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Monarchs Hold Off River Rats Late Surge

February 16, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - Justin Azevedo scored two goals and the Manchester Monarchs hung on for a narrow 4-3 win over the Albany River Rats Monday afternoon at the Times Union Center.

Similar to Saturday's game against Lowell, the River Rats created several early scoring chances, but they could not find the net. While Albany out-shot Manchester 17-8 in the first period, it was the Monarchs who would strike first. Teddy Purcell made a clever pass between two Rats defensemen to Matt Moulson in the low slot and Moulson snapped a quick shot underneath the blocker of goaltender Justin Peters at 8:17. Justin Azevedo doubled Manchester's lead at 14:42 when Gabe Gauthier's shot rebounded hard off Peters' leg pad and Azevedo was wide open at the far side of the net for a clinical finish and a 2-0 advantage. At the other end of the ice goalie Daniel Taylor kept the River Rats at bay, including several solid saves during a River Rats power play late in the first period.

The Rats struck quickly in the second period as Pat Dwyer registered his 13th goal of the season, firing home a rebound off a Jonathan Paiement shot from point at 1:54, cutting Manchester's lead to 2-1. But the rest of the period belonged to the Monarchs as they scored two more goals to open up a 4-1 lead. Azevedo scored his second goal of the season on a beautiful give-and-go with Scott Parse at 7:26 and Marty Murray made a smart cross-ice pass to Purcell for a wide-open back-door goal at 10:27.

Albany really appeared to be struggling to find any momentum in the third period, but found a spark from an unlikely source. Rookie forward Harrison Reed unleashed a blazing one-timer from the top of the right circle that sizzled into the top corner at 11:45, assisted by Dwight Helminen and Jerome Samson. Reed's third goal of the season ignited the Rats and energized the home team for the first time since the opening period. At 14:58 Samson brought cut the lead to 4-3 with his 14th goal of the year, scoring on the third attempt of a goal mouth scramble. The Rats continued to swarm the Monarchs, who were clearly on their heels, and with less than 20 seconds remaining, and their net empty, Joe Jensen rang a one-timer off the right post, missing the tying goal by inches.

Goaltender Daniel Taylor recorded the victory by stopping 37-of-40 shots as the Monarchs improved to 25-24-0-5 on the season. Justin Peters made 18 saves on 22 shots in goal for Albany as they fell to 24-25-3-2 on the year. The River Rats out-shot Manchester 40-22 in the game and went 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Monarchs were 0-for-2 on the man advantage.

Next up for Albany is a Wednesday, February 18th trip to Lowell for a 7:00 pm face off against the Devils at Tsongas Arena. The River Rats will return home on Friday, February 20th as they host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 7:00 pm at the Times Union Center.

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