Monarchs Extend Second Place Lead Over Wolf Pack
Published on January 18, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
HARTFORD, CT - Goaltender Barry Brust made 29 saves and left wing Noah Clarke scored the game-winner as the Manchester Monarchs beat the Hartford Wolf Pack 6-3 at the Hartford Civic Center in front of 2,493 fans on Wednesday night.
Manchester (25-11-1-4, 55 points) is in second place in the Atlantic Division and extended their lead over Hartford (22-12-2-5, 51 points) to four points in the division.
Hartford defenseman Daniel Girardi scored his second of the season just 29-seconds into the game. Left wing Nigel Dawes skated into the Monarchs zone and dropped the puck to Girardi. The defenseman picked it up and sent a slap shot from just inside the blueline that zipped between the legs of Brust. Defenseman Dave Liffiton also assisted on the goal.
The Monarchs answered back with four goals, including three goals on their first three shots in the second period. Left wing Jeff Tambellini evened the game at 1-1 with his 19th goal of the season coming off of a rebound from right wing Lauri Tukonen's initial shot from the slot. Tukonen skated in on Wolf Pack goaltender Al Montoya and sent a shot directly into the goalie's chest. Tambellini was positioned to the left of Montoya and jammed the rebound into the back of the net. Clarke assisted on the tying goal at 17:32 of the first period.
Left wing Yanick Lehoux scored on the Monarchs first shot of the second period at 9:43 of the middle frame. Defenseman Reagan Rome sent the puck into the Wolf Pack zone and Lehoux picked it up along the right wall. Lehoux turned and shot the puck from just inside the right wing circle for his ninth of the season to give the Monarchs a 2-1 lead.
Tukonen added to the Monarchs lead with his seventh of the season at 13:16 of the second period. Defenseman Mark Ardelan sent a shot from the point that Montoya made the save on but Tukonen was right there for the rebound. Tambellini also assisted on the goal to make the score 3-1 Monarchs.
Clarke scored the eventual game-winner on the Monarchs third shot of the second period at 14:34. On the power play, defenseman Eric Werner sent the puck from the point to right wing Brad Smyth. Sliding the puck from left-to-right with his stick, Smyth shoveled it over to Clarke who walked right up to Montoya and sent a backhand in for his seventh of the season.
The Wolf Pack began to rally back and capitalized twice with goals from center Jarkko Immonen and left wing Daniel Sparre. Left wing Chad Wiseman skated down the left wing and sent a cross-ice pass to a streaking Immonen who shot the puck past Brust on his glove side at 3:44 of the third period. Former Monarchs defenseman Joe Rullier assisted on the power play goal to bring the score to 4-2.
At 15:57 of the final frame, Sparre brought the game to within one goal when he connected with the back of the net for his fourth of the season. Rullier sent a blistering slap shot from the point that bounced off of Brust and Sparre was on the doorstep to flip in the rebound. Center Lee Falardeau also assisted on the goal.
The Monarchs needed an insurance goal and right wing Ryan Murphy got it for them at 17:56 of the third period. With Montoya pulled after Clarke's goal, Robert Gherson went in net for Hartford. Smyth sent a pass from the left circle to the tape of Murphy's stick who was flying down the center of the ice. Murphy sent the puck top-shelf on Gherson to give the Monarchs back a two-goal lead. Defenseman Brad Fast also helped out on the insurance goal.
To finish off the Wolf Pack, right wing Petr Kanko scored the empty net goal, unassisted, at 18:18 of the final period.
Brust (9-2-1) earned his ninth victory of the season with 29 saves. Montoya (13-4-0) took the loss stopping 11 shots through 34 minutes of play while Gherson made six saves while he was in net.
Manchester went 1-for-5 on the power play. Hartford was 1-for-6 with the man advantage.
The Monarchs continue on their four-game road trip with a stop at the Omaha Civic Auditorium on Friday, January 20 with an 8:00 p.m. (EST) face-off with the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights.
Catch all of the play-by-play action of Monarchs hockey with Ken Cail on the Monarchs Radio Network (WGIR-AM 610, Manchester; WGIN-AM 930, Rochester; WGIP-AM 1540, Exeter) and at www.monarchshockey.com. Watch the game live on B2 Networks for just $6 per game. Log onto www.monarchshockey.com and click on the link to B2 Networks ten minutes prior to the each Monarchs game to watch the game live!
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