Four-Goal Second Period Leads IceCats To Series-Clinching Win
April 24, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
WORCESTER, MA â The Worcester IceCats ended a lengthy home ice scoreless streak in a big way, handing the Manchester Monarchs a 6-1 loss in Game 6 of a best-of-seven Atlantic Division semifinal series played before 2,577 fans at the Worcester Centrum Centre on Saturday night. With the win, the IceCats clinched the series, 4 games to 2.
Excellent goaltending from Curtis Sanford and power play goals from forwards Blake Evans, Mike Glumac, Peter Sejna and defenseman Trevor Byrne were the story in this game. Sanford, who made 28 overtime saves for the IceCats in their triple overtime victory over the Monarchs in Game 5 on Thursday night, added another 28 stops on Saturday. Evans struck with his power play goal in the first period. Glumac and Sejna had power play goals in Worcester's four-goal middle period. Byrne closed the scoring with a man-advantage marker in the final stanza.
The home win was the first for either team in the series.
The IceCats next advance to the Atlantic Division final, where they will face either the Hartford Wolf Pack or the Portland Pirates. The Wolf Pack leads its series with the Pirates, 2 games to 1. Game 4 of the series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland.
The teams traded goals in an intense opening period. Evans' power play goal came at 5:56. Defensemen Jame Pollock and Jon Coleman shared assists on the second goal of the playoffs for Evans, who redirected Pollock's slap shot from the left point. The Evans marker erased a Worcester scoreless streak on home ice in Calder Cup Playoff competition of 266 minutes and 54 seconds. The streak dated back to April of 2002.
The Monarchs responded well to the Evans tally, and dominated the rest of the period. Defenseman Bryan Muir tied the game at 16:50 when he scooped home left wing Scott Barney's center from the left post. Rookie right wing Petr Kanko also collected an assist on Muir's second playoff goal.
The Monarchs kept the pressure on for the remainder of the period, but Sanford stood up to the heat. He finished the period with 11 saves, including a pair of close range shots from center Jerred Smithson in the final minute of the frame. The Monarchs finished the period with a 13-2 shots-on-goal advantage.
The IceCats took control of the game with their four-goal middle period. Glumac followed his own rebound with his first goal of the series on the power play at 3:33 of the period. Defensemen Terry Virtue and Aaron MacKenzie each recorded assists on Glumac's goal, scored 10 seconds after Muir was whistled for a cross checking penalty.
Center Jeff Panzer netted his first goal of the series 3:19 later when he jabbed a cross ice pass from forward Brendan Brooks into the back of the Monarchs net. Pollock also assisted on Panzer's first goal of the playoffs.
The IceCats made it 3-for-3 on the power play with Sejna's second goal of the playoffs, scored from the slot at 8:29. Left wing Ryan Ready and Virtue assisted.
Veteran left wing Scott Pellerin finished the IceCats middle period offensive onslaught with his third goal of the playoffs, scored on a breakaway at 18:43. Panzer and Virtue notched assists on the play. For Virtue, it was his third helper of the period.
Virtue added a fourth assist to his total on Byrne's goal, scored with the man-advantage 1:39 into the final period. Ready also had an assist on the play.
For the game, Worcester was 4-for-5 on the power play. Manchester was 0-for-3.
Sanford (4-2) earned his fourth win of the series with 16 stops over the last two periods. Including Game 5, he allowed just one goal to the Monarchs in nearly 150 minutes of action.
Hauser (2-2) finished with 11 saves and his second consecutive loss.
Atlantic Division semifinal schedule and results: IceCats win series, 4 games to 2
Game 1: Thursday, April 15 -Worcester 2, Manchester 1 (Verizon Wireless Arena)
Game 2: Saturday, April 17 â Worcester 3, Manchester 2 (OT) (Verizon Wireless Arena)
Game 3: Sunday April 18 â Manchester 2, Worcester 0 (Worcester Centrum Centre)
Game 4: Tuesday, April 20 â Manchester 6, Worcester 0 (Worcester Centrum Centre)
Game 5: Thursday, April 22 â Worcester 3, Manchester 2 (3 OT) (Verizon Wireless Arena)
Game 6: Saturday, April 24 â Worcester 6, Manchester 1 (Worcester Centrum Centre)
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American Hockey League Stories from April 24, 2004
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- Four-Goal Second Period Leads IceCats To Series-Clinching Win - Manchester Monarchs
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