Power Play Goal Sends Monarchs To Second Straight OT Loss
February 29, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, NH â For the second consecutive night, a former Monarch came back to haunt his old team with an overtime game-winner. Defenseman Rich Brennan's power play slap shot in overtime gave the Providence Bruins a 3-2 victory over the Manchester Monarchs on Sunday night at the sold out (9,916) Verizon Wireless Arena.
Sunday's disappointing conclusion followed the Monarchs' 3-2 overtime loss to the Utah Grizzlies one night earlier. Former Monarch right wing Rob Valicevic had the winner in that game. Brennan and Valicevic were teammates with the Monarchs during the 2001-02 season.
Despite the overtime loss, the Monarchs (28-21-6-5, 67 points) remained in second place in the American Hockey League's Atlantic Division, 11 points behind the division-leading Hartford Wolf Pack (33-16-10-2, 78 points).
Hartford snapped a two-game winless streak with Sunday night's 5-2 victory over the Springfield Falcons.
Thanks to their third straight overtime win, the Bruins (26-20-10-3, 65 points) moved to within two points of the Monarchs for second place in the division. The Bruins are 3-0-0-1 in their last four games, all of which have been decided in overtime.
With one more game left in their 10-game season series, the Monarchs hold a slight 5-3-0-1 edge over the Bruins.
Brennan netted his winner shortly after Monarchs' defenseman Maxim Kuznetsov was assessed a five-minute major for charging into center Matt Herr. Kuznetsov was also assessed a game misconduct on the controversial play.
Forwards Andre Savage and Ivan Huml shared assists on Brennan's sixth goal, scored with 3:19 remaining in the overtime session. Savage finished with two points on the night.
The loss was just the second this season for the Monarchs in games in which they took a lead into the final period (12-0-0-2). The Monarchs also lost, 4-3, in overtime to the Springfield Falcons after taking a lead into the second intermission on November 15.
The Monarchs led 2-1 through two periods thanks to Kuznetsov's first of the season and right wing Pavel Rosa's 23rd of the year. Kuznetsov tied the game with his blue line blast at 11:51. Left wing Chris Schmidt and center Jerred Smithson assisted. Rosa next gave the Monarchs their only lead five minutes later with his wicked backhander through the slot. Right wing Leon Hayward assisted as Rosa (23-38=61) notched his team-leading 61st point this season.
Both Monarchs' goals followed a power play tap-in from Savage at 13:19 of the opening period. Defenseman Kevin Dallman and right wing Pat Leahy assisted on his team-leading 16th goal. The power play goal was the first allowed by the Monarchs in seven games.
The Bruins tied the game with 17:43 remaining in regulation after goaltender Adam Hauser (13-13-6) had trouble with center Brendan Walsh's slap shot from the left circle. Herr had the only assist on Walsh's ninth this season.
The win went to goaltender Tim Thomas (13-10-5). He finished with 26 stops.
Hauser, who has appeared in every Monarchs-Bruins game this season, finished with 26 saves.
The Monarchs return to action on Friday, March 5 when they travel to the Tsongas Arena for a 7 p.m. contest with the Lowell Lock Monsters. The Monarchs next home game is set for Wednesday, March 10 against the Springfield Falcons (7:05 p.m.).
Monarchs Ticket Availability as of Sunday, February 29, 2004
Wed. March 10 vs. Springfield: 2,500 seats remain.
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American Hockey League Stories from February 29, 2004
- 'Cats lose a point, gain a point - Worcester IceCats
- Falcons streak ends with 5-2 loss at Hartford - Springfield Falcons
- Foy to have aeros.com Q&A session - Houston Aeros
- Power Play Goal Sends Monarchs To Second Straight OT Loss - Manchester Monarchs
- Bears win second straight at home, downing Binghamton, 4-2 - Hershey Bears
- Ducks fall to Barons, 4-1 - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Good fortune at home ends with 5-3 loss to Philly - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Cardiac Bruins win in O.T. again - Providence Bruins
- Phantoms win 5-3 in Grand Rapids - Adirondack Phantoms
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- Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Preview - Cincinnati RailRaiders
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