Monarchs Set Records, Beat Springfield
Published on March 12, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, NH â Centers Michael Cammalleri and David Steckel each scored twice and defenseman Denis Grebeshkov added three assists to lead the Manchester Monarchs over the Springfield Falcons, 6-3, before 9,210 fans at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The win was the Monarchs team record 24th on home ice this season. The Monarchs also tied a team record by earning their 40th win overall. The Monarchs will try to set a new team record for wins in a season on Sunday afternoon when they meet the Lowell Lock Monsters at the Tsongas Arena at 4:00 p.m.
The Monarchs, with a record of 40-17-3-3 and 86 points, are tied with the Hartford Wolf Pack for first place in the American Hockey League's Atlantic Division. The Wolf Pack (41-19-2-2, 86 points) was scheduled to host the Lock Monsters at the Hartford Civic Center on Saturday night.
The Monarchs beat the Falcons for the eighth consecutive time this season with one goal in the first period, three goals in the second period and another two goals in the final stanza. The Monarchs and the Falcons are scheduled to meet two more times this season. One of the two games will be played at the Verizon Wireless Arena, where the Monarchs have beaten the Falcons in eight straight contests dating back to November of 2003.
The Falcons, with a record of 17-39-2-3 and 39 points, are in last place in the division. They've lost five straight contests.
Cammalleri broke a scoreless tie with his league-leading 38th goal, hammered home from the slot at 18:08 of the opening period. Right wing Tom Kostopoulos and left wing Jeff Giuliano assisted on the play.
Left wing Dustin Brown gave the Monarchs a two-goal second period lead with his 25th tally. Goaltender Mathieu Garon (21 shots, 18 saves) and center Matt Ryan shared assists as Brown raced end-to-end before stuffing his own rebound through the pads of Falcons goalie Brian Eklund (33 shots, 27 saves) at 5:12.
The Monarchs opened a 3-0 lead 1:47 later with the second goal in three games for Steckel. Right wing Dan Welch and Grebeshkov assisted on Steckel's fifth of the season, ripped off the right post.
The Falcons collected the next goal when right wing Jim Campbell swatted a loose puck out of mid-air and into the Monarchs net at 10:57. Left wing Nikita Alexeev and center Jason Jaspers each assisted on Campbell's ninth of the season.
The Monarchs made it a 4-1 game with the second goal of the night and 39th of the season for Cammalleri, who ripped the puck over the glove of Eklund from the left circle with the Monarchs on the power play at 13:57. Cammalleri's power play marker snapped a Monarchs scoreless streak of 0-for-30 on the power play. The streak covered eight games.
Right wing Brad Smyth and Grebeshkov assisted on the power play goal, the team record 21st for Cammalleri. He entered Saturday's contest tied with former Monarchs left wing Eric Healey for first place on the Monarchs career power play goals list.
A left circle backhander from rookie center Jeff Miles gave the Monarchs a four-goal lead 2:02 into the third period. Rookie left wing Ryan Kinasewich and Kostopoulos shared assist on Miles' third of the season.
The Falcons closed the gap with a goal from defenseman Doug O'Brien 34 seconds later. Left wing Dennis Packard assisted on his third of the season.
Another power play goal, this one from Steckel at 15:32, made it 6-2 Monarchs. Jaspers closed the scoring with his fifth goal 1:28 later. Grebeshkov and left wing Chris Schmidt assisted on Steckel's second of the game and sixth of the season.
The Monarchs finished 2-for-7 on the power play. The Falcons were 1-for-4.
Garon (25-11-3) earned the win, his 25th this season. Eklund (9-17-0) took the loss, his 17th of the campaign.
After their match in Lowell, the Monarchs return to home ice action when they host Hartford at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Friday, March 18 at 7:35 p.m.
Ticket Availability: Single seats in the Gold level and 1,600 seats in the Silver level remain for Friday's game against the Wolf Pack.
Monarchs tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Verizon Wireless Arena box office. Individual tickets may also be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (603) 868-7300, or by visiting Ticketmaster on-line at www.ticketmaster.com.
American Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2005
- Sound Tigers Beat Hershey 3-2 In Overtime - Bridgeport Islanders
- Bruins fall to Worcester - Providence Bruins
- Falcons Drop Game In Manchester, 6-3 - Springfield Falcons
- Monarchs Set Records, Beat Springfield - Manchester Monarchs
- Phantoms lose 3-2 in Portland - Adirondack Phantoms
- Rampage loan Paul Healey to Edmonton - San Antonio Rampage
- Utah Has Re-Match With The Ducks - Utah Grizzlies
- Maple Leafs Make Roster Moves - Toronto Marlies
- Aeros host Rampage tonight; High school hockey this afternoon at Toyota Center - Houston Aeros
- Wolf Pack recall pair - Connecticut Whale
- Road Runners acquire Healey - Edmonton Road Runners
- Bulldogs lose to Chicago - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Utah loses to Cincinnati - Utah Grizzlies
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