Hartford keeps rolling with 3-1 win over Monsters
December 18, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release
Lowell, Mass. - The Hartford Wolf Pack (15-6-2-5) scored the first three goals of the game en route to a 3-1 victory over the Lowell Lock Monsters (12-15-1-3) at Tsongas Arena on Sunday evening. The Wolf Pack improved to 8-0-1-3 in their last 12 games.
Lowell controlled the early play, keeping the puck in the offensive zone and playing aggressive. It was six minutes before the Wolf Pack had their first shot on goal, and G Cam Ward stoned Fedor Fedorov on a breakaway. Hartford's Jarkko Immonen was awarded a penalty shot when he was interfered with on a breakaway, and hit the post on his opportunity. Hartford started to gain momentum later with a power play and drew first blood with just over four minutes left in the period. David Liffiton's shot from the left point redirected and skipped past Ward for the 1-0 lead.
The Monsters opened the second period with a brilliant opportunity to tie it. A two-man advantage for a minute and 40 seconds went for not when Lowell failed to take advantage. Shortly after, Hartford had a 5-on-3 power play of their own, but the Lock Monsters PK unit was also equal to the task, blocking several shots. At 11:40 of the second, Hartford extended the lead when a wrister by Jarkko Immonen found the top shelf. Immonen is tied for the Hartford lead in points. Less than three minutes later Nigel Dawes pushed the lead to 3-0, ripping a one timer past Ward from the low slot. Steve Saviano broke the ice for Lowell, at 15:25, jamming in a loose puck from the top of the crease for his second of the year.
Hartford kept the tempo in the third and kept the Lock Monsters from closing in any closer. Ward stood tall to keep the Monsters in the game, turning aside all 13 third period shots he faced, but Lowell could not get anything else past G Robert Gherson, who stopped 22 shots to improve to 6-1-2. The Lock Monsters were outshot 34-23.
The Lock Monsters head out on the road for games in Toronto, Binghamton and Providence before returning home after Christmas. The Providence Bruins come to town for a 7:05 match 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 in a stretch of nine games until the middle of January.
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 make great gifts for the holidays, and 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.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from December 18, 2005
- Rivermen work overtime to snap six-game losing skid - Peoria Rivermen
- Stars Sweep Knights, 3-1 - Abbotsford Heat
- Stars win fourth straight - Iowa Chops
- Griffins gut out 4-3 win over Crunch - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Bulldogs Drop 4-2 Decision to Marlies - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Hartford keeps rolling with 3-1 win over Monsters - Albany Devils
- Admirals Beat Cleveland 5-4 - Milwaukee Admirals
- Barons Fall to Milwaukee, 5-4 - Cleveland Barons
- Cullen Steers Admirals Past Sound Tigers 5-2 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Admirals Rout Sound Tigers 5-2 - Norfolk Admirals
- Kostitsyn assigned to Hamilton - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Bears tangle with Penguins today at Giant Center - Hershey Bears
- Bulldogs game notes - Hamilton Bulldogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
