Kowalski and the Monsters hold on against Portland, 5-4

Published on January 18, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


Lowell, Mass. - Cody McLeod scored twice and Craig Kowalski made 47 saves for his first career AHL victory as the Lowell Lock Monsters (16-20-3-4) outlasted the Portland Pirates (26-9-3-3) 5-4 in the shootout at Tsongas Arena Wednesday night.

Mikko Viitanen picked a good time to get his first tally of the year. At 4:21 of the first frame the Finnish defenseman jumped into the play and angled a loose puck into the cage to make it 1-0. Moments later the Monsters were called upon to kill off a two-man advantage for over 1:20. That gained a little more momentum for Lowell, who later went on the power play when Cody McLeod was checked from behind into the glass. The rookie winger make Portland regret the hit by punching in his second of the season at 8:52 on the ensuing power play. Portland got on the board late in the frame, however, with Dustin Penner blasting home a one-timer from the left circle on the power play, and the first period ended 2-1 Lowell.

Six minutes and one second into the second period the Monsters were being outshot 23-11. But Keith Aucoin regained the two-goal lead for Lowell by snapping a wrist shot to the top right corner over the glove of G Nathan Marsters for his team leading 17th of the season. Mike Zigomanis nearly added his third point of the game when he hammered a snapshot off the crossbar with just over two minutes left in the second. Zigomanis assisted on both first period tallies by Lowell.

Portland made it a one goal game again, 3:26 into the third when Geoff Peters stuffed one in off the right post. A giveaway behind the Lock Monsters net by the defense led to a wide open chance for Joel Perrault, who buried it for the equalizer at 7:32. Just over a minute later the Monsters regained the advantage, with McLeod firing home his second of the game from the low slot to make it 4-3. Portland would not go quietly, and tied the game again at 14:05 with Ryan Shannon tapping in a hard rebound off the end boards that kicked to the side of the net. The game remained tied 4-4 after regulation.

Kowalski was strong in overtime, turning aside six shots as he faced over 50 in the game for the second time in three career AHL starts. But in the shootout his teammates gave him plenty of support. Keith Aucoin, Krys Kolanos, Nicolas Corbeil and Zigomanis all tallied as Lowell went 4-for-4 and picked up the extra point, improving them to 2-0-2 in their last four games and 3-3-0-1 against the Pirates on the season.

The Monsters host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 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.

Individual tickets start at $10 and 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 group outings are on sale now; contact the Lock Monsters ticket office at (978) 458-PUCK (7825) for more information.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2006


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