IceCats Hold Off Monarchs In 5-3 Victory
Published on November 30, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
WORCESTER, MA â The Manchester Monarchs spotted the opposition a three-goal lead, and then nearly came all the way back to tie before losing to the Worcester IceCats, 5-3, before a crowd of 3,133 fans at the Centrum Centre on Sunday afternoon.
The loss was the third in four games for the Monarchs (11-9-1-2, 25 points), who also dropped their third straight road game. The IceCats (10-8-5-0, 25 points) win was their third straight, allowing them to tie the Monarchs for second place in the Atlantic Division. The loss also dropped the Monarchs record to 0-2-1-0 in three head-to-head match-ups with the IceCats this season.
The Monarchs outshot the IceCats 14-6 in the third period, but were unable to net the equalizer. Goaltender Reinhard Divis preserved the win with 13 third period saves, including a point blank stop on George Parros' backhander through the slot with 5:45 left to play. Right wing Pavel Rosa also had a chance to tie the game, but Divis snared his wrister from the left circle with 3:20 remaining on the clock.
The Monarchs pulled goaltender Milan Hnilicka with one minute remaining and spent most of the final 60 seconds in the IceCats zone. But instead of tying the game, the Monarchs allowed an empty net tally for center Blake Evans with one second left in regulation.
It took the IceCats just 5:22 to score their first goal, much to the delight of the hundreds of fans who came to the game with a stuffed animal for the team's annual Teddy Bear Toss. The stuffed animals were collected and donated to area charities.
Defenseman Terry Virtue received credit for the goal, his second, as Hnilicka was unable to handle his slap shot from the right circle. Left wing Sergei Varlamov, who had one goal and two assists in the IceCats overtime win over the Portland Pirates on Saturday, collected the only assist on the play.
Right wing Dan Welch tied the game with an excellent wrap-around goal against Divis at 10:53 of the period. Left wing Ryan Flinn assisted as Welch, a second year pro, scored his sixth of the season. He had three goals in 42 games during his rookie season with the Monarchs.
Rookie Danny Eberly made the most of his AHL debut with the IceCats, scoring his first professional goal from the left point with just 2:14 remaining in the period. Evans assisted on the tally from Eberly, who played collegiately at R.P.I. and began the season with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies of the ECHL. Eberly's shot found a home in the Monarchs net after it appeared to deflect off Monarchs defenseman Tomas Zizka.
Peter Sejna, the reigning Hobey Baker Award winner who signed a free agent deal with the St. Louis Blues last April, extended the IceCats lead to 3-1 by scoring off his own rebound 5:13 into the middle period. Center Johnny Pohl created the scoring chance with an excellent pass along the far boards to speedy forward Jeff Panzer. Panzer secured Pohl's offering, charged into the Monarchs zone, and centered for Sejna, who was waiting at the left post.
Center Steve Martins pushed the IceCats lead to three goals when he jammed home a rebound for a power play goal at 13:54 of the period. Left wing Scott Pellerin and defenseman Jon Coleman assisted.
Left wing Scott Barney halted the string of Worcester goals with his team-leading 12th at 14:28. Barney scored while being pushed down and away from the net by a Worcester defenseman. Despite the contact, Barney, who extended his scoring streak to a season high six games, had just enough reach on his stick to poke the puck by the goal line. Center Yanick Lehoux and rookie defenseman Tim Gleason collected assists on the play, with Gleason triggering the goal with his drive from the left point.
Pavel Rosa cut the deficit to one-goal by hammering Flinn's offering by Divis 5:32 into the third period. Rosa's ninth goal followed solid scoring opportunities from himself, Clarke and defenseman Joe Rullier in the opening minutes of the period. The Monarchs return to the friendly confines of the Verizon Wireless Arena when they host the Hartford Wolf Pack on Wednesday, December 3 at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday's game marks the first of four straight for the Monarchs in Manchester. They are also scheduled to host the Lowell Lock Monsters at 7:35 p.m. on Friday, December 5, the Providence Bruins at 7:35 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, and the Utah Grizzlies at 7:35 p.m. on Friday, December 12.
MonarchsTicket Availability Update:
Wed., 12/03/03 vs. Hartford: GoldLevel: Single seats. Silver Level: 2,000 seats.
Fri., 12/05/03 vs. Lowell: Gold Level: Single seats. Silver Level: 2,000 seats.
Sat., 12/06/03 vs. Providence: Gold Level. Sold Out. Silver Level: 350 seats.
NOTES: Sunday's game was the 500th of defenseman Bryan Muir's professional career...It was also his 300th game in the AHL...Left wing Chris Schmidt (fractured foot), defenseman Denis Grebeshkov (sprained wrist) and goaltender Mathieu Chouinard (flu-like symptoms) were scratches in Sunday's game...Right wing Sam Ftorek celebrated his 29th birthday on Sunday.
American Hockey League Stories from November 30, 2003
- Kings Acquire Straka From Penguins - Manchester Monarchs
- Falcons Come up Short against Lowell, 3-1 - Springfield Falcons
- Griffins Down Ducks, 2-0 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Smith Rallies Bears to 3-3 Deadlock with Penguins - Hershey Bears
- IceCats Outlast Monarchs, Win Third Straight - Worcester IceCats
- P-Bruins fall to Albany - Providence Bruins
- IceCats Hold Off Monarchs In 5-3 Victory - Manchester Monarchs
- Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Preview - Cincinnati RailRaiders
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