AHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs Comeback Halted By Shootout Loss

December 15, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


NORFOLK, VA – Goaltender Michael Leighton stopped three of four shots in the shootout as the Norfolk Admirals held off the Manchester Monarchs, 5-4, at the Norfolk Scope in front of 2,920 fans on Wednesday afternoon. After a scoreless overtime, left wing Noah Clarke was the only Monarch to convert in the shootout as Leighton blanked right wing Tom Kostopoulos, center Michael Cammalleri and left wing Dustin Brown. Norfolk right wing Pavel Vorobiev, left wing Matt Ellison and center Ajay Baines all scored in the shootout against Monarchs goaltender Mathieu Garon.

The Monarchs, now 21-3-1-1 with 44 points on the season, have lost four of their last five games (1-2-1-1) after winning 13 straight. Wednesday's game also marked the first time the Monarchs lost when scoring four or more goals in a game. The Monarchs are 17-0-0-1 when scoring four or more goals in a game this season.

Left wing Quintin Laing and Ellison each scored to give the Admirals a 2-0 lead. Laing's short-handed goal at 15:32 of the first period was his fifth of the season. Right wing Shawn Thornton assisted on the play. Ellison's power play goal at 10:34 of the second period marked his fourth goal of the season.

Monarchs center Yanick Lehoux answered back with his own power play goal at 14:35 of the second period. Lehoux broke in down the left side and rifled a shot past Leighton for his career best 17th goal of the season. Defenseman Joe Rullier was credited with the lone assist on the goal.

Just 1:56 later, Thornton scored his first goal of the year shorthanded to make it a 3-1 Admirals lead.

The next three goals belonged to the Monarchs as left wing Jeff Giuliano found the back of the net and Kostopoulos buried two past Leighton. Giuliano redirected right wing George Parros' backhander in the slot at 19:12 of the second period for his third goal of the season. Kostopoulos tied up the game at 1:51 of the third period and then gave the Monarchs a 4-3 lead as he slid Giuliano's pass behind Leighton at 5:29. His two goals on the day gave him 14 tallies for the season.

With less than two minutes remaining in regulation, Admirals defenseman Anton Babchuk blasted a shot from the top of the circle past Garon to send the game into overtime.

Garon (14-3-1) made 29 saves in the game and took the Monarchs first shootout loss of the season. Leighton (4-7-1) earned his fourth win of the season stopping 11 of the Monarchs season low 15 shots.

The Monarchs return to action when they travel to the Wachovia Spectrum in Philadelpia to meet the Philadelphia Phantoms on Friday, December 17 at 7:05 p.m. They continue their mid-Atlantic road trip with a game in Hershey against the Hershey Bears on Saturday, December 18 at 7:00 p.m. and then finish the trip against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza on Sunday, December 19 at 5:05 p.m. The Monarchs return home on Sunday, December 26 to face the Portland Pirates at 4:05 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Arena. Catch all of the play-by-play action with Ken Cail on the Monarchs Radio Network (WGIR-AM 610, Manchester; WGIN-AM 930, Rochester; WGIP-AM 1540, Exeter; WTSL-AM 1400, Lebanon) and at www.monarchshockey.com.

Ticket Availability: 60 tickets in the Gold level and 2,500 seats in the Silver level remain for the Monarchs game on Sunday, December 26 against the Pirates.



American Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2004


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