AHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs Downed By Pirates In Exhibition

Published on September 29, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


PORTLAND, ME - Center Andrew Ebbett and left wing Clay Wilson each scored a pair of goals in the Manchester Monarchs 5-2 loss to the Portland Pirates in front of 2,198 fans at the Cumberland County Civic Center on Saturday night. The Pirates outshot the Monarchs 35-27.

Wilson gave the Pirates a 3-2 lead and the eventual game-winner at 17:56 of the middle stanza with his second point of the night. On the power play, defenseman Andy Schneider received the puck from center Matt Keith at the left point and blasted a slap shot toward the net. Wilson was skating through the slot when the puck deflected off his leg and slid between Monarchs goaltender Curtis Darling's left pad and the post.

Rookie defenseman Patrik Hersley started the evenings scoring with the first goal of the Monarchs 2007 exhibition schedule at 9:46 of the opening period. With two Pirates resting in the penalty box, the Monarchs power play went to work. Center Trevor Lewis slid the puck to the right point where defenseman Troy Milam cradled the pass and surveyed the ice. Milam shared the puck with his partner, Hersley at the left point. Seeing the open lane, Hersley fired a slap shot that hit off the inside of the left post, ricocheted to the inside of the right post and out to open ice.

Hersley added his second tally of the night at 9:28 of the second period with a similar set up as his first goal. Center Patrick Jarrett set up Hersley at the left point for the slap shot that soared over the right shoulder of goaltender J.P. Levasseur for the 2-0 Monarchs lead. Left wing Matt Moulson also earned an assist on the goal.

Schneider cut the Monarchs lead in half at 10:26 of the middle frame with his first goal of the preseason. Schneider snapped a wrist shot from the left face-off circle that squeezed between netminder Erik Ersberg's glove and the post for a 2-1 game. Defenseman Brian Salcido and Wilson earned assists on the goal.

Darling replaced Ersberg half way through the game at 10:57 of the second period. Ersberg stopped 13-of-14 shots.

Ebbett tied the game at 2-2 with his first goal of the preseason at 11:20 of the second period. Center Petteri Wirtanen sent a one-timer from the point that Ebbett tipped passed Darling's glove. Defenseman Aaron Rome started the play by passing the puck to Wirtanen.

Wilson scored his second of the night at 5:10 of the final period. Keith fluttered the puck from the left face-off dot that hit Wilson's body and flipped over Darling. Defenseman Adrian Veideman earned an assist on the Pirates fourth goal of the night.

Ebbett scored the final goal of the game at 11:52 of the third period to bring the score to 5-2. With two Monarchs players in the penalty box, Rome sent a shot from the right point that hit Darling in the chest. Ebbett stood on the doorstep to backhand the puck into the net to finish off the Monarchs.

The Monarchs and Pirates play their second and final exhibition game on Sunday, September 30 at the Notre Dame Arena in Berlin, New Hampshire.

The time is now to join one of the biggest, loudest and proudest families in the AHL! The Monarchs open their seventh AHL season at home against the Providence Bruins on Saturday, October 6 at 7:35 p.m. Become a resident of Monarchs Country by purchasing a 40, 20 or 10-game ticket plan now! Call (603) 626-7825 and ask for an Account Executive to discuss the ticket plan that's right for you!

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American Hockey League Stories from September 29, 2007


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