shootout, 5-4 - Abbotsford Heat
- Stars trip up Rivermen 4-3 in shootout - Peoria Rivermen
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