Monarchs Stay Unbeaten With 5-3 Win
October 20, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
WEST VALLEY CITY, UT â The Manchester Monarchs ran their record to 3-0 on the season with a 5-3 win over the Utah Grizzlies on Wednesday night at the "E" Center in West Valley City, Utah. Five different Monarchs scored in the game as the Manchester joined five other teams with unbeaten records in the 28-team American Hockey League. The Grizzlies remain winless after four games (0-3-0-1).
The Monarchs dominated the early stages of the opening period, attempting the first nine shots of the game. The Grizzlies didn't register their first shot until 8:32 remaining in the period.
Center Michael Cammalleri, who nearly beat Jean-Marc Pelletier (34 shots, 30 saves) on a rebound chance in the game's first minute, assisted on the only goal of the period, scored at 3:22 by defenseman Joe Rullier. Left wing Dustin Brown also earned an assist on the play. The Los Angeles Kings first-round selection (13th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft took Cammalleri's drop pass at the right point, skated into the slot, and fired a wrist shot that tipped off Pelletier's glove. The loose puck next bounced out to the left circle for Rullier, who slammed it home.
The Monarchs added to their lead in the second period with goals from Brown and left wing Noah Clarke. Brown jammed Cammalleri's corner feed into the net at 14:25, and Clarke jabbed a loose puck over the outstretched glove of Pelletier with the Monarchs short-handed at 18:07. Right wing Brad Smyth recorded an assist on Brown first goal of the season. Right wing Tom Kostopoulos and defenseman Mike Weaver shared assists on Clarke's first goal of the season.
The Grizzlies took advantage of Monarchs penalty problems and scored their first goal in the final minute of the period. Left wing Martin Sonnenberg slid his shot past goalie Mathieu Garon (39 shots, 36 saves) with the Grizzlies holding a 5-on-3 man-advantage. Right wing Fredrik Sjostrom and defenseman Matthew Spiller assisted on Sonnenberg's first goal of the season, scored at 19:30.
The Grizzlies, who opened the third period on the power play, enjoyed sustained pressure in the Monarchs zone but failed to slip anything by Garon early. Instead, the Monarchs added to their lead at 7:18 when right wing Greg Hogeboom 's centering pass from the end boards clipped Pelletier's left skate and caromed into the Grizzlies net. Left wing Petr Kanko and Weaver assisted on Hogeboom's first goal of the season.
Two penalty calls against the Monarchs put the Grizzlies back on a 5-on-3 power play advantage later in the period. Weaver was assessed a major penalty for high-sticking at 8:31, and defenseman Tim Gleason joined him in the penalty box with a high-sticking minor penalty at 9:49.
The Grizzlies scored their second power play goal less than a minute later to cut the Monarchs lead to 4-2. Former King Jon Sim beat Garon from the right circle with center Jeff Taffe and defenseman Keith Ballard assisting.
The Grizzlies collected the next goal as well, with center Erik Westrum finishing a 3-on-1 break into the Monarchs zone with his first goal of the season. Right wing Randall Gelech assisted on the short-handed goal, scored at 14:38.
The Grizzlies applied even more pressure after Westrum's goal, and the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes nearly tied the game with 2:35 remaining. But defenseman Troy Milam blocked Taffe's wrist shot from the left side of the crease.
With 1:12 remaining in the contest and a faceoff in the Monarchs zone, the Grizzlies pulled Pelletier for an extra attacker. But instead of netting the equalizer, the Grizzlies surrendered an empty net goal to Cammalleri at 18:58. Kostopoulos and defenseman Denis Grebeshkov assisted as Cammalleri ran his goal-scoring streak to three games.
The Monarchs, the primary affiliate of the Kings, will rematch with the Grizzlies at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 23 at 10:35 p.m. EST. Catch all of the play-by-play action with Ken Cail on the Monarchs Radio Network (WGIR-AM 610, Manchester; WGIN-AM 930, Rochester; WGIP-AM 1540, Exeter; WTSL-AM 1400, Lebanon) and at www.monarchshockey.com.
Following their trip to the West Coast, the Monarchs will meet the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Friday, October 29 at 7:35 p.m.
Ticket Availability: Single seats in the Gold level and 2,000 seats in the Silver level remain for the Bridgeport game.
Fans in need of Monarchs tickets may purchase them in person at the Verizon Wireless Arena box office, at any TicketMaster location, by phone at (603) 868-7300 or on-line at www.ticketmaster.com. The box office opens at 10:00 a.m.
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American Hockey League Stories from October 20, 2004
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