AHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs New Arrivals Lift Team To Victory

Published on November 26, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


SPRINGFIELD, MA - Center Yanick Lehoux scored twice and goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji collected 37 saves as the Manchester Monarchs skated past the Springfield Falcons, 6-3, at the MassMutual Center in front of a crowd of 3,565 on Saturday night. Manchester (12-3-0-3, 27 points) is two points out of first place in the Atlantic Division. Springfield (10-7-1-2, 23 points) is tied for fourth place in the Atlantic Division with the Lowell Lock Monsters.

The Falcons struck first with a goal from left wing Mitch Fritz at 13:01 of the first period. Forward Ryan Vesce took a shot from the point that bounced off Fukufuji and directly to Fritz positioned on the doorstep. Fritz lifted the rebound into the net for his fourth of the season. Left wing Zbynek Hrdel assisted on the goal to give Springfield a 1-0 lead.

The Monarchs answered back with three goals. Tying the game at 1-1, left wing Jeff Giuliano capitalized on a scrum in front of the net for his fourth of the season at 16:58 of the first period. With three Falcons players, Giuliano and left wing Dany Roussin blocking Springfield's goaltender Brian Eklund, defenseman Denis Grebeshkov shot the puck from the point. Roussin and Giuliano each whacked at the puck before it snuck between Eklund's legs for the goal.

Taking a 2-1 lead at 8:22 of the second period, right wing Konstantin Pushkarev threw a wrist shot from the top of the right face-off circle in on Eklund for his sixth of the season. Defensemen Brad Fast and Mark Ardelan assisted on the power play goal for the Monarchs.

With Eklund screened by numerous players in front of the net, Lehoux, in his first game back with the Monarchs after playing overseas and in a brief stint with the Phoenix Coyotes organization, scored at 9:04 of the middle frame. Lehoux's wrist shot weaved through traffic and into the net for his second AHL goal of the season and first in a Monarchs uniform. Grebeshkov and left wing Jeff Tambellini assisted on the play.

The Falcons answered back as left wing David Spina swiped up the rebound from right wing Andre Deveaux's shot from the point for his third of the season at 12:15 of the second period.

Vesce tallied his seventh of the season at 15:03 of the middle frame as Eklund skated off on a delayed penalty for the extra attacker. Vesce was positioned on the left side of the net and lifted the puck up and over Fukufuji for the goal. Left wing Ryan Craig and right wing Norm Milley assisted on the goal to tie the game 3-3.

Lehoux answered back 42-seconds later with his second of the night. Tambellini gently slid the puck over to Lehoux, who was strategically positioned on Eklund's doorstep, for the score at 15:45 of the second period.

The Monarchs took a 5-3 lead at 1:12 of the third period with Pushkarev's second of the night and seventh of the season. Pushkarev sent in a quick wrist shot from the slot for the two-goal lead. Right wing Petr Kanko and defenseman Marty Wilford assisted on the goal.

Finishing off the Falcons, center Matt Ryan sent in his fourth of the season at 16:54 of the final frame. Grebeshkov earned his third assist of the evening and Giuliano recorded his second point of the night by assisting on the goal to give the Monarchs a 6-3 win.

Fukufuji (1-0-0), making his AHL debut and becoming the first Japanese born player to play in the AHL, earned his first win of the season stopping 37 shots. Eklund (3-5-1) took his fifth loss of the season with 20 saves.

Manchester went 2-for-6 on the power play. Springfield was 0-for-5 with the man advantage.

The Monarchs return home for their third game in three days to host the Providence Bruins at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday, November 27.

Catch all of the play-by-play action of Monarchs hockey this season with Ken Cail on the Monarchs Radio Network (WGIR-AM 610, Manchester; WGIN-AM 930, Rochester; WGIP-AM 1540, Exeter) and at www.monarchshockey.com. Watch the game live on B2 Networks for just $6 per game. Log onto www.monarchshockey.com and click on the link to B2 Networks ten minutes prior to the each Monarchs game to watch the game live!

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from November 26, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central