Monarchs Open With Convincing Home Win
October 15, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, NH â Four early goals and stellar goaltending from goaltender Mathieu Garon spelled victory on Friday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena as the Manchester Monarchs opened the 2004-05 American Hockey League season with a 5-1 victory over the Worcester IceCats. A sellout crowd of 9,916 waited less than three minutes before exploding with the first of four Monarchs goals in the opening period.
The first goal of the season went to center Yanick Lehoux, who finished a breakaway by lifting his shot by goaltender Jason Bacashihua at 2:31. Right wing Tom Kostopoulos, appearing in his first Monarchs game after five seasons in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, added the only assist on the play.
The Monarchs doubled their lead less than a minute later with veteran right wing Brad Smyth scoring his first goal of the season on the power play. Smyth scored by tipping a shot from left wing Dustin Brown past Bacashihua at 3:24. Lehoux collected his second point of the period with an assist on the play.
Center Michael Cammalleri added his first of the season 10:32 later, with defensemen Troy Milam and Denis Grebeshkov assisting, and Lehoux completed the four-goal first period outburst with his second goal of the season, scored at 19:18 with left wing Noah Clarke and Kostopoulos each notching assists on the play.
After a scoreless middle period, the Monarchs stretched their lead to 5-0 with rookie center Matt Ryan's first professional goal. Right wing Petr Kanko and left wing Chris Schmidt registered assists on the play.
The IceCats closed the gap with two power play goals in the final period, one from former Dartmouth College defenseman Trevor Byrne (5:59). The other from right wing Mike Glumac (15:08).
Garon had 28 saves in his Monarchs debut. Goaltender Curtis Sanford (10 shots, nine saves) replaced Bacashihua (13 shots, 9 saves) in the Worcester net after the first period.
The Monarchs host the 2003-04 Eastern Conference Champion Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday, October 16 at 7:35 p.m. The first 5,000 fans attending Saturday's game will receive a 2004-05 magnetic schedule sponsored by Dunkin Donuts.
Ticket Availability: Single seats in the Gold level and 2,200 seats in the Silver level remain for Saturday's game against the Penguins.
Fans in need of tickets for Saturday's game may purchase them in person at the Verizon Wireless Arena box office, at any TicketMaster location, by phone at (603) 868-7300 or on-line at www.ticketmaster.com. The box office opens at 10:00 a.m.
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