Monarchs Outdistance Norfolk, 4-1
March 15, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, New Hampshire - Eric Healey, Pavel Rosa and Derek Bekar combined to score four goals and eight points as the Monarchs extended their winning streak to two games with a 4-1 victory over the Norfolk Admirals on Saturday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena. A sellout crowd (the 16th of the season) of 9,916 fans cheered loudly as the Monarchs improved to 80 points on the season and took one step closer to locking up a Calder Cup playoff berth. The Monarchs will attempt to stretch their winning streak to three games when they travel to Providence to meet the North Division-leading Bruins on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. The setback pushed the Admirals winless streak to five games. The South Division leaders play at Lowell on Sunday before returning to Manchester for a rematch with the Monarchs on Wednesday night.
Eric Healey, wearing the captain's "C" because of injuries to both Dane Jackson and Steve Kelly, led the Monarchs to the victory by scoring two of the four goals and three points overall. The three-point night pushed Healey's output this season to a record-setting 59 points. Healey led the Monarchs in scoring last year with a total of 58 points. Even more impressive for Healey is the fact that he is the American Hockey League's active goal leader with a total of 36 goals this season. Rochester's Jason Botterill, on recall with the Buffalo Sabres, also has 36 AHL goals this season.
Healey capped the victory by completing a picture-perfect play 9:46 into the third period. The native of Hull, Massachusetts, closed a play that was started by Derek Bekar and Pavel Rosa, who exchanged the puck near the Admirals blue line. Healey, cruising down the left wing, neatly deposited Rosa's accurate pass into the Admirals net.
Rosa, who also had three points (1goal, 2 assists), stretched the Monarchs lead 3-1 when he slammed Brandon Dietrich's slot feed into the Admirals net 6:34 into the middle period. Rosa's 20th goal completed the Monarchs odd-man rush into the opponent's zone.
The Monarchs set the tone early in the same period with a power play goal from the high-flying Healey, who perfectly timed Rosa's set up into the net at 1:09. Healey roofed the Rosa feed over goaltender Craig Andersson's glove for his team-leading 14th power play goal. Defenseman Mike Pudlick also chipped in with an assist on the play.
The Admirals rallied to tie the score late in the first period when Mike Peluso rifled home his 21st goal from the high slot at 16:34. Peter White assisted for the Admirals, who entered play with just two wins in their last 11 games.
The Monarchs netted the game's first goal, with Derek Bekar getting credit for his 10th this season at 4:05 of the opening period. Bekar, who finished with two points (1goal, 1 assist), easily backhanded the rebound left by Andersson after he made the initial save on defenseman Tomas Zizka's low slap shot from the point. Healey extended his team-best scoring streak to seven games by earning the second assist on the play.
The Monarchs (33-21-9-5, 80 points) welcome the Norfolk Admirals to the Verizon Wireless Arena for a rematch on Wednesday, March 19 at 7:05 p.m. For Monarchs ticket information, call (603) 626-7825.
American Hockey League Stories from March 15, 2003
- Ducks' Martensson beats Grizzlies in OT - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Monarchs Outdistance Norfolk, 4-1 - Manchester Monarchs
- Phantoms Lose 3-2 in Chicago - Adirondack Phantoms
- Bulldogs Doubled up by Saint John - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Lamothe, Griffins Shutout Rampage, 2-0 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Papineau's Historic Debut Leads To Sound Tigers' 7th Win Over Springfield - Bridgeport Islanders
- Kings Recall Holland - Manchester Monarchs
- Checkers Romp Over Richmond 5-2 - Charlotte Checkers
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