AHL Manchester Monarchs

Wolf Pack Rally to Beat Monarchs

January 31, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


Manchester, NH - A major penalty to goaltender Travis Scott for high sticking changed the complexion of the first period as the Hartford Wolf Pack rallied from a two-goal deficit to post a 4-2 win at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Friday night. The loss extended the Monarchs winless streak to three games.

Scott jabbed Hartford's Jay Henderson with the butt end of his stick 16:24 into the period. Referee Scott Hoberg assessed the major, allowing the Wolf Pack to close the period with a pair of power play goals. Nils Eckman, who would net his second goal of the game early in the second period, started the comeback with his 15th goal at 17:52. Dixon Ward tied the game with just seconds remaining in the period, scoring his 17th goal at 19:50.

The Hartford rally spoiled a promising start for the Monarchs, who scored twice in the first 13 minutes to take a 2-0 lead. Nashua's Jeff Giuliano, recalled by the Monarchs earlier in the day, collected his second goal at 2:38. Fellow rookie Dan Welch assisted on the play, as did Jerred Smithson. Eric Healey's team-leading 10th power play goal, recorded at 12:09, provided the Monarchs with a two-goal cushion. The goal was Healey's 18th overall, tying him with Pavel Rosa for the team lead.

Hartford's run of unanswered goals grew to three when Ekman scored short-handed at 3:25 of the second period to give the visitors their first lead. Ekman finished an odd-man rush with Roman Lyashenko, who waited until the last moment before softly sliding a pass across the crease to the hard-charging Swede. Ekman capped his night by netting a hat trick goal with one minute remaining in the third period. The goal stung an already frustrated Monarchs squad, which failed to convert on five third period power play chances, including a 5-on-3 power play that lasted 1:56.

The Los Angeles Kings on Friday assigned forwards Jared Aulin and Scott Barney, defenseman Joe Corvo, and goaltender Cristobal Huet to the Monarchs. Aulin and Barney appeared in Friday's game. Huet is expected to start for the Monarchs when they return to action on tomorrow afternoon against the Portland Pirates. Corvo, Aulin and Tomas Zizka will represent the Monarchs at the 2003 Dodge AHL-Star Classic that begins on Sunday in Portland, ME, with the Pepsi AHL All-Star Skills Competion. The 2003 AHL All-Star game is slated for 7:00 at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland on Monday, February 3.

The Monarchs and the University of New Hampshire will host the "Maine Event" on Saturday, February 1 at the Verizon Wireless Arena. On that date, the Monarchs are scheduled to entertain the Portland Pirates at 1:05 p.m., and the Wildcats are scheduled to host the University of Maine Black Bears at 7:00 p.m. Sellouts are expected for both games. For ticket information to future Monarchs games, call (603) 626-7825.



American Hockey League Stories from January 31, 2003


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