Manchester, Providence Fight to Tie
April 5, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, New Hampshire â It wasn't easy, but the Manchester Monarchs clinched fourth place in the Eastern Conference and home ice advantage in Round One of the Calder Cup Playoffs with Saturday's 3-3 tie with the Providence Bruins. Saturday's game, played before another sellout crowd (9,916) at the Verizon Wireless Arena, was the 40th and final home game of the regular season. The Monarchs close the regular season on Sunday at Lowell (4:05 p.m.) before opening the Calder Cup Playoffs at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Saturday, April 12 at 7:35 p.m.
The Bruins did their best to sour the Monarchs celebration, scoring three third period goals including Matt Herr's tally with just 10 seconds remaining in regulation. Carl Corazzini and Martin Samuelsson also scored in the final period as the Bruins methodically erased the Monarchs three-goal lead with plenty of hard-nosed hockey.
But the mood of the crowd improved greatly moments after the extra period ended as the Monarchs announced their team awards and literally took the shirts off their back and presented them to their frenzied fans. Monarchs faithful had the opportunity to enter a drawing for their favorite sweater in the weeks leading up to Satuday's home finale.
Eric Healey took home most of the hardware for the Monarchs as he was crowned the winner of the Ace Bailey MVP Award. Healey, who leads the Monarchs with 41 goals, also won the Fan Favorite Award and the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award, presented to the AHL player who best exemplifies determination, dedication and sportsmanship in the game of hockey. Other award winners included defensemen Joe Rullier (Mark Bavis Unsung Hero Award) and Richard Seeley (AHL Man of the Year/Monarchs Community Service).
Derek Bekar's first of two short-handed goals gave the Monarchs the 3-0 edge after two periods. With the Bruins skating on their fifth power late in the middle period, Bekar charged into the Bruins zone after receiving Pavel Rosa's center ice pass and scored short-handed from the right circle at 18:37. Bekar's goal was the fourth scored short-handed by the Monarchs in their last two home games.
The Monarchs penalty kill, which entered Saturday's game with a streak of six games without allowing a power play goal, also produced the Monarchs second goal with just over a minute remaining in the opening stanza. Bekar knocked the puck away from defenseman Chris Kelleher, who was quarterbacking the Bruins power play near the blue line. He next secured the loose puck and bolted up the ice on a breakaway. Bekar, a former UNH star, slowed up as he entered the slot, faked, and fired a sharp wrister that rolled up goaltender Adam Hauser's arm and into the back of the net at 18:50.
The Monarchs took a 1-0 lead when Rosa rifled home his left circle shot 9:38 into the opening period for his 26th goal. Jared Aulin and Dane Jackson assisted on the play as the Monarchs took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play after Herr and Brant Myhres were pulled off for penalties at 8:01.
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American Hockey League Stories from April 5, 2003
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- Hamilton wins overall points title - AHL
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- IceCats Announce Year End Awards - Worcester IceCats
- Third Period Goals Sink 'Cats - Worcester IceCats
- Bulldogs Tie Binghamton - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Penguins to Present Individual Team Awards Saturday - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Red-Hot Wolves down Ducks - Cincinnati RailRaiders
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