Monarchs Say Goodbye To 2005 With Victory Over River Rats
Published on December 31, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, NH - Right wing Brad Smyth scored two power play goals to lift the Manchester Monarchs over the Albany River Rats, 4-3, in front of Manchester's second sellout crowd of the season, 9,916 fans at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Saturday night.
Manchester (21-8-1-3, 46 points) is in second place in the Atlantic Division. Albany (10-23-0-2, 22 points) is in last place in the Atlantic Division.
It did not take long for the Monarchs to attack as center Greg Hogeboom scored his first of the season one-minute, eight-seconds into the game. Defenseman Mark Ardelan fed the puck to center Yanick Lehoux at the Monarchs blue-line. Hogeboom snuck behind the Albany defense and collected a pass from Lehoux. Recently named to the 2006 ECHL All-Star Game, Hogeboom skated in on River Rats goaltender Frank Doyle and released a shot at the hash marks that zipped into the back of the net to give the Monarchs a 1-0 lead.
Lehoux made the score 2-0 with his fifth of the season at 9:29 of the first period. On the power play, defenseman Marty Wilford and left wing Jeff Tambellini shuffled the puck at the points before setting up Lehoux for a slap shot from the top of the left face-off circle to double the Monarchs lead.
Albany answered back with two goals of their own from defenseman Bryan Miller and right wing Aaron Voros.
Monarchs goaltender Barry Brust was faced with a scramble of players in front of him when Miller chipped in his second of the season, unassisted at 10:20 of the first period.
Albany defenseman Krisjanis Redlihs controlled the puck on the power play at the left face-off circle. Looking for the perfect pass-shoot combination, Redlihs sent a cross-ice feed to Voros who sent a one-timer past Brust at 13:12 of the first period to tie the game at 2-2. Right wing David Clarkson also assisted on Albany's power play goal.
The Monarchs regained the lead with their second power play goal of the game at 15:32 of the first period. Left wing Noah Clarke controlled the puck behind Albany's net, came around on the near side and sent the puck to Smyth who was waiting at the edge of the left wing face-off circle for the one-timer and his 13th of the season. Defenseman Eric Werner also assisted on Smyth's goal to give the Monarchs the 3-2 lead.
Smyth connected on the power play for the second time tonight at 13:44 of the middle frame. Clarke sent the puck from the near boards to Werner at the point who sent a slap shot slightly to the left of the net. Werner's shot was set up perfectly for Smyth to tip it in just inside the near post for his 14th goal of the season.
Albany fought back to within one goal with Miller's second goal of the night, third of the season at 1:51 of the third period. Left wing Jason Ryznar won the face-off deep in the Monarchs zone to Miller positioned at the high arc of the right face-off circle. Miller sent a shot into the top right corner of the net to make it a 4-3 game.
Brust (6-1-1) earned his second victory in as many nights stopping 24 shots. Doyle (8-14-2) took the loss with 12 saves.
Manchester went 3-for-6 on the power play. Albany was 1-for-5 with the man advantage.
Manchester's first game of the new year will be on Friday, January 6 as they take on the Providence Bruins at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. Face-off is at 7:05 p.m.
Catch all of the play-by-play action of Monarchs hockey 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!
American Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2005
- Rivermen get back on winning track - Peoria Rivermen
- Iowa Falls 4-2 in New Year's Eve Game - Iowa Chops
- San Antonio loses to Houston - San Antonio Rampage
- Monarchs Say Goodbye To 2005 With Victory Over River Rats - Manchester Monarchs
- Wolves bite Griffins in OT, 4-3 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Stokes' first career goal lifts Houston to seventh straight win - Houston Aeros
- Hamilton Defeated by Peoria - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Senators ring in New Year with 4-1 victory against Syracuse - Binghamton Senators
- Admirals Drop Another Close Game to Penguins, 2-1 - Norfolk Admirals
- Bears finish up 2005 with 5-1 win over Philadelphia - Hershey Bears
- Phantoms fall to Hershey - Adirondack Phantoms
- Thornton assigned to Norfolk - Norfolk Admirals
- Ryan Gets The Call From Los Angeles, Joins The Kings In Dallas Tonight - Manchester Monarchs
- Dubielewicz, Sound Tigers Shutout Lowell 6-0 - Bridgeport Islanders
- The Ball drops on Lowell in Bridgeport with 6-0 loss - Albany Devils
- Rampage GameDay - San Antonio Rampage
- Senators release Berry from PTO - Binghamton Senators
- Senators assign Denis Hamel to Binghamton - Binghamton Senators
- Houston looking for seventh straight in San Antonio - Houston Aeros
- Washington calls up Steckel, Bears face Philly tonight - Hershey Bears
- Phantoms' Slaney sets AHL scoring record - AHL
- Slaney sets record in loss - Adirondack Phantoms
- Wolves defeat Rivermen, 11-5 - Peoria Rivermen
- Bulldogs game notes - Hamilton Bulldogs
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