Lock Monsters Beat Short-handed Monarchs 4-1
November 28, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
LOWELL, MA â The under-manned Manchester Monarchs were no match for the Lowell Lock Monsters on Friday afternoon, losing 4-1 at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell. A crowd of 3,868 watched as the Monarchs went to battle with only 14 skaters, and then lost another skater during the course of the game.
The loss was the second straight for the Monarchs (10-8-1-2, 23 points), who remained in second place in the AHL's Atlantic Division, pending the outcome of tonight's Providence Bruins-Portland Pirates match-up in Providence. The win was the second straight for the Lock Monsters (9-7-2-0, 20 points), who moved into sole possession of fourth place in the division.
Moments before they were to take the ice for warm-ups, center Jerred Smithson and right wing John Tripp were recalled by the Monarchs parent club, the Los Angeles Kings. Both were expected to be in L.A. in time for the Kings Saturday afternoon match-up with the Chicago Blackhawks. The Monarchs on Friday were also without the services of rookie defenseman Denis Grebeshkov, who missed the game with a wrist injury.
The Monarchs trailed the Lock Monsters 2-0 after the first period thanks to goals from forwards Josh Green and Brett Lysak. Green scored his fourth goal by re-directing defenseman Allan Rourke's bid from the left circle at 7:24. Center Mike Zigomanis also notched his 11th assist on the power play goal.
The Lock Monsters doubled their lead at 14:21 when Lysak knocked down right wing Garrett Bembridge's drive from the left circle. Lysak notched his fifth goal after wheeling to his right and jamming the loose puck by goaltender Mathieu Chouinard with a backhanded shot.
Chouinard finished the period with 10 saves, including several challenging ones. He kept the game close by robbing right wing Matt Davidson twice in the first minute. One of the Davidson saves came on a breakaway. He also fought off a tricky backhander in the slot from defenseman Brad Fast moments before the Lock Monsters were able to convert on Green's power play goal. The Monarchs were held to a season low three shots on goal in the period.
The Monarchs and the Lock Monsters each converted 5-on-3power play chances in the middle period. Right wing Pavel Rosa scored his eighth goal for the Monarchs at 9:11 of the period as he slammed left wing Scott Barney's offering into the net. Barney kicked the puck across the crease to Rosa after knocking down defenseman Bryan Muir's shot from the point.
The Lock Monsters regained their two-goal advantage later in the period when Rourke's high slot wrister slipped by Chouinard at15:50. Rourke had plenty of room to operate with the Monarchs at a 5-on-3 disadvantage.
Goaltender Dany Sabourin stopped nine of the 10 shots he faced in the middle period. His best save came 6:44 into the period when he snared right wing Judd Medak's breakaway backhander. The Monarchs short bench got even shorter at 18:50 of the period when defenseman Joe Rullier received a game misconduct. Rullier, who fought defenseman Sean Curry, was assessed a minor for roughing, a major for fighting and a misconduct for failing to tie down his jersey.
The Lock Monsters iced the game with Zigomanis' short-handed goal 16:43 into the third period.
Chouinard, appearing in his first Monarchs game since October 25, finished with 23 saves and his second loss, dropping to 2-2-0 on the season. Sabourin improved to 3-1-0 on the season with 19 saves.
The Lock Monsters converted 2-for-6 on the power play. The Monarchs were 1-for-8.
The Monarchs return home to the Verizon Wireless Arena for a 7:35 p.m. contest with the Providence Bruins on Saturday, November 29. The first 5,000 fans in attendance at Saturday's game will receive a free MAX mini-bobblehead doll, courtesy of Catholic Medical Center. The Monarchs then close the weekend on Sunday, November 30 with a 4:05 p.m. contest against the Worcester IceCats at the Centrum Centre.
Monarchs Ticket Availability Update: Sat., 11/29/03 vs. Providence: Seats remaining in the Gold Level: Single seats. Seats remaining in the SilverLevel: 700.
NOTES: Friday's game featured the Monarchs debut for right wing Judd Medak, who signed a professional tryout agreement with the Monarchs...Medak, 24, is a 6-foot,190-pounder from Edmonton, Alberta. He began the season with the Monarchs ECHL affiliate, the Reading Royals, scoring 10 points (5-5=10) in 10 games.
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