KNIGHT-LINE
Published on March 18, 2002 under United Hockey League (UHL)
New Haven Knights News Release
UPCOMING WEEK: The Knights go on probably their toughest road trip of the season, playing four games in five days. New Haven travels to Binghamton, NY for a 7:05 meeting with the BC Icemen on Wednesday. The Knights then make their way down to Asheville, NC to play the Asheville Smoke on Friday night at 7:35. New Haven then heads westward to play the Knoxville Speed on Saturday night at 7:35 before returning to Asheville for a 4:05 matinee with the Smoke on Sunday.
3/14 NEW HAVEN 4, ADIRONDACK 3: Bobby Ferraris scored a goal in his first game back and Kelly Popadynetz scored the game-winner to snap the Knights' 13-game road winless streak. Trailing 3-2 early in the third period, Ferraris took the rebound of a Paul Harvey shot in the high slot and beat IceHawks G Patrick Couture to tie things up. With four minutes, 30 seconds remaining in regulation, Popadynetz took a slap shot from just inside the IceHawks blue line that found it's way under the pads of Couture and squirted into the back of the net to give the Knights a 4-3 lead. Rookie G Dan Lombard stopped 33 shots in his first professional start to earn the victory. Billy Newson and Tom Menicci added goals for New Haven.
3/16 NEW HAVEN 5, ADIRONDACK 4: Five different skaters got in on the scoring and Paul Harvey scored the game-winner with three minutes, 21 seconds remaining in the game as New Haven won consecutive games for the first time since Feb. 10 and 15. New Haven led 3-2 after one period but Adirondack came back with a pair of power play goals in a span of one minute, 20 seconds to regain the lead. John Batten converted passes from Hugo Belanger and Yvan Corbin to tie things 3-3. Belanger then scored, his second of the game, from Keli Corpse and Frank Littlejohn to give the Hawks a 4-3 lead. Tom Menicci got New Haven even with his power play goal at the 12:24 mark of the period. G Dan Lombard made 23 saves in the victory.
3/17 NEW HAVEN 3, BC 2: Glenn Stewart scored twice and Tom Menicci scored a goal for the third consecutive game as New Haven won for the third time in a row. Stewart notched his 31st goal of the season just two minutes, 59 seconds into the first period to give the Knights a 1-0 lead. After Icemen D Trevor Shoaf tied things with a power play goal at the 6:29 mark, Stewart struck again. With just 1:45 left in the first and the Knights on the power play, Stewart took a pass from Alexei Lazarenko and Tom Menicci and beat Icemen G Bryan Schoen to give New Haven a 2-1 lead. The Knights took advantage of another power play situation in the second period. Tom Menicci converted passes from Andrew Tortorella and Chris Winnes with 6:07 remaining in the period. Menicci's goal would turn out to be the game-winner as Karel Betik brought the Icemen within 3-2 in the third. But Knights G Dan Lombard was tough down the stretch and held off a late surge by the Icemen to secure the victory. Lombard turned away 28 of 30 shots in his third consecutive victory.
TRANSACTIONS: Activated D Bobby Ferraris from the IR. Released C Jeff Mead.
NOTABLES:
* The Knights were a combined 6-for-18 on the power in their three wins last week.M
* LW Glenn Stewart leads the Knights in scoring with 74 points (32g, 42a). * Tom Menicci is a +13 on the season, which leads the team.
* The Knights 4-3 victory at Adirondack on Thursday was their first road win since Jan. 4.
* New Haven is 19-0-1 when holding their opponents to two goals or less.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES:
PLAYER: Tom Menicci - Scored three goals and added three assists in three games last week, helping to propel the Knights into sole possession of fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Had a goal and an assist in Thursday's 4-3 win at Adirondack. He followed with a goal, which tied the game, and two assists in Saturday's 5-4 win over Adirondack. Menicci got the game-winner and added an assist in Sunday's 3-2 victory over BC. GOALIE: Dan Lombard - Was 3-0 in his first ever professional appearances last week. Lombard stopped 84 of the 93 shots he faced in the three games, registering a .903 save percentage and 3.00 goals against average.
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