Monarchs End Scoreless Streak; Win Big On Home Ice
January 17, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, NH - The Manchester Monarchs put an end to their franchise-record scoreless streak in a big way on Saturday night, defeating the Portland Pirates, 6-0, before a capacity crowd of 9,916 at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
The Monarchs (21-17-2-3, 47 points) snapped their two-game losing streak and moved into sole possession of second place in the Atlantic Division with the win. They also improved to 4-1-0-1 in six games against the fifth place Pirates (16-16-5-4, 41 points) this season.
The Monarchs exorcised several demons with their first goal, scored on the power play by left wing Michael Cammalleri at 18:55 of the first period. Center Steve Kelly and right wing Sam Ftorek assisted on Cammalleri's fifth goal this season as the second-year pro skated out of the left corner and centered for Ftorek. Cammalleri's pass clipped the right pad of goaltender Matt Yeats and banked into the net. The goal was the Monarchs first in 148 minutes and 21 seconds, ending a franchise-record scoreless streak that began against the Lowell Lock Monsters on Jan. 10. The goal was also Cammalleri's first in 18 games including AHL and NHL action. Finally, the goal was the Monarchs first in 16 power play tries spanning six games.
The Monarchs assault on Yeats continued in the second period, when they took control of the game by scoring three goals in a span of 1:44. Left wing Jeff Giuliano, skating on the Monarchs top line with Kelly and right wing Pavel Rosa for the first time, doubled the Monarchs lead with his first goal in 10 games, scored at 10:03. Giuliano slipped his left wing shot through the pads of Yeats after taking Kelly's slot pass. Defenseman Randy Perry also assisted on Giuliano's fourth goal this season.
Left wing Chris Schmidt tipped center Yanick Lehoux's centering feed past Yeats 32 seconds later to the give the Monarchs the 3-0 lead. Schmidt's tally was his first in 11 games. Cammalleri also assisted on Schmidt's second goal this season.
Perry capped the Monarchs middle period blitz with his first career AHL goal, scored with a slap shot from the point at 11:47. Ftorek and Lehoux assisted. Perry entered Saturday's action with zero goals in 23 career AHL games.
Rosa and Kelly closed the scoring in the third period as the Monarchs handed the Pirates their worst loss of the season. Rosa scored his 18th goal with a slap shot from the top of the right circle 1:53 into the third period. Defensemen Joe Rullier and Maxim Kuznetsov assisted. The point for Kuznetsov was his first as a Monarch. Kuznetsov also assisted on Kelly's between-the-circles wrist shot at 15:56. Kelly's goal was his 12th this season.
Goaltender Mathieu Chouinard, who has allowed just one goal in his last three starts on home ice, improved to 5-0-0 at the Verizon Wireless Arena this season with his 22-save shutout performance. The shutout was his second of the season and the team's fifth.
The Monarchs return to action at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23 when they visit the Dunkin' Donuts Center and meet the Providence Bruins. The Monarchs next home game is set for 7:35 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30 against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Monarchs Ticket Availability as of Jan. 17
Fri., Jan. 30 vs. Bridgeport: 600 seats remain.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from January 17, 2004
- Falcons Fall to Lowell, 4-2 - Springfield Falcons
- Aeros, Rampage skate to 1-1 tie - Houston Aeros
- Roadrunners lose to Amerks - Edmonton Road Runners
- Griffins in Seventh Heaven after 2-1 Win in OT - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Coyotes Reassign Reirden to Falcons after Trade with Anaheim - Springfield Falcons
- Griffins Get "Animated" for Cartoon Night - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Reirden Traded to Phoenix - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Bears Inch Closer to First Place with 4-2 Win over Bridgeport - Hershey Bears
- Monarchs End Scoreless Streak; Win Big On Home Ice - Manchester Monarchs
- Ducks can't sink Admirals - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Phantoms lose 4-3 in Wilkes-Barre - Adirondack Phantoms
- Sound Tigers Lose 4-2 In Hershey - Bridgeport Islanders
- Michaud records second straight shutout - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Rampage Game Day - San Antonio Rampage
- Penguins Release Ben Blais from PTO - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Aeros Game Day - Houston Aeros
- Grizzlies Host Hartford Tonight; Gord Dineen's Jersey to be Retired - Utah Grizzlies
- Bears Fall to Phantoms for Seventh Straight Time - Hershey Bears
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
