Healey Leads Monarchs over Maple Leafs
February 17, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, New Hampshire - Eric Healey's second consecutive hat trick and his third overall this season helped the Manchester Monarchs plow their way through the St. John's Maple Leafs, 6-2, on a very snowy Monday afternoon in Manchester. An energetic crowd of 7,350 braved the inclement weather, and Healey made sure they didn't leave disappointed as he set a new team record for goals in a season. The native of Hull, Massachusetts, who also notched three goals against the Saint John Flames on Saturday night, has 10 goals in eight February games and 29 overall. The Monarchs, who next play at Lowell against the Lowell Lock Monsters on Wednesday, have won two straight. The Maple Leafs have lost two straight.
Healey, who entered Monday's action with seven goals in his last five games, added two more to his overall total, scoring at 6:42 and 11:53 of the first period. Healey's first goal featured skillful passing around the target by Steve Kelly and Greg Koehler, and both extended personal point streaks by registering assists on the play. Koehler, who collected two assists on the afternoon, has at least a point in each of the seven Monarchs games he's appeared in. Kelly, who collected a season best four assists, has at least a point in four straight games since returning from an injury that had him sidelined for two weeks. Healey's 27th goal overall tied teammate Derek Bekar's record for goals in a season. The goal also represented Healey's 200th AHL point (95g, 105a).
Sandwiched between the two Healey tallies was Jerred Smithson's second goal in as many games and fourth goal overall at 9:17. Rookies Dan Welch and Jeff Giuliano assisted as the Monarchs went up 2-0.
Healey and Bekar shared the team goal record for all of five minutes with Healey's record-breaking tally coming on the power play midway through the opening period. Kelly and Jared Aulin assisted on the power play goal, Healey's team-leading 12th this season and his 28th overall.
Scott Barney netted his 12th goal at 12:38 of the second period to give the Monarchs a 4-0 lead. Aulin and Kelly assisted, with Aulin tossing it to Kelly behind the Maple Leafs net and Kelly zipping a pass into the slot for Barney, who one-timed the puck past goaltender Jamie Hodson.
Aaron Gavey put the Leafs on the board later in the period as he scored his 10th goal at 18:27.
Healey's breakaway goal 2:58 into the final period brought the crowd to its feet and took the life out of the Leafs as they once again went down by four goals. Healey's 29th goal triggered hundreds of fans to toss their zambinis (miniature cloth zambonis given away as promotional items) onto the ice.
Nathan Perrot for the Leafs and Bekar for the Monarchs closed the scoring with third period goals, making the final 6-2. Bekar's goal was his eighth this season and third since returning from a broken finger that had him sidelined for nearly seven weeks.
The goal support was more than enough for goaltender Cristobal Huet, who improved his record to 10-2-3 at the Verizon Wireless Arena this season with 31 saves. Huet leads the Monarchs with 16 overall victories.
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American Hockey League Stories from February 17, 2003
- Griffins hold off gritty Syracuse - OSC Original by Ed Gonser
- Williams Sets Record in 4-3 Win - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Healey Leads Monarchs over Maple Leafs - Manchester Monarchs
- Berenzweig Traded - Milwaukee Admirals
- Aeros Goalie Merry-Go-Round Continues; Cloutier Rejoins Aeros, Brady Released - Houston Aeros
- Saint John Flames Weekly - Saint John Flames
- Moose Continue Six-Game Homestand with Games against Houston and St. John's - Manitoba Moose
- Sports Carnival '03 raises over $30,000 - Manitoba Moose
- Checkers Close Season-High Seven-Game Homestand Tuesday - Charlotte Checkers
- Streaks End As Sound Tigers Open Busiest Stretch In Team History - Bridgeport Islanders
- Aeros Boast Successful Week - Houston Aeros
- Risidore Returns to Hamilton - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Bulldogs Close to Clinching a Playoff Spot - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Today's Penguins vs. Phantoms Game Postponed; Game Rescheduled to March 17th at 7:05 p.m. - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Phantoms game postponed - Adirondack Phantoms
- Rock Report - Toronto Marlies
- Toms named AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- Crunch Announce Details of Best Buy In-Store Challenge - Syracuse Crunch
- Norfolk Leads South Division by 10 Points - Norfolk Admirals
- Northern Conference Showdown Set for Peoria - Peoria Rivermen
- Leafs Weekend Wrapup - Toronto Marlies
- Maple Leafs Game Notes - Toronto Marlies
- Penguins Fall to Binghamton, 3-2, in Overtime - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
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