AHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs Lose Heartbreaker On Home Ice

April 23, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


MANCHESTER, NH – Center Brendan Brooks' goal six minutes into the third overtime put an end to the 11th longest game in the history of the American Hockey League's Calder Cup Playoffs, and gave the Worcester IceCats a 3-2, come-from-behind victory over the Manchester Monarchs in Game 5 of a best-of-seven Atlantic Division semifinal series at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Thursday night. A crowd of 4,652 witnessed the game longest game ever played by either team. With the win, the IceCats gained a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 of the series is slated for 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, April 24 at the Worcester Centrum Centre. If necessary, Game 7 of the series is scheduled for a 4:05 p.m. start on Sunday, April 25 at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

Brooks, a former Monarch who suited up in nine games for the home team during the 2001-02 season, punched a rebound past goaltender Adam Hauser moments after the second-year pro fought off left wing Peter Sejna's short-side wrister. Center Blake Evans also registered an assist on Brooks' first goal of the series.

The playoff setback was the sixth straight on home ice for the Monarchs, who last won at home in the postseason on April 17, 2002. The loss was also the Monarchs third in overtime in their brief playoff history. They have yet to win a postseason overtime match.

Goaltender Curtis Sanford (3-2) kept the Monarchs off the board long enough for Brooks to be the hero. The netminder stopped 28 shots in the three extra sessions. He finished with 60 saves in the game. Equally as strong on the other end of the ice was Hauser (2-1), who recorded 34 saves in his first playoff start at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

The Monarchs controlled play for the majority of the three overtimes, but close calls from the likes of forwards Greg Koehler, Leon Hayward, Sam Ftorek, George Parros and defenseman Tim Gleason in the second extra session failed to materialize into game-winners. Defenseman Bryan Muir and left wing Noah Clarke also had chances to end the game in the first overtime, with Muir's blast from the right point clipping the post just 2:10 in.

The Monarchs opened a two-goal first period lead with goals from right wings Scott Barney and Pavel Rosa. Barney snapped his second goal of the series past Sanford 12:23 into the period. He worked himself out of the corner and triggered his shot from the left circle with assistance from Muir and Rosa. Center Yanick Lehoux started the play by tying up a Worcester defenseman in the corner. Lehoux's stick work opened a lane for Barney to score.

Rosa tapped his third goal of the series into an open net 4:03 later to give the home squad a two-goal cushion. Center Jerred Smithson and Clarke shared assists on the play as Smithson's quick wrister deflected off the right pad of Sanford and bounced to Rosa, who was waiting in the crease.

The IceCats broke a string of 10 consecutive Monarchs goals in the series 1:02 into the middle period with left wing Scott Pellerin's second goal of the playoffs. Pellerin launched his shot from the left circle and sliced the puck into the right corner of the net. Right wing Mike Glumac and center Jeff Panzer each notched assists on the goal.

Pellerin's marker was the first for the IceCats since he netted a game-winner in overtime of Game 2. Pellerin's strike also ended Hauser's shutout streak in the series at 141 minutes and two seconds. The former University of Minnesota Golden Gopher pitched shutouts against the IceCats in Game 3 and in Game 4 of the series, totaling 51 saves in the two contests.

Pellerin's night of hockey came to an abrupt end just 2:13 later when he started a skirmish with Rosa near the Monarchs net. IceCats defenseman Terry Virtue and Lehoux also got involved in the fracas, which resulted in 45 minutes of penalties, 10-minute misconducts for Lehoux and Virtue, and a game misconduct for Pellerin.

The IceCats knotted the game at 2 apiece with the first goal of the series for defenseman Aris Brimanis, who hammered the puck over the left shoulder of Hauser with 6:03 remaining in the frame. Brimanis took Sejna's feed at the right point, slid into the right circle, and then fired. Defenseman Aaron MacKenzie also recorded an assist on the goal.

The teams skated through a scoreless third period, although Brooks nearly gave the IceCats the lead at the 6:30 mark. The diminutive skater gathered the puck off the right boards and wheeled toward the net, but his backhander clipped the left post.

The Playoff Picture: The Monarchs travel to the Worcester Centrum Centre for Game 6 of the series on Saturday, April 24 at 7:05 p.m. If necessary, Game 7 of the series will be played at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Sunday, April 25 at 4:05 p.m.

Atlantic Division semifinal schedule and results:
Manchester (#2 seed) vs. Worcester (#3 seed)

IceCats lead the series 3 games to 2

Game 1: Thursday, April 15 – Worcester 2, Manchester 1 (Verizon Wireless Arena)
Game 2: Saturday, April 17 – Worcester 3, Manchester 2 (OT) (Verizon Wireless Arena)
Game 3: Sunday April 18 – Manchester 2, Worcester 0 (Worcester Centrum Centre)
Game 4: Tuesday, April 20 – Manchester 6, Worcester 0 (Worcester Centrum Centre)
Game 5: Thursday, April 22 – Worcester 3, Manchester 2 (3 OT) (Verizon Wireless Arena)

Game 6: Saturday, April 24, 7:05 p.m. (Worcester Centrum Centre)
Game 7: Sunday, April 25, 4:05 p.m. (Verizon Wireless Arena – If necessary)



American Hockey League Stories from April 23, 2004


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