AHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs Snap Winless Skid With 6-1 Victory

Published on April 7, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


MANCHESTER, NH – The Manchester Monarchs tied a franchise record with their 23rd home win of the season. They also moved one step closer to home ice advantage in next week's Calder Cup playoffs with a convincing 6-1 win over the Springfield Falcons before the 19th sellout crowd of the season (9,916) at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Wednesday night. Right wing Pavel Rosa led the way with a pair of goals, scored at 17:47 and 19:39 of the third period. The first goal was unassisted. Center Steve Kelly and defenseman Tomas Zizka assisted on the second one, Rosa's team-leading 37th of the season.

Kelly finished the contest with one goal and two assists. Zizka added three assists for the Monarchs, who snapped a four-game winless streak and improved to 5-3-0-1 in nine games against the Falcons this season. The teams will complete their season series when they meet at the Springfield Civic Center on Saturday night.

With the win, the Monarchs (39-26-7-5, 90 points) stayed three points ahead of the Worcester IceCats (36-26-12-3, 87 points) in the race for second place in the Atlantic Division and home ice advantage in the Divisional Semifinal round of the Calder Cup playoffs. The IceCats tipped the division-leading Hartford Wolf Pack, 5-2, at the Worcester Centrum Centre on Wednesday night.

Right wing Petr Kanko's first professional goal highlighted the opening period. Kanko, appearing in just his fourth game after joining the Monarchs last week, straddled the Falcons goal line and slipped his wrist shot over the shoulder of goaltender David LeNeveu at 9:38. Center Yanick Lehoux and Zizka assisted on the power play goal.

Kanko, a third-round selection (66th overall) of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, signed a deal with the Kings last summer. The Kings assigned him to Manchester after his season with the Kitchener Rangers (OHL) came to an end.

The Monarchs enjoyed a 19-6 shots-on-goal advantage in the middle period and stretched their lead to 3-1. Rosa and Zizka assisted on Kelly's 19th goal of the season, scored on a breakaway just 4:27 in. Left wing Ryan Flinn's goal 11:01 later made it a two-goal Monarchs advantage. Rookie right wing Greg Hogeboom and Kelly collected assists on Flinn's third goal of the season.

For Hogeboom, it was his first professional point in his first professional game. The 21-year-old native of Etobicoke, Ontario, joined the Monarchs last week after completing his collegiate career at Miami of Ohio (CCHA).

The pesky Falcons spoiled the Monarchs shutout bid later in the period when defenseman Nikos Tselios scored with a hard wrist shot from the right point at 16:32. Defenseman Tomas Koivisto and center Jason Jaspers assisted on Tselios' fifth goal of the year.

The Monarchs continued to apply offensive pressure in the final period, and added to their lead with center Michael Cammalleri's 18th goal of the season. Right wing Scott Barney and defenseman Denis Grebeshkov assisted on the goal, scored by Cammalleri with a nifty backhander in the slot.

Next came the pair from Rosa, who moved 10 points ahead of Hershey Bears center Eric Perrin in the AHL scoring race. Rosa has 84 points (37-47=84) in 74 games this season.

Goaltender Milan Hnilicka (7-9-0) posted the win for the Monarchs with 16 saves. LeNeveu (16-18-3) took the loss, finishing with 37 stops. The Monarchs attempted 35 of their 43 total shots over the final two periods.

The Monarchs return to action when they meet the IceCats at the Centrum Centre on Friday, April 9 at 7:05 p.m. They also have a road game at the Springfield Civic Center against the Falcons at 7:35 p.m. on Saturday, April 10, before closing out the regular season against the IceCats at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Sunday, April 11 at 6:05 p.m. For ticket information, visit the Monarchs on-line at www.monarchshockey.com.

Monarchs Ticket Availability as of April 7

Sunday April 11 vs. Worcester: 1,700 seats remain.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2004


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