AHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs Road Trip Ends With Loss At Philadelphia

Published on March 28, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


PHILADELPHIA, PA – A pair of power play goals from right wing Kirby Law highlighted the Philadelphia Phantoms 3-1 win over the Manchester Monarchs before 7,026 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum on Sunday night. Law, who leads the Phantoms with 26 goals, scored the eventual game-winner on the power play midway though the second period. He added a second power play goal midway through the final period for the Phantoms, who finished 2-for-6 with the man-advantage. The Monarchs, who entered the contest with at least one power play goal in each of their last four games, were oh-for-8 with the man-advantage.

With the win, their third straight, the Phantoms (42-24-6-1, 91 points) strengthened their hold on first place in the American Hockey League's East Division. They lead the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (37-23-9-4, 87 points) by four points.

The win also pushed the Phantoms past the Atlantic Division-leading Hartford Wolf Pack (38-20-12-2, 90 points) into first place overall in the Eastern Conference. The Wolf Pack, who beat the Lowell Lock Monsters 4-2 on Sunday night, lead the second place Monarchs (38-24-6-5, 87 points) by three points in the Atlantic Division with two weeks left in the regular season.

Sunday's game marked the end of a four-game in five-day road trip through the AHL's southern tier for the Monarchs, who finished the trip with a 2-2-0-0 record. The Monarchs return to action when they host the Sound Tigers at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Friday night (7:35 p.m.).

Phantoms rookie blue-liner James Laux had the only goal in the opening period. He scored his second goal in as many games with a blast from the top of the right circle. Center Ian MacNeil and left wing Mark Murphy assisted on Laux's fourth of the season.

Another rookie blue-liner, Denis Grebeshkov, tied the game for the Monarchs 5:24 into the middle period with his second goal. Grebeshkov took center Yanick Lehoux's feed from the left boards and stuffed it by goaltender Neil Little. Forward Michael Cammalleri extended his scoring streak to five games (5-3=8) with an assist on the play.

The Phantoms regained the lead 5:58 later thanks to Law, who took defenseman Kirk Furey's centering pass and hammered the puck by goaltender Milan Hnilicka. Defenseman John Slaney also notched an assist on the play.

Law struck again 7:07 into the final period by slicing his 10th power play goal of the season by Hnilicka. Center Peter White and Slaney each collected assists on the play.

Little (20-12-0) protected the two-goal lead with six saves in the final period. He finished with 19 stops in the game.

Hnilicka (6-9-0) dropped his third straight decision. He collected 27 saves on the night.

The Monarchs will say thank you to their many fans when they host Fan Appreciation Night at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Friday, April 2. Only single seats remain for Friday's game against the Sound Tigers. For ticket information, visit the Monarchs on-line at www.monarchshockey.com.

Monarchs Ticket Availability as March 28

Fri. April 2 vs. Bridgeport: Single seats remain.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2004


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