Monarchs Edge Portland
October 15, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, NH â A one goal, one assist performance from grinding centerman Jerred Smithson and a strong effort in net from goaltender Mathieu Chouinard, keyed the Manchester Monarchs to their first victory of the season.
The Monarchs scored once in each period for a 3-1 win over the Portland Pirates, an Atlantic Division rival. The game was played before 6,428 fans at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Wednesday night.
The Monarchs (1-2-0-0) broke through with their first goal in a penalty-filled opening period.
Defenseman Bryan Muir, a former University of New Hampshire Wildcat who signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings last summer, wristed his shot past a stunned Maxime Ouellet with 1:10 remaining in the period. Right wing Pavel Rosa and left wing Chris Schmidt each earned their first points of the season by grabbing assists on the play. The goal was the first by Muir this season.
The balance of the period included 42 minutes in penalties. The teams also combined to go 0-for-7 on the power play.
The Monarchs added to their lead when defenseman Joe Rullier scored 9:00 into the middle period. Rullier collected his first of the season by one-timing Smithson's draw into the back of the Portland net.
Chouinard, who earned his first win in a Monarchs uniform with 22 saves, faced only four shots in the middle period and 23 shots for the game. He allowed just one goal, a power play tally from Pirates defenseman Chris Hajt with 6:48 remaining in the third period.
The Monarchs, who were unable to hold a two-goal lead against the Lowell Lock Monsters on Saturday in a 4-2 loss, got the job done on Wednesday against the Pirates (0-3-0-0).
Right wing Scott Barney, appearing in his first game of the season after returning from a groin injury, located Smithson all alone in front of the Portland net with 4:24 to play. Smithson iced the game by slamming Barney's feed past Ouellet for a 3-1 Monarchs lead.
The Monarchs take to the road for the first time this season when they travel to Springfield to meet the Falcons on Friday, October 17 at 7:35 p.m. Friday's game will be broadcast on the Monarchs Radio Network (610 WGIR, 930 WGIN, 1540, WGIP, 1400 WTSL) and on the World Wide Web at www.monarchshockey.com.
Notes: Chouinard, a former first-round pick of the Ottawa Senators (1998 NHL Entry Draft, 15th pick) signed by the Kings as a free agent during the off-season, started for the injured Milan Hnilicka, who is day-to-day with an injured groin...Muir's goal was his 50th as a pro...The eight-year vet appeared in his 480th professional game on Wednesday...The Monarchs were 0-for-8 on the power play in Wednesday's game...The Pirates were 1-for-5...Portland finished with 13 penalties for 37 minutes...The Monarchs finished with nine penalties for 21 minutes.
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American Hockey League Stories from October 15, 2003
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