AHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs Finish Off Year With Fireworks

Published on December 31, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


MANCHESTER, NH - Center Oscar Moller tied a franchise record for points in one game with five (1-4=5) as the Manchester Monarchs defeated the Providence Bruins by a 7-3 margin Friday evening at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

Manchester (23-11-1-1) collected their 23rd win of the season, maintaining their strong hold on first place in the Atlantic Division with 48 points. Providence (13-16-2-1) dropped their 16th game of the season and remains in seventh place in the Atlantic Division.

"I think the guys are committed to playing for one another," said Monarchs Head Coach Mark Morris in response to the Monarchs sixth-straight victory. "Our attitude in general has been good and it's been a fun stretch."

Defenseman David Kolomatis picked up his second tally of the game at 10:55 of the middle frame, the eventual game-winning goal. Putting on pressure in the Bruins zone, center Marc-Andre Cliche sent the puck back to his defenseman at the left point. With Moller on the left doorstep and left wing David Meckler stationed in front of Bruins goaltender Nolan Schaefer, Kolomatis unleashed a blast from the point that bounced off of a Providence player and into the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season. Moller also assisted on the goal that gave the Monarchs their first lead of the game.

Center Zach Hamill began the evening's scoring with his second goal of the season 20 seconds into the game. Left wing Jordan Lavallee-Smotherman got his stick on an attempted clearing pass by the Monarchs as it headed back toward the blueline. At the point, defenseman Nathan McIver wristed a soft shot toward the right post that was redirected in front by Hamill for the first goal of the game.

Center Joe Colborne scored his eighth goal of the season at 18:26 of the first period. From behind the Monarchs net, left wing Jeremy Reich passed a feed that connected with right wing David Ling along the left post, next to Monarchs goaltender Martin Jones. A feed from Ling near the left post was tapped in by Colborne, standing at the top of the goal crease unopposed. Colborne's goal gave the Bruins a 2-1 lead they would carry into the locker room at the end of the first period.

Center Andrei Loktionov scored his sixth goal of the season to knot the score at two goals apiece early in second period action. From well within the zone, Moller fed Loktionov a pass at the top of the crease. Skating in unopposed, Loktionov beat Schaefer with a shot into the top left corner of the net that tied the score. Kolomatis also collected an assist on Loktionov's goal.

Right wing Kirk MacDonald scored his second goal of the season to put Providence ahead by a 3-2 score at 5:13 of the second period. Defenseman Sean Zimmerman, positioned below the goal line, set a feed up the left wing boards where it was collected by Hamill. The center, positioned at the blueline, fired a shot toward net that was eventually put home by MacDonald standing at the top of the goal crease.

Meckler scored his 10th goal of the season at 10:20 of the second period. Defenseman Colten Teubert, from the right point, wrapped the puck down the right wing boards. Meckler attempted a quick wraparound from behind the goal, with Schaefer making the initial stop. With Monarchs players swarming the crease, Meckler was able to elevate the puck over a lunging Schaefer, giving the Monarchs the game-tying goal.

Moller advanced the Monarchs score to 5-3 at 15:21 of the second period with an unassisted goal. A Bruins defenseman shifted along the right wing half way in his own zone and went to pass the puck to his teammate. Moller intercepted the pass, took two strides and snapped a wrist shot into the top left corner of the net for his ninth goal of the season.

Left wing Bud Holloway scored his 10th goal of the season at 7:12 of the final frame to give Manchester a 6-3 advantage. Center Justin Azevedo skated into the left face-off circle and wristed a shot that Schaefer made the pad save on. The puck bounced free and briefly got lost in the legs of left wing Dwight King between the hash marks. King was able to get the puck over to Holloway at the left doorstep who squeezed the biscuit between the netminder and the left post.

Cliche scored his eighth goal of the season at 12:22 of the third period. On an offensive breakout, Kolomatis fed the puck to Moller who was skating toward the Providence net. After collecting the puck, Moller quickly dished the puck to Cliche, who wristed the pass into the wide open net behind a sprawling Schaefer.

Jones (12-2-0) recorded his 12th victory of the season, stopping 23-of-26 shots. Schaefer (6-10-1) drew his 10th loss of the season, stopping 38-of-45 shots on net.

Manchester was 2-for-5 on the power play. Providence was 0-for-4 with the man advantage.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2010


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