AHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs Move Into Second Place Logjam With Shutout Win

Published on February 18, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


LOWELL, MA – Goaltender Milan Hnilicka had 23 saves in his first American Hockey League start in nearly two months, and left wing Noah Clarke added two goals for the Manchester Monarchs, who strengthened their playoff chances with a 3-0 win over the Lowell Lock Monsters before an announced crowd of 3,832 at the Tsongas Arena on Wednesday night. Center Michael Cammalleri chipped in with one goal and one assist for the Monarchs (26-21-4-3, 59 points), who improved to 2-1-1-0 in their last four games away from the Verizon Wireless Arena. The win was their sixth in 10 meetings with the Lock Monsters this season (6-4-0-0). With the victory, Manchester moved into a second place tie with the idle Worcester IceCats and the Portland Pirates in the tightly compacted Atlantic Division. The Pirates lost to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 2-1, at the Arena at Harbor Yard on Wednesday night.

With the loss, the sixth place Lock Monsters (22-24-4-3, 51 points) fell seven points behind the idle Providence Bruin for the fifth and final playoff spot in the division.

Hnilicka (5-6-0) nailed down the Monarchs' team-record eighth shutout of the season with nine stops in the third. The shutout was his first of the season. Goaltender Dany Sabourin (5-7-2) took the loss for the Lock Monsters, their fifth straight.

Including Wednesday's result, the Lock Monsters have gone 174 minutes and 34 seconds without a goal. They have just two goals in their last four games overall.

The Monarchs led 2-0 after one period, thanks to goals from Cammalleri and Clarke. Cammalleri's ninth of the year gave the Monarchs a 1-0 just 3:46 in. Clarke and right wing George Parros assisted as Cammalleri ripped a backdoor feed into the short side of the net.

Clarke and Cammalleri teamed up for the second goal as well, potted by Clarke with a one-timer from the left circle at 19:01. Left wing Jeff Giuliano also assisted on Clarke's 16th of the year, scored within seconds of Hnilicka's diving stop on left wing Ryan Bayda's backhander through the slot.

Hnilicka, appearing in his first Monarchs game since Dec. 20, finished with 10 saves in the period. Besides Bayda, center Mike Zigomanis and right wing Matt Davidson also had excellent scoring chances in the period, but their shots hit the post.

Hnilicka, a veteran of well over 100 NHL appearances, was activated from the injured reserve and assigned by the Los Angeles Kings to the Monarchs on Tuesday. He was on the injured list with a broken finger.

The Monarchs tightened up defensively and added to their lead with Clarke's second goal of the game, scored on the power play at 11:31 of the second period. Defenseman Randy Perry and center Jerred Smithson assisted on the rookie's 17th, scored with a between-the-circles wrist shot.

The Lock Monsters managed just four shots in the period, even though they had two power plays.

For the game, the Monarchs were 1-for-6 with the man-advantage. The Lock Monsters were 0-for-4.

The Monarchs continue their season-long six game road swing through New England when they meet the Providence Bruins (7:05 p.m.) at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Friday, Feb. 20, and the Portland Pirates (7:05 p.m.) at the Cumberland County Civic Center on Saturday, Feb. 21. After that, they open a four-game homestand at the Verizon Wireless Arena against the Binghamton Senators (7:05 p.m.) on Monday, Feb. 23.

Monarchs Ticket Availability as of Feb. 18, 2004

Mon., Feb. 23 vs. Binghamton: 2,900 seats remain.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2004


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