Monsters Get Points in Three of Four Games on the Week

Published on January 23, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


Rewind:
Wednesday, Lowell 5 vs. Portland 4, SO
Craig Kowalski stopped 47 shots in regulation and overtime en route to his first career AHL win, 5-4 over the Portland Pirates in the shootout. Cody McLeod scored twice for the Monsters, and Mike Zigomanis notched two assists and a shootout tally as well. Lowell went 4-for-4 in the shootout to earn the extra point. The Lock Monsters improved to 3-3-0-1 against the first place Pirates.

Friday, Bridgeport 2 vs. Lowell 1
The Sound Tigers held a 2-0 lead before Nicolas Corbeil pulled Lowell within a goal in the third period. But Bridgeport held off a late Lock Monsters push to take the win and improve to 6-0 against Lowell on the season. Tempers flared late, with the Lock Monsters earning a season-high 90 penalty minutes in the game. Vitaly Kolesnik stopped 44 of 46 shots he faced in suffering the defeat.

Saturday, Springfield 3 vs. Lowell 2, OT
Lowell twice fought back from one-goal deficits to tie the game and held on into overtime, where Marek Kvapil spoiled their night with the game winner for the Falcons. Mike Zigomanis and Krys Kolanos both scored for the Monsters in the loss.

Sunday, Lowell 3 @ Hartford 2
Newly assigned Niklas Nordgren notched a goal and an assist, as did Mike Zigomanis, en route to a 3-2 win over Hartford. Vitaly Kolesnik stopped 42 shots for the win, and played a key role in Lowell killing off 10 of 11 Wolf Pack power plays. Nordgren's game winner late in the third was shorthanded. The Monsters improved to 3-1 against Hartford, and has collected at least one point in the standings in six of their last seven games.

Monsters Memos
- The Lock Monsters lost both of their RBK Hockey 2006 AHL All-Star Classic participants this weekend. On Friday, the Carolina Hurricanes traded D Danny Richmond to the Chicago Blackhawks and on Sunday, the Hurricanes recalled C Keith Aucoin.
- Aucoin's recall is his first to the National Hockey League and he is expected to make his debut tonight against the Montreal Canadiens. He joins ten other Lock Monsters this season to be recalled to the NHL.
- Reassigned to Lowell yesterday was RW Niklas Nordgren, who potted the game winning goal and added an assist in a 3-2 win at Hartford.
- Craig Kowalski earned his first AHL victory on Wednesday, stopping 47 of 51 shots in regulation and overtime, and two of four in the shootout.
- C Mike Zigomanis has 4g-7a-11pts in 10 games since joining the team from Carolina. Since the Canes acquired C Krystofer Kolanos and assigned him to Lowell, he has 4g-7a-11pts in 10 games as well.
- Rookie F Nicolas Corbeil scored a goal for the fourth time in seven games on Sunday since signing a PTO on January 20th.

Leaders (active roster)
Goals - Gove (10)
Assists - Finger (11)
Points - Gove (20)
PIM - Love (68)
Plus/Minus - Viitanen (+2)

Coming Up:
The Monsters travel to Albany to take on the River Rats on Wednesday, January 25th at 7:00 p.m. They return home to host the Hartford Wolf Pack in the first of a home-and-home on Friday night, January 27th. Game time is 7:35 p.m. That night is Boy Scout Night with the Lock Monsters, and the U.S. Army will also be in attendance collecting donations for care packages to send to soldiers. The last U.S. Army night held by the Monsters earlier this season collected enough donations for 600 care packages. The Army will also hold a swearing-in ceremony on the ice during the first intermission.

On Saturday, the Monsters travel to Hartford for a 7:00 p.m. game. They return to home ice on Sunday for a 4:05 p.m. match and MASSBANK Scarf Giveaway for the first 1,500 kids 12 and under. That game is also Louie the Lock Monster's Birthday, with fun events planned, including a mascot broomball game during one of the intermissions. In addition, there's a free public skate for everyone in attendance after the game, and it's a Louie's Little Monsters Kid's Club Game. The Molly Bish Foundation will be putting together free child ID kits as well, and all Sunday home games feature the Family Four Packs - buy 4 tickets, 4 scrumptious hot dogs and 4 refreshing Pepsis for just $49.

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.

CCM/Vector AHL Player of the Week Nomination
C Mike Zigomanis
Zigomanis sat out Friday's game injured, but returned to the lineup on Saturday and Sunday and had a hand in three of the team's five tallies on the weekend. Overall, he put together two multi-point efforts and had at least one point in each of his three games played.

Day Date Opponent G A Pts PIM +/-
Wed 1/18 POR 0 2 2 4 -1
Fri 1/20 BRI did not play - injured
Sat 1/21 @ SPR 1 0 1 0 E
Sun 1/22 @ HAR 1 1 2 5 +1
Totals 3 games 2 3 5 9 E

Last Week:
Wed 1/18 LOCK MONSTERS 5 vs. Portland Pirates 4, SO
Fri 1/20 Bridgeport Sound Tigers 2 vs. LOCK MONSTERS 1
Sat 1/21 SPRINGFIELD FALCONS 3 vs. Lock Monsters 2, OT
Sun 1/22 Lock Monsters 3 vs. HARTFORD WOLF PACK 2

This Week:
Wed 1/25 Lock Monsters @ Albany River Rats, 7:00 p.m.
Fri 1/27 Hartford Wolf Pack @ Lock Monsters, 7:35 p.m.
Sat 1/28 Lock Monsters @ Hartford Wolf Pack, 7:00 p.m.
Sun 1/29 Toronto Marlies @ Lock Monsters, 4:05 p.m.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 23, 2006


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