Monarchs, IceCats Skate To 3-3 Draw
January 31, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
WORCESTER, MA â Defenseman Trevor Byrne's goal with 14.4 seconds remaining in regulation completed a three-goal third period come back as the Worcester IceCats skated to a 3-3 tie with the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday night at the Worcester Centrum Centre. A crowd of 10,109 erupted with joy as Byrne tied it with goaltender Brent Johnson on the bench and an extra attacker on the ice. Forwards Johnny Pohl and Jay McClement assisted as Byrne collected his fourth goal this season. The IceCats threatened to win the game in overtime, outshooting their guests 5-2. They also enjoyed a power play advantage after Monarchs' defenseman Randy Perry was whistled for hooking at 2:35. But despite the advantage, Hauser protected the tie with close range stops on McClemment, Pohl and left wing Scott Pellerin. The tie was the second in five meetings between the teams this season. The Monarchs and the IceCats also skated to a 1-1 draw at the Centrum on November 7.
With the tie, the Monarchs (23-9-3-3, 52 points) remain tied with the IceCats (21-16-9-1, 52 points) for third place in the AHL's Atlantic Division. They are winless in their last three games. The tie extended the IceCats' unbeaten streak to four games.
After a scoreless opening period, defenseman Bryan Muir gave the Monarchs a 1-0 lead with his one-timer from the right circle at 3:59 of the middle period. Center Steve Kelly and right wing Pavel Rosa each assisted on Muir's conversion. The Monarchs held a 5-on-3 man-advantage at the time. The goal was Muir's seventh this season.
The Monarchs doubled their lead to 2-0 with left wing Noah Clarke's 13th goal, scored when he tapped home his own rebound with a soft backhander at 10:07. Clarke finished an odd-man rush moments after IceCats' left wing Peter Sejna chipped his shot off the post. Kelly and left wing Chris Schmidt each earned assists on the first of two goals in the period for Clarke. He later extended the Monarchs' lead to three goals by jamming Rosa's crease rebound into the net at 13:20. Kelly earned his third point of the game with an assist on the play, his 100th as a Monarch.
Defenseman Terry Virtue's 200th point in an IceCats' uniform made it a 3-1 game two minutes into the final period. Sejna set Virtue up in the slot with the IceCats on the power play. Virtue's fifth goal this season halted a lengthy penalty-killing streak for the Monarchs. Prior to the goal, they had killed off 28 straight power plays from the opposition over the last seven games.
Center Brendan Brooks pulled the IceCats to within one with his third goal in eight games, scored after he worked himself free in the slot at 15:23. Pohl and Virtue shared assists on the play.
Johnson earned the tie with just over 24 minutes of work. He stopped all eight of the shots he faced after replacing starter Curtis Sanford at the beginning of the third period. Sanford had 17 stops. Johnson's appearance was his second in an IceCats' uniform after being assigned to the team by the St. Louis Blues on January 14. Hauser finished with 25 saves and his third tie. The second-year pro is 10-10-3 after 24 appearances this season.
The Monarchs return to action at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, February 6 when they meet the Springfield Falcons at the Springfield Civic Center. After Friday's game, the Monarchs host the IceCats at 7:35 p.m. on Saturday, February 7 at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
Monarchs Ticket Availability as of January 31, 2004
Sat., Feb. 7 vs. Worcester: 620 seats remain.
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