Monsters win streak ends in Hartford with 4-2 loss
January 28, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release
Hartford, Conn. - Defenseman Joe Rullier scored twice en route to a 4-2 victory for the Hartford Wolf Pack (25-15-2-5) over the Lowell Lock Monsters (19-22-4-4) at the Hartford Civic Center on Saturday night. The Monsters winning streak ended at three games, and their unbeated streak ended at four (3-0-1).
The second of this home-and-home stand started out better for Hartford, who suffered an 8-2 loss to Lowell on Friday night. Lock Monsters G Vitaly Kolesnik was busy early. After making point-blank saves on Craig Weller and Nigel Dawes in the opening minutes, he faced eight of the first nine shots. One of those was a blast from the right point by former Monster Joe Rullier that beat the Olympian stick side to give the Wolf Pack a 1-0 lead. Lowell escaped the period facing the one-goal deficit and was outshot 11-6.
Just 1:30 into the second frame the Wolf Pack extended the lead. Rullier notched his second goal of the game with a shot from the left circle. Moments later, however, Hartford took a penalty and the Monsters got on the board. Paul Healey set up Steve Saviano in the right circle, who snapped home his third of the season. Saviano lit the lamp a second time at 6:22 to level the score for Lowell, when his wrister from the left boards snuck past G Al Montoya. It wouldn't last, however, as 28 seconds later a backhander from Chad Wiseman found its way through traffic and beat Kolesnik to make it 3-2 Wolf Pack.
Nigel Dawes picked up his team leading 22nd tally of the season at 11:12 of the third period on a breakaway to give the Wolf Pack a two-goal cushion. Lowell had their chances in the third, but missed the net on several opportunities. And when they did get shots on goal, Montoya was there to hold the lead. The Monsters pulled Kolesnik with just over a minute remaining to attempt to hold on to their unbeaten streak, but couldn't get a second comeback going.
Monster Memos: The Lock Monsters added RW John Morlang prior to tonight's game. Morlang played two games for Lowell earlier in the season, while also suiting up for Milwaukee and Hershey briefly. He had 18 points (8g-10a) in 24 games with Reading in the ECHL... tonight's game was broadcasted live on Fox Sports New England...
The Lock Monsters travel to Albany to play the River Rats on Wednesday night and 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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