Monsters Power Up for 5-3 Triumph

Published on January 13, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


Manchester, N.H. - The Lowell Lock Monsters (15-20-1-4) scored three times with the man advantage and David Gove notched three assists en route to a 5-3 victory over the Manchester Monarchs (22-10-1-4) at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Friday night.

G Jason LaBarbera, who was assigned to Manchester this week from Los Angeles on a conditioning assignment, was strong early, dealing with traffic in front of his net and denying a pair of good scoring chances on a two-man advantage in the opening minutes for Lowell. Later in the frame, while Lowell was on another man advantage, Richard Seeley broke up a play at the Manchester blue line and fed a breaking Connor James in on a breakaway, and he buried it for his 11th of the season 5:40 remaining. The Monsters finished the frame with the lead in shots, 14-10.

Lowell's power play redeemed itself in the second stanza with three tallies. At 6:42 of the period, Krys Kolanos picked up a loose puck along the end boards and swung around the front of the cage to tuck home his third of the season and level the score. Just moments later the Monsters went on another power play and pushed in front on the advantage. Paul Healey slipped a backhander along the ice just inside the right post at 8:32 off a feed from Mike Zigomanis to make it 2-1. Late in the period the puck found Cody McLeod between the circles and the rookie buried a backhander under a lunging LaBarbera to make it 3-1 after 40 minutes.

Momentum swung back in forth in the third as Manchester fought to tie the game. They pulled within a goal just 4:04 into the period when Mark Ardelan's power play blast from the right wall snuck through Kolesnik to make it 3-2. Just moments later the Monsters answered. A shot from the left point by Danny Richmond off an offensive zone face off trickled through LaBarbera and in, 16 seconds after the Monarchs tally. Brad Smyth again pulled Manchester within a goal with Brad Smyth's goal at 8:15, but again Lowell responded. Johnny Boychuk potted his third of the season on a blistering slapper from the right point during four-on-four action with less than seven minutes left for the final tally of the game.

Monster Memos: The win, coupled with Springfield's 9-4 loss to Binghamton, lifted Lowell into fifth place in the Atlantic Division... LW Cody McLeod picked up his first career AHL point with an assist on the Monsters first of the game... Monarchs RW Lauri Tukonen returned to the Manchester lineup last weekend after picking up a bronze medal for his native Finland at the World Junior Championships... Lowell's power play has recorded eight goals in the last four games.

The Monsters return home to face the Providence Bruins on Saturday, January 14th. The first 2,500 fans will get a Lock Monsters winter cap, courtesy of TD Banknorth. It's also Locks of Love night, and Fantastic Sam's will be on hand trimming hair and collecting donations for Locks of Love - a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

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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American Hockey League Stories from January 13, 2006


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