Monsters chase away the Rats, 3-2
January 25, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release
Albany, N.Y. - Mike Zigomanis scored twice, including the game winner with just over a minute remaining in the third period, to lift the Lowell Lock Monsters (18-21-4-4) to a 3-2 victory over the Albany River Rats (14-27-1-2) at the Pepsi Arena on Wednesday night.
The two clubs skated to a scoreless tie in the first period. G Craig Kowalski got the nod for Lowell, faced with the task of trying to carry the Monsters to back-to-back wins for the first time since October. Former University of Maine netminder Frank Doyle was between the pipes for the River Rats, who enjoyed a two-man advantage less than four minutes into the game but could not score.
Lowell took the 1-0 lead with a power play tally just 5:09 into the middle frame. Lock Monsters Captain Paul Healey shoveled in a rebound opportunity for his seventh of the season. Later, Zigomanis extended the lead with just over a minute remaining in the second period, beating Doyle with a wrister for his fifth of the season. The Lock Monsters all-time scoring leader now has recorded a goal in three straight games. Lowell had a 19-10 shot lead in the second stanza.
The Monsters had a chance to ice the game early in the third period, but couldn't convert on a five-minute major power play. Instead, they took four straight minor penalties of their own to put Albany on the attack. The River Rats pounced on the chance to get back in the game and lit the lamp on a two-man advantage to cut the lead to one. Later, with just 2:27 left in regulation Albany tied the game at two on an Aleksander Suglobov tally. But the Monsters were undaunted and came right back. Zigomanis took advantage of a turnover by the Albany defense, and buried his second of the night with just 1:44 remaining to regain the lead. Albany outshot Lowell in the third 17-9, but last-second efforts by Albany to tie the game fell unrewarded.
Monster Memos: Lowell has won back-to-back games for the first time since October 28-29... The Lock Monsters have collected at least a point in seven of their last eight contests (4-1-3-0)... The Monsters improved to 12-1-1-2 when scoring the first goal of the game.
The Lock Monsters return home to host the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday, January 27th. That night is Boy Scouts Night with the Lock Monsters, and the U.S. Army will be in the house collecting donations for care packages. They will also conduct a swearing in ceremony on the ice between periods. Game time is 7:35 p.m. All games home and away can be heard live on 980 WCAP, and viewed through B2 Networks, the official broadband provider of the AHL, with the "Voice of the Lock Monsters" Ryan Johnston. Log on to www.lockmonsters.com to watch or listen online.
Individual tickets start at $10 and are on sale now at the Tsongas Arena box office, which is open from 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:00 - 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Flex Packs and group outings are on sale now; contact the Lock Monsters ticket office at (978) 458-PUCK (7825) for more information.
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