Sound Tigers Short-Handed Goal Sinks Monarchs
Published on January 30, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, NH â Right wing Rob Collins' short-handed breakaway goal with 13 minutes remaining in the third period was the turning point as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers beat the Manchester Monarchs, 5-2, on Friday night at the sold out (9,916) Verizon Wireless Arena.
Collins anticipated defenseman Bryan Muir's power play pass across the zone and stole the puck near the Sound Tigers' blue line. He next raced into the Monarchs zone before slipping his shot over the glove of goaltender Mathieu Chouinard. The goal was the first of two for Collins, who now has eight on the season.
The loss was the second straight for the Monarchs (23-19-2-3, 51 points), who fell into a third place tie in the Atlantic Division with the Worcester IceCats, eight points behind the first place Hartford Wolf Pack and two points behind the second place Providence Bruins. The IceCats host the Monarchs on Saturday night. The win extended the Sound Tigers (26-11-6-3, 61 points) unbeaten streak to three games. It also pushed them past the Philadelphia Phantoms into first place in the AHL's East Division.
The Sound Tigers connected for three goals in the final period. Center Kevin Colley pushed the lead to 4-2 when he dug the puck out of the left corner and tucked it inside the right post at 10:59. Right wing Brent Gauvreau assisted on Colley's ninth goal this season. Collins closed the scoring with an empty net goal, scored at 18:56 with assistance from center Blaine Down and defenseman Alain Nasreddine.
Goaltender Dieter Kochan closed strong and finished with 33 saves and his 13th win. Chouinard finished with 20 saves and his first loss on home ice this season. He entered Friday's action with a 5-0-0 record at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
Center Michael Cammalleri's third goal in four games put the Monarchs up 1-0 after one period of play. The second-year pro worked his way into the slot and fired over the blocker of Kochan at 1:38. Defensemen Maxim Kuznetsov and Joe Rullier assisted on Cammalleri's eighth goal this season.
The rest of the first belonged to Chouinard, who entered Friday's action with a personal scoreless streak spanning three games. The fourth-year pro collected 10 saves in the period, with his best coming on a windmill save after Collins hammered the puck at him from the left circle with nine minutes remaining. The shot occurred late on a Sound Tigers' power play, one of four in the period.
The Monarchs opened a 2-0 lead when right wing Sam Ftorek stole an outlet pass early in the middle period. Ftorek extended his season high scoring streak to three games by lifting his shot over Kochan's stick two minutes into the period. Cammalleri collected the only assist on Ftorek's third goal this season.
Center Ryan Kraft's slicing backhander through the slot finished an odd-man rush and Chouinard's lengthy scoreless streak at the 3:40 mark of the period. Forward Justin Mapletoft and Collins each assisted on Kraft's sixth goal this season as the Sound Tigers cut the lead to 2-1. The goal was the first allowed by Chouinard in 173 minutes and 24 seconds, the longest scoreless streak of the season for a Monarchs' goaltender.
Former Monarchs' left wing Derek Bekar nearly tied the game at the 10-minute mark, but Chouinard kicked away his attempted finish on Kraft's center through the slot. Bekar, however, gained a measure of revenge at 13:01 by jamming home defenseman Tomi Pettinen's setup. The goal was the second goal in as many games for Bekar against his former mates this season. Defenseman Alan Letang also assisted on Bekar's 18th goal overall.
The Monarchs return to action at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, January 31 when they visit the Worcester Centrum Centre to meet the Worcester IceCats. The Monarchs next home game is set for 7:35 p.m. on Saturday, February 7 against the same IceCats.
Monarchs Ticket Availability as of Jan. 30
Sat., Feb. 7 vs. Worcester: 630 seats remain.
American Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2004
- Unbeaten streak snapped with 1-0 shutout - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Falcons edged by Worcester, 2-1 - Springfield Falcons
- Record-setting trio lead Aeros past Moose, 5-2 - Houston Aeros
- Willis, Lawson lead the way in Bears' win over Penguins - Hershey Bears
- Two games dropped from Griffins' TV schedule - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Rampage's Shvidki Replaces Beaudoin in AHL All-Star Game in February - San Antonio Rampage
- P-Bruins fall to Norfolk - Providence Bruins
- Sound Tigers Roar Back To Beat Manchester 5-2 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Sound Tigers Short-Handed Goal Sinks Monarchs - Manchester Monarchs
- Phantoms rally for 3-3 tie with Hartford - Adirondack Phantoms
- Four more added to AHL All-Star Classic rosters - AHL
- Cincinnati Mighty Ducks announce roster moves - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- IceCats add Two Defensemen - Worcester IceCats
- Lunch with the Leafs Tickets On Sale - Toronto Marlies
- Columbus Reassigns Brad Moran to Syracuse - Syracuse Crunch
- Do Griffins fans make the grade? - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Penguins sign defenseman Blais and and goaltender Boucher - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Second Annual Bradley's Jewelers Valentine's Day Giveaway Set For February 14 - Syracuse Crunch
- Monarchs Recall Hayward - Manchester Monarchs
- Portland Junior Pirates Announce Expansion Plans - Portland Pirates
- Free Shuttle and Boost from the Moose - Manitoba Moose
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
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