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Regular Season NOVEMBER 2004

(Jen and her mom, Katie, always "manned" the Monarchs Booster Club table out in back of section 119.)
(obituary from the Union Leader)

11/28/04  MONARCHS kept a rolling right through Lowell  5 - 4
Cammalleri missed his chance for a goal on a penalty shot in the 1st period but....
Monarchs goals scored: 1st period... Weaver;  2nd period... Gleason; 3rd period...  Gleason; Ryan; Kostopoulos
Garon in goal
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11/29/04   Monarchs' win streak hits 11
Special to The Union Leader

LOWELL, Mass. — Right wing Tom Kostopoulos scored the game-winning goal with 1:48 remaining in regulation as the Manchester Monarchs escaped with a 5-4 win over the Lowell Lock Monsters at the Tsongas Arena last night.

With the win, their 11th straight, the Monarchs improved to 18-1-0-0 (36 points) on the season and stayed 10 points ahead of the second-place Hartford Wolf Pack (12-5-1-1, 26 points) in the American Hockey League's Atlantic Division. The Wolf Pack shut out the Providence Bruins, 6-0, at the Hartford Civic Center last night. The loss was the second in a row for the Lock Monsters, who dropped to 8-7-1-1 (18 points).

Kostopoulos registered his league-leading fifth game-winner of the season seconds after a Monarchs face-off win in the offensive zone. Left wing Chris Schmidt and right wing Brad Smyth each earned assists on the 10th overall goal of the season for Kostopoulos.

The game-winner came just 17 seconds after Lowell had tied the contest with the second goal of the game for right wing Chuck Kobasew. Kobasew slammed a rebound off the end boards past goaltender Mathieu Garon (35 shots, 31 saves) at 17:55. Defenseman Danny Richmond and center Eric Staal each had assists on Kobasew's team-leading 13th goal.

For the 18th time in 19 games this season, the Monarchs scored the first goal. This time the first tally of the night went to defenseman Mike Weaver, whose shot changed direction through traffic before finding the back of the net at 2:49.

The Lock Monsters tied the game on the power play at 14:26 when a left circle shot from center Mike Zigomanis clipped the shoulder of Garon and bounced into the Monarchs net. Staal and forward Jim Henkel shared assists on the fifth goal of the season for Zigomanis.

The Lock Monsters took the lead just 22 seconds later thanks to Kobasew, who fired a hard wrist shot into the top right corner of the Manchester net for his 12th goal of the season. Defenseman Ritchie Regehr assisted on Kobasew's first shorthanded goal of the season.

The Monarchs took advantage of another deflected puck to score their second goal, and just like in the first stanza, a Monarchs defenseman was credited with his first goal of the season on the play. This time the goal went to Tim Gleason, whose left point slap shot bounced off a Lowell player in the left circle and then slipped through the five-hole of Lowell goalie Brent Krahn at 10:07. Left wing Petr Kanko and center Matt Ryan collected assists on Gleason's first professional goal.

The Monarchs capitalized on their fifth power play of the night to take a 3-2 third period lead. Gleason, who had no goals in his first 83 games as a professional (47 with the Los Angeles Kings and 36 with the Monarchs) slammed home a corner feed from center Yanick Lehoux for his second goal of the night. Kostopoulos also notched an assist on the goal, scored at 7:19.

The Lock Monsters tied the game again with their own power play tally, credited to right wing Chad Larose less than three minutes later. Larose registered his fourth goal of the season by redirecting a point shot from defenseman Mike Commodore at 10:11. Zigomanis notched his second point of the night with an assist on the play.

Ryan, who entered yesterday's contest with two consecutive game-winning goals, nearly had his third straight game winner as he gave the Monarchs a 4-3 lead with his fifth goal of the season at 16:33. But Kobasew scored his second goal of the night just over a minute later to set-up the Kostopoulos game winner.

Garon (12-1-0) took the win, his 12th in 13 appearances this season. Krahn (5-3-0) took the loss, his first in five games.

 

11/28/04 Sunday Union Leader ...
Kevin Provencher

11/27/04   The MONARCHS EXPRESS keeps rolling through Springfield and wins in OT 4 - 3 !
Monarchs goals scored: 1st period... Clarke;  2nd period... 3rd period... Cammalleri; Brown;  OT period... Ryan
HAUSER takes another win !
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11/28/04   Ryan does it again for Monarchs
Special to The Union Leader

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Rookie center Matt Ryan scored his second-consecutive game winner as the Manchester Monarchs edged the Springfield Falcons, 4-3, in overtime in front of a crowd of 3,147 at the Springfield Civic Center on Saturday night.

The Monarchs, now 17-1-0-0 with 34 points on the season, moved 10 points ahead of the second place Hartford Wolf Pack (11-5-1-1, 24 points) in the American Hockey League’s Atlantic Division. The Wolf Pack topped the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 4-2, on Saturday night.

The Monarchs return to action when they meet the Lowell Lock Monsters at Tsongas Arena at 4 p.m. today.

Left wing Jeff Giuliano dropped the puck off in the slot and Ryan fired it home just 2:28 into overtime as he tallied his fourth goal of the season. Ryan also scored the game-winning goal in Friday night’s, 6-0, victory over the Portland Pirates at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

Left wing Noah Clarke put the Monarchs on the board by tipping in center Yanick Lehoux’s shot from the left face-off circle at 12:56 of the first period. Right wing Tom Kostopoulos assisted on the goal and extended his scoring streak (2-4—6) to four games.

The second period belonged to the Falcons as they scored two unanswered goals from center Ryan Craig. Defenseman Harlan Pratt also recorded his first goal of the season for the Falcons.

Center Michael Cammalleri, who extended his league-best scoring streak to 14-games, and left wing Dustin Brown found the back of the net in the third period to send the game to overtime. Cammalleri’s goal also extended his goal-scoring streak to seven games (10-goals in seven games).

Monarchs goaltender Adam Hauser, playing in his first back-to-back games of the season, earned his sixth win by stopping 35 shots.

Goaltender Jamie Storr (31 shots, 27 saves) took his 10th loss of the season for the Falcons.

11/26/04   The MONARCHS EXPRESS rolls over Portland 6 - 0 !
Monarchs goals scored: 1st period... Ryan; Brown; Kostopoulos; 2nd period...Cammalleri; Kanko; Clarke; 3rd period...
HAUSER gets  another shutout win !
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11/27/04  Unstoppable Monarchs win ninth straight
By KEVIN PROVENCHER
Staff Sports Writer Union Leader

MANCHESTER — It would take a pirate's ransom to depose these AHL-leading Monarchs. And the punchless Portland Pirates didn't have it as Manchester marched comfortably to a 6-0 victory last night in the sold-out Verizon Wireless Arena.

With six different scorers skewering the Pirates, the Monarchs (16-1-0-0) earned a franchise-record ninth straight victory. Washington Capitals affiliate Portland (8-7-1-2) has been embarrassed in four straight, giving up 27 goals in that losing nightmare. The Monarchs haven't allowed 27 goals in 17 games.

So coming in it was a tale of two teams skating in opposite directions.

Portland, which had given up three goals in the first period in each of those last four forgettable games, just leaves the bus running now.

And true to form it was over after a 3-0 first period on goals from rookie Matt Ryan, Dustin Brown and Tom Kostopoulos.

Ryan one-time backhanded Mike Weaver's center at 13:41. Brown fought through the middle and bounced a shot off defenseman Jakub Cutta's skate. Kostopoulos ripped Yanick Lehoux's no-look, dipsy-doodle backpass 2:19 before the period's end. The Pirates had just mounted one of their few sustained attacks. "Argh!"

Three more goals were pumped in during a 6:10 salvo in the second period. This time, Mike Cammalleri snapped away his team-leading 16th goal thanks to Brad Smyth's between-the-legs tip center through the crease. Petr Kanko scored his first pro goal and Noah Clarke roofed his fifth.

So you're down 6-nothing and Portland captain Graham Mink cheap shots (intent to injure) the Monarchs' Brown giving the Flying Purple Pirate Defeaters a seven-minute power play over the remaining 10:30 of garbage time. That sealed the best moment of the third period: a rousing "Chicken Dance" by 9,916 before a faceoff.

Adam "Brick" Hauser (5-0) made 28 saves in his third shutout of the season. Hauser's best was a belly-down gloving of Brian Sutherby's potshot off a pad rebound when it was still a game late in the first period. One-time AHL all-star Max Ouellet (6-7-1) stopped 26 shots as a Portland starting goalie finished the game for the first time in five games.

The Monarchs are at Lowell tomorrow at 4:05 p.m.

Notes: Scott Barney is in great spirits after successful surgery for an internal abdomen tear. Barney said doctors believe the tear was there for a long time and got progressively worse. He hopes to be back in about 10 weeks. . . . Mike Cammalleri has a league-leading 13-game scoring streak and leads the league with eight power play goals. . . . Yanick Lehoux and Brad Smyth are on seven-game point streaks. . . . With the healthy return of D-man Tim Gleason, Adam Borzecki was the healthy Monarchs scratch on the blue line and captain Chris Schmidt continues at defense. . . . Mathieu Garon had his second game off over the last 11 games. On the current pace Garon would play 64 of the 80 games. Once the NHL scrubs its season that ratio will probably lighten for "Le Garon-tee." . . . Not a single Portland Pirate is on the plus-side of the plus-minus ratio. . . . Former King Jared Aulin, who returned from injury Wednesday, skated in warm-ups but was scratched by the Pirates. . . . Figures that just when "Alexander" hits box offices, the Monarchs' Greek warrior George Parros cuts his flowing mane. Parros donated his hair to Locks For Love, benefiting kids with cancer.

11/26/04   Time for Monarchs' stop troops to take a bow
By KEVIN PROVENCHER
Staff Sports Writer Union Leader

Behind the Manchester Monarchs' headlines is a defense in fine print letting its actions speak much louder than words.

The Monarchs, 15-1-0-0 and on an eight-game win streak, host the Portland Pirates tonight at 7:35 and travel to the Lowell Lock Monsters on Sunday at 4 p.m. Manchester is the most powerful offensive team in the American Hockey League. At the same time, the Monarchs feature the league's best goaltender in Mathieu Garon.

While defensemen have contributed only five percent (4-of-74) of the team's goals, their quiet willingness to toil out of the spotlight has fit perfectly into the Monarchs' march to the top of the AHL.

Testimony not only to goaltending but to overall defense is the fact the Monarchs are atop the AHL in goals allowed — 1.67 goals per game average.

Due to injuries, the Monarchs have been skating with the minimum six defensemen. Defenseman Joe Rullier, the Monarchs' all-time games played leader at 213, is leading the AHL with a plus-18 rating. And again, Rullier is living up to his ironman label.

The rugged Rullier, who coach Bruce Boudreau tabs as "the warrior," is clearly banged up. Rullier could probably use a day off to help heal a pair of broken toes.

Other injured defensemen are second-year pro Tim Gleason and sixth-year pro Doug Nolan.

It is an unsung group considering Rullier, Nolan, Troy Milam, Denis Grebeshkov and journeyman Adam Borzecki have not played a game in the NHL. Milam earned his spot with the Monarchs in camp after playing most of last season with Reading of the ECHL.

Adding depth to this group of scrappers is captain Chris Schmidt, who has moved from wing to defense helping stabilize things, given the injuries.

And 5-foot-9 Mike Weaver plays so much bigger than his size he's got opponents wishing they had signed the feisty blueliner. Gleason, who carries the biggest credentials with 47 Kings' games last year, returns from injury tonight.

In name and statistics this isn't an all-star defense, but they love to prove everyone wrong.

No magic, adds Boudreau.

"We just do what we do. We don't have a team that's going to get you 50 shots on goal. We come at you and boom, boom boom. Just the way it is," he said.

"This is a game where you're not going to play perfect and teams are going to get chances. They're not making mistakes. They've bent, but they don't break.

"They're just doing well. They have to," said Boudreau.

11/24/04   "RIGHT ON" GARON chalks up another WIN as the Monarchs sink the The Norfolk Admirals  4 - 1  !
Monarchs goals scored: 1st period...  2nd period...Cammalleri; 3rd period... Kostopoulos;  Cammalleri;  Welch;
Cammalleri gets  2 goals
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11/25/04   Monarchs feast on Norfolk in 4-1 victory
By KEVIN PROVENCHER
Staff Sports Writer Union Leader

MANCHESTER — Happy Thanksgiving for the Monarchs.

A 4-1 victory over the Norfolk Admirals was served up with all the trimmings for 7,073 in the Verizon Wireless Arena last night as Manchester tied a franchise record with its eighth straight W.

All gravy courtesy of goalie Mathieu Garon, who made 33 saves in his 11th win against only one loss this season.

The best team in the AHL at 15-1-0-0, the Monarchs remain undefeated in a record eight games at home. Their eight-point lead over Hartford in the Atlantic Division also marks a franchise best.

Broken records indeed. Here's one that's starting to sound like a broken record. Tom Kostopoulos and Mike Cammalleri did the Monarchs' scoring. Cammalleri scored a pair and Dan Welch added the insurance goal. Kostopoulos and Cammalleri potted goals 2:57 apart early in the third period to get Manchester sitting pretty, 3-0. Kostopoulos said, "Thank you very much" on a fat pad-save rebound of Noah Clarke's wrister. And Cammalleri tipped Brad Smyth's second perfect feed of the contest.

"We knew it was going to be a battle and we weren't going to necessarily come out and get the goals early," said Cammalleri. "Obviously Matty Garon kept us in the game with huge saves like he always does. We were eventually able to get a couple to help him."

Quintin Laing scored for Norfolk in a traffic jam on the power play at 10:11 of the third period, pulling back to within two goals of the lead. But the Monarchs' Welch sharply one-timed home rookie Dan Ryan's center at 2:24 later.

No wonder second-year pro Adam Munro (2-2) worked his way into seven games with the Chicago Blackhawks last season out of the East Coast League. The 22-year-old made 16 saves and kept it close until the dinner bell rang for the third period.

"(Norfolk) took it to us pretty well. They were bigger and stronger. But, I thought our guys hung in pretty well," said Monarchs coach Bruce Boudreau. "Eventually we got enough chances and put some in."

Norfolk (11-6-1-1) is second in the East Division behind red-hot Philadelphia, but saw its three-game win streak snapped in the midst of a grueling eight-game road trip.

After a scoreless first period where Manchester was outshot 13-4, the Monarchs finally cracked Munro midway through the second period. Cammalleri, wide-open in the right wing circle, collected a little touch pass from Brad Smyth and Cammalleri absolutely picked Munro's lock. Snap shot over Munro's glove shoulder on the short side.

"I was worried about (Norfolk) grinding us down," added Boudreau. "I thought the first goal was an important goal. . . . Well, we all thought it was going to be a one-goal game. It was a playoff-type game."

11/21/04   The Monarchs WIN and CHILL the IceCats again  5 - 4
Monarchs goals scored: 1st period... Clarke; Brown;   2nd period... Lehoux;       3rd period... Steckel; Cammalleri
Assists by - Lehoux(2),  Smyth(2), Kostopoulos(2), Parros, Giuliano, Clarke, Brown
click here for more game details
 

11/22/04  Monarchs ice Worcester, keep rolling
Special to The Union Leader

WORCESTER, Mass. — Center Michael Cammalleri collected his team-leading fourth game-winning goal of the season and goaltender Mathieu Garon stopped 30 shots as the Manchester Monarchs ran their winning streak to seven games with a 5-4 win over the Worcester IceCats at the DCU Center last night.

A crowd of 2,701 watched as the Monarchs improved their record to 14-1. The IceCats, who dropped their fourth game in six outings, saw their record go to 9-5-1-0. With 28 points, the Monarchs moved six points ahead of the idle Hartford Wolf Pack (10-3-1-1, 22 points) in the Atlantic Division standings.

The Monarchs jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead on goals from left wings Noah Clarke and Dustin Brown. Clarke jammed his fourth goal of the season by goaltender Curtis Sanford just 48 seconds into the contest.

The IceCats closed the period strongly, attempting the last 12 shots in the frame. One of the shots found the back of the Monarchs net. The IceCats made it a 2-1 contest with a power play goal from center Blake Evans at 18:50.

The IceCats tied the game at 2-2 with their first shot of the middle period. Center Brendan Brooks was credited with the goal, his fifth of the season.

Sanford (8 shots, 6 saves) left the game with an apparent injury 8:02 into the period, and the Monarchs regained the lead by scoring against his replacement, Jason Bacashihua (12 shots, 9 saves), just 53 seconds later. Lehoux collected his third point of the game by pushing a loose puck into the Worcester net.

The IceCats, who outshot the Monarchs 14-4 in the period, tied the game again with a blue line blast from Aris Brimanis at the 16:00 mark.

The Monarchs regained a two-goal lead with third period tallies from centers David Steckel and Cammalleri. The goals came just 1:34 apart, with Steckel registering his second goal of the season at 3:11, and Cammalleri collecting his 13th goal of the campaign at 4:45.

The next goal went to the IceCats and Evans, who cleaned up a rebound at 7:56. DiSalvatore collected his third assist of the night on the play.

Garon preserved the victory and improved his record to 10-1-0 on the season.

11/19/04  "Right On" Garon comes in to " seal the deal "  and gives the Monarchs another exciting shootout win! ... Lowell loses 5 - 4 !
Monarchs goals scored: 1st period..Cammalleri; 2nd period...Cammalleri; Cammalleri; 3rd period...Ryan;
SHOOTOUT GOALS by - Brown, Kostopoulos
Cammalleri grabs a Hat Trick !
Rullier DESTROYED Lowell's Bruno St Jacques (or should I say 'Bambi' St Jacques) and sent him to the doghouse with his tail between his legs!
click here for more game details

11/20/04  Monarchs win in shootout with Lock Monsters
By KEVIN PROVENCHER
Staff Sports Writer Union Leader

MANCHESTER — Tom Kostopoulos and Dustin Brown each scored in the first-ever shootout and the Manchester Monarchs beat the Lowell Lock Monsters, 5-4, in the team's first ever sudden-death shootout before 8,396 in the Verizon Wireless Arena.

Mike Cammalleri had a hat trick for the Monarchs.

Monarchs (13-1-0-0) are on a five-game win streak overall and undefeated in a franchise-record six games at home.

Lowell (6-4-1-1) is winless on the road and had not played in a week.

Monarchs rookie Matt Ryan put away Peter Kanko's rebound midway through third period, knotting it 4-4.

The Lock Monsters led by a goal at the end of both the first and second periods — a first-time phenomena for the Monarchs this season. Defenseman Allan Rourke's slapshot from the left point with 4:31 left in the second period kept the Lock Monsters in charge, 4-3.

The second period had plenty of fireworks, fisticuffs (combined 46 minutes of penalties) and goals. The Monarchs' Chris Schmidt, doing what captains do, squared off with veteran Gordie Dwyer after the Lock Monsters went up 3-1 on Richie Regher's tally off a 5-on-3. Dwyer, who picked the fight and got an extra two minutes for instigating, just held on and refused to duke it out. Sparked up on the ensuing 5-on-3, the Monarchs' Cammalleri fired away on a back-door rebound. And less than three minutes later he capped his hat trick tying the game, 3-3.

Before last night, the Monarchs had only trailed in 27 minutes and 52 seconds worth of hockey over 13 games. The Lock Monsters were intent on spoiling that party. Lowell led, 2-1, at the end of the first period on goals by Justin Taylor and Mike Zigomanis that sandwiched Cammalleri's power-play goal at 5:17. Taylor's go-ahead, 2-1 strike, was a quick little shovel of Dwyer's rebound in a swatfest around Hauser. Only 4:27 into the contest Lowell led 1-0. That short-handed goal was courtesy of fourth-year pro Mike Zigomanis, who stole away left wing beating Hauser over the glove shoulder.

Notes: The Monarchs signed sixth-year pro defenseman Adam Borzecki, 26, to a tryout agreement yesterday after defenseman Tim Gleason sustained a shoulder injury Thursday night in Worcester. Also defenseman Doug Nolan will be out more than a week with a knee injury. Borzecki, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound native of Poland, played 10 games so far with the Reading Royals (ECHL). He played 164 games with the AHL's Syracuse Crunch. Borzecki is wearing No. 6. . . . Monarchs streak of scoring first in every game ended at 13 games last night. . . . Cammalleri extended his scoring streak to nine games.

11/18/04  "Right On" Garon gives the Monarchs ANOTHER SHUTOUT victory ... The Monarchs FREEZE the IceCats  6 - 0 !
Monarchs goals scored: 1st period..Lehoux; Parros; 2nd period...Clarke;Smyth;3rd period...Welch; Cammalleri;
Assists by - Kostopoulos, Steckel, Nolan, Weaver, Lehoux, Milam, Ryan, Brown, Smyth
click here for more game details

11/19/04  Monarchs pummel IceCats
Special to The Union Leader

WORCESTER, Mass. — The Manchester Monarchs returned to the scene of their only loss this season and gained a measure of revenge against the Worcester IceCats, beating their Atlantic Division rivals, 6-0, before 2,146 fans at the DCU Center on last night.

With the win, their fifth straight, the Monarchs improved to 12-1-0-0 (24 points) on the season and increased their first place lead in the division to four points over the idle Hartford Wolf Pack (10-3-0-0, 20 points).

The third place IceCats, who edged the Monarchs by a score of 4-2 at the DCU Center Nov. 5, saw their record drop to 8-4-1-0 (17 points) on the season. The IceCats entered yesterday’s action with no regulation losses in six home games this season (5-0-1-0).

Center Yanick Lehoux had a goal and an assist and right wings Tom Kostopoulos and Brad Smyth each collected two points in last night’s game, which also included goals from left wing Noah Clarke, right wings George Parros and Dan Welch and center Michael Cammalleri.

The six goals were more than enough for goaltender Mathieu Garon, who collected his league-leading fourth shutout of the season while improving his overall record to 8-1-0.

The Monarchs struck first with Lehoux’s team-leading 13th goal, scored from near the left post of the Worcester net just 5:11 into the contest. Kostopoulos, who entered the game with a four-game goal-scoring streak, collected the only assist on the play.

With 13 goals, Lehoux also moved into a first place tie with Manitoba Moose forward Jason King for the AHL’s goal-scoring lead.

The Monarchs defended their net for much of the next 10 minutes as the IceCats attempted to rally with three power play chances. But Garon was up to the task, stopping all 16 shots fired his way by the IceCats in the period.

The Monarchs increased their lead 15:45 into the period when Parros drilled a pass from center David Steckel by goaltender Curtis Sanford (31 shots, 25 saves). Defenseman Doug Nolan also assisted on the first goal of the season for Parros.

The second period belonged to the Monarchs, who added to their lead with two more goals on 17 shots. The IceCats countered with just five shots in the frame.

Clarke gave the Monarchs a 3-0 lead just 47 seconds into the period with his third goal, assisted on by both Kostopoulos and defenseman Mike Weaver. With the assist, Kostopoulos gained a share of the team assist lead with his 13th of the campaign.

Lehoux took sole possession of first place in the AHL scoring race with his second point of the night. His 24th point this season came on a centering pass to Smyth, who collected his sixth goal by jamming the puck through the pads of Sanford at 11:16.

11/16/04 ....  Hockey News ... AHL East Notebook

11/18/04  These guys are good
By KEVIN PROVENCHER
Staff Sports Writer Union Leader

WHY ARE the Manchester Monarchs so good?

There's no way that a team that lost nearly 75 percent of its scoring from a year ago and added 10 new players could have been predicted to lead the league. But the Monarchs are setting the standard in the American Hockey League both offensively and defensively. They have only one loss in 12 outings and roll into a weekend of three games in four days starting tonight at the Worcester IceCats — the team that handed them their lone loss. Friday at 7:35 p.m., the Monarchs host the Lowell Lock Monsters in the first of their 12 meetings. Sunday, the Monarchs return to Worcester at 4:05 p.m.

Here are some secrets to the their success:

They get along.

Happiness is often a key to success in professional sports.

No bad attitudes over promotions or demotions.

Playing in Manchester right now is the best option for all these Monarchs. There are no expectations of going to Los Angeles this weekend to play.

The Monarchs are younger than ever.

While younger than ever and certainly not jaded, the Monarchs have also shown they are quicker than ever and have a killer instinct for putting opponents away.

Young players are not in the shadow of Kings' veterans.

Second-year pros such as 20-year-old winger Dustin Brown and 22-year-old defenseman Tim Gleason are paving their own paths this season as key players. In Los Angeles they were spare parts. Brown already has a career-high eight goals and nine assists (sixth in the league overall) and six-game scoring streak. Tim Gleason has three assists and a plus-6 rating.

Yanick Lehoux is in the leading man's role.

Three years in the making, Lehoux leads the league in scoring with 12 goals, 10 assists for 22 points. Lehoux is stronger, faster, smarter and more mature. Watching him wheel and deal now it is hard to believe that he is the only Monarchs forward among the top-six never to have played in the NHL. Lehoux simply needed a chance.

There is consistency of lines.

The Monarchs' top two lines of Brown, Mike Cammalleri and Brad Smyth, along with Lehoux, Tom Kostopoulos and Noah Clarke have rarely been tweaked since the start of the season. Cammalleri has quickly emerged as the league's second-leading scorer with eight goals and 13 assists. A sure-fire NHLer, Kostopoulos is fifth in the league with seven goals and 11 assists. Add to these two lines a "shutdown" defensive line with captain and ringleader Chris Schmidt. Schmidt just might be the best defensive forward in the league.

Good health.

No injuries to the first two lines or the goalies. Injuried players are Scott Barney (abdominal surgery, out indefinitely), Ryan Flinn (foot infection, day-to-day) and rookie Greg Hogeboom (separated shoulder, week-to-week). Last season the Kings set a record for man-games lost to injury, which kept Manchester guessing the whole way.

Safe and sound goaltending.

Mathieu Garon is playing to win the No. 1 job in Los Angeles when the NHL resumes. Adam Hauser, with contract security for the first time in his pro career, has patiently fit into the role as Garon's backup knowing that if there is an NHL, Hauser will be the No. 1 in Manchester and a telephone call away from Los Angeles. Consider the tandem 1 and 1A.

Coach Bruce Boudreau's ability to get the most out of players continues to dazzle.

In his pro coaching career, a Boudreau-coached team has never failed to reach the post-season. He has never been the AHL's coach of the year. So far it's Boudreau in a landslide.

The Verizon Wireless Arena is still a great place to play.

If a player cannot get fired up for a game in a sold-out arena every weekend, somebody better check that player's pulse.

Maybe the league is not as good as was ballyhooed when the NHL lockout was announced.

We'll find out.

11/14/04  "Right On" Garon gives the Monarchs another huge victory ...  6 - 1 win over Springfield!
Monarchs goals scored: 1st period..Kostopoulos; Cammalleri;2nd period...Steckel; Lehoux; Brown; 3rd period...Lehoux;
click here for more game details

11/15/04  Monarchs fly over Falcons, 6-1
By JOHN HABIB
Staff Sports Writer Union Leader

MANCHESTER — A few more team records, another stellar defensive effort, and one more convincing victory has the red-hot Manchester Monarchs standing tall with the best record in the American Hockey League.

Yanick Lehoux tallied twice, Michael Cammalleri extended his scoring streak to eight games and Mathieu Garon turned away 21 shots as the Monarchs slapped the Springfield Falcons, 6-1, before 8,978 fans at Verizon Wireless Arena Sunday.

Now 11-1, the Monarchs own the best record in the league, topping Milwaukee’s 8-1-1-1 mark in the Western Conference. Manchester also took over sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division when Hartford (10-3) fell to Providence, 1-0, last night.

Manchester set two more team records, recording its sixth straight home victory and extending its streak of denying an opponent a goal for 180 minutes and 58 seconds. That streak, which eclipsed the old mark of 148 minutes and 21 seconds, ended when Springfield’s Andreas Holmqvist beat Garon with a routine slap shot between his pads with 1:52 to play.

“I should have had it,” said Garon with a shrug of the shoulders, downplaying the significance of the scoreless streak that started on Nov. 6 against Albany with 2:50 left in that contest. Manchester followed with a 2-0 win over the Falcons on Friday in Springfield behind Garon’s league-leading third season shutout (32 saves). Adam Hauser kept it alive with his 23-save effort in a 5-0 win over Hershey Saturday in Manchester.

Hockey Hall of Fame goalie Johnny Bower holds the AHL record for the longest shutout streak over an opponent, 249 minutes and 51 seconds with the Cleveland Barons in 1957.

“This is about the team and getting the win was the main thing, not the streak”’ said Garon, who isn’t surprised the Monarchs are 6-0 at home this season.

“This is the best place to play in the AHL and its almost like playing in the NHL with all these great fans,” said Garon (7-1-0), who lowered his GAA to 1.50, fourth best in the league.

Manchester, which entered the contest averaging 4.36 goals per game, has now scored at least five goals in each of its six home games.

Four goals a game at home means free french fries at McDonald’s restaurants for the local fans, prompting Cammalleri to jokingly say “Well, they’re just going to have to chop up a few more potatoes this season. The chemistry on this team is great and we have balance on both ends of the rink.”

No one has to tell Springfield that. The Falcons (3-9-1-1) fell to the Monarchs for the third time this season. In their last five visits to Manchester combined, the Falcons have been out-scored, 28-7.

In 12 games, Manchester has scored 54 goals and has allowed just 17.

For the 12th straight game this season Manchester scored first. Tom Kostopoulos’ shot deflected off the skates of Springfield defender Terry Virtue past starting goalie Jamie Storr (12 saves, four goals allowed, 23:47 of action) just 5:21 into the game. It was Kostopoulos’ seventh goal of the season, having taken just 16 shots all year.

Cammalleri, who has five goals and nine assists over his last eight games, lit the lamp for his eighth season goal with a high wrister with a minute left in the first stanza.

David Steckel, just called up from the Reading Royals, gave the Monarchs a 3-0 lead just 15 seconds into the second period. Then Lehoux chased Storr for good, scoring his 100th career point in style with a breakaway goal, his team-high 11th of the season. Garon and Denis Grebeshkov (two assists) each had an assist on that play.

Manchester, which out-shot Springfield 28-22, got a late second-period tally from Dustin Brown (8th) and another from Lehoux in the third to ice the contest.

In 12 games, Manchester has trailed just once all year, totaling just 27 minutes and 52 seconds in its lone loss to Worcester back on Nov. 5.

“This is a team made up of players who come each day prepared to play the game,” said Manchester coach Bruce Boudreau. “It’s still early and there’s going to be some bumps in the road ahead. But my hat’s off to them. They’re playing well together as a unit.”

 

11/15/04  Monarchs top the AHL
By NEIL STEVENS
Canoe Slam Sports Hockey AHL

(CP) - The best pro hockey team in North America today is playing in New Hampshire.

The Manchester Monarchs reign over the AHL with 11 wins and only one loss in their first 12 games. "We're pretty aggressive offensively - our team can really skate," says coach Bruce Boudreau. "We play an up-tempo game, and sometimes it's hard for teams to keep up with us.

"Add the players' skills and it makes for an exciting brand of hockey."

Fans are responding. The Monarchs, playing in a beautiful new arena built on a scale to match the market, are averaging a near-capacity 9,000 a game.

"This is one of the largest hockey communities in New England," Boudreau says from his club office. "So many young kids here play hockey, and the (Monarchs staff) put on an awesome show.

"They've done a great job of promoting this team. If you come to this rink, the stands are always full and it's like an NHL atmosphere. It's very professional, and its family friendly. On a Friday or Saturday, it's a kind of a tradition that people say, 'What are you doing?' and the response will be, 'We're going to the Monarchs game."'

The NHL lockout has helped the Monarchs in that some of their best players - Mike Cammalleri, Yanick Lehoux, Dustin Brown, Tim Gleason and goalie Mathieu Garon, for example - would otherwise be in the big league with the parent Los Angeles Kings, or beating down the NHL door.

"I'm fortunate right now to have quite a few good young players on the team," says Boudreau, 49, who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1970s and early 1980s. "The chemistry is very good.

"This is my 30th year at the pro level and I know that you can't put enough importance on how people get along with each other. It might change in a week but right now they seem to be happy and getting along. When somebody scores, the other guys are giving him a pat on the back and not worrying about their own numbers."

Cammalleri, 22, a centre from Richmond Hill, Ont., via the University of Michigan, split last season between Los Angeles and Manchester. He'd rather be playing in the NHL now but he's not moping about it.

"He's been unbelievable," says Boudreau. "He's as good a player as there is in the league.

"He's playing his rear end off. He has a desire to excel. We could be ahead 6-1 and he gets on the ice with two minutes to go and he wants to score another goal. There's no give up in him."

Lehoux is first in the AHL scoring race with 22 points including 12 goals - a goal a game. Cammalleri is tied for second with 21 points including eight goals.

Lehoux, 22, a centre from Repentigny, Que., has emerged as a gifted offensive star. In 2001-2002, he led the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL in scoring with 125 points including 56 goals. After a slow start to his pro career, he's come on like gangbusters.

"He'd be pushing for a job in L.A. if he wasn't pencilled in already," says Boudreau. "He reminds me, development-wise, of Vinny Lecavalier.

"Both were high scorers in the Quebec league. Vinny was on the cusp for a couple of years. You wondered, is he going to be a superstar or not? Last year something clicked in Vinny, he helped Tampa Bay win the Stanley Cup and he was the MVP in the World Cup tournament. Yanick has some similarities. Something has clicked and he's playing at an unbelievable pace."

Kings GM Dave Taylor was on hand for Manchester's 6-1 win over Springfield on Sunday. Boudreau couldn't help but put in a plug for Lehoux.

"I said to Dave, 'That boy really has fabulous hands.' He can make the plays, he sees the ice well, and he's a great skater."

Brown, an American forward who played in the OHL for the Guelph Storm, justed turned 20 but he's in his second pro season. He spent 31 games with the Kings last season. He's sixth in AHL scoring with 17 points including eight goals.

"He's filled out to about 215 pounds, and he's a good skater with a good scoring touch," says Boudreau. "The Kings liken him to Adam Deadmarsh. He plays a physical, power-forward game."

Brown, Cammalleri and veteran Brad Smyth of Ottawa skate on Manchester's top forward line.

Boudreau's top defence pairing has Gleason, 21, an American out of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires who played most of his games with the Kings last winter, with Mike Weaver, 26, a Brampton, Ont., product who had NHL stints with the Atlanta Thrashers.

The Monarchs' best offensive defenceman is Dennis Grebeshkov, 21, the Kings' first pick, 18th overall, in the 2002 entry draft. The Russian was MVP of the world junior tournament that year.

Garon, 26, from Chandler, Que., is 7-1 with a league-best .949 save percentage. The Kings got him in the deal that sent Radek Bonk to the Montreal Canadiens last June. Garon played 43 games for the Habs in four seasons.

"He'd be in L.A. if there were no lockout," says Boudreau. "The Kings are extremely happy with him.

"He's going to push Roman Cechmanek, make him lift his game - from what I've seen in the eight games he's been with us. He's been outwstanding. He has a tremendous work ethic. He's a great kid."

The fourth Manchester player among the top six AHL scorers is right-winger Tom Kostopoulos, 25, of Mississauga, Ont. He has 18 points including seven goals. He played 79 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins over three seasons.

Other Canadians on the active roster are left-wingers Ryan Flinn of Halifax and Chris Schmidt of Beaverlodge, Alta., , right-winger Greg Hogeboom of Toronto, centre Matt Ryan of Sharon, Ont., and defenceman Joe Rullier of Montreal.

Centre Scott Barney of Oshawa, Ont., the former Peterborough OHL star who played 19 games for the Kings last season, has been unable to play. He's to undergo abdominal surgery later this week in Montreal and will be in rehab for 10 weeks.

11/13/04  "Brick" Hauser rewards the Monarchs with another shutout victory ...  5 - 0 win over Hershey!
Monarchs goals scored: 1st period...Kostopoulos; Smyth; 2nd period... Lehoux; Schmidt; 3rd period... Kostopoulos;
click here for more game details

11/14/04  Monarchs bag Bears, 5-0
By KEVIN PROVENCHER
Staff Sports Writer Union Leader

MANCHESTER — Open season on Hershey Bears in New Hampshire.

Chris Schmidt, Yanick Lehoux, Brad Smyth and Tom Kostopoulos enjoyed the shootout scoring goals as the Manchester Monarchs sent those big ol’ Bears lumbering back to Hershey, 5-0. Kostopoulos finished with two goals and Lehoux figured in on three.

“We had our legs tonight and we’re hard to contain when we’re skating,” said Monarchs coach Bruce Boudreau.

Manchester (10-1-0-0) has won three straight and tied a franchise record with their fifth consecutive victory in the Verizon Wireless Arena. Undefeated at home, Manchester hosts the Springfield Falcons today at 4:05 p.m.

Monarchs’ undefeated goalie Adam Hauser (4-0) made 23 saves in his second shutout of the season.

“Team effort shutout,” said Hauser. “It’s always nice to get shutouts, but right now we’re just happy to keep getting wins. This is going to be a long weekend and I’m just glad I was able to play one game this weekend and give Mathieu (Garon) a break between his two games.”

One of the oldest teams in the Eastern Conference, Hershey carries eight veterans including notable center Eric Perrin. When we last tuned in, Perrin was helping the Tampa Bay Lightning win the Stanley Cup. But, these Bears were no match for the smaller, quicker Atlantic Division-leading Monarchs. Hershey fell behind 2-0 on goals by Kostopoulos and Smyth in the opening period. From there it was musical Bears to the penalty box.

The best power play on home-ice in the league took over. Lehoux wheeled and dealed past Perrin on a power play after Mike Cammalleri’s no-look, between-the-legs, “could-it-get-any trickier” back pass on a power play at 9:13 of the second — 3-0.

Schmidt tucked away a little power play backhander off Mike Weaver’s rebound late in the second — 4-0.

Kostopoulos potted his second goal midway through the third period — 5-0.

“I think Lehoux’ goal broke their backs a little,” added Boudreau. “It was good skill. Impressive.”

“A three-goal lead is usually the lead that breaks a back,” said Cammalleri. “It was a big goal.”

The Bears’ defense was swarmed early, swatting at flies with sledge hammers. Kostopoulos and Smyth put the Monarchs up 2-0 in the first period.

At 13:59, Cammalleri won a draw in the right circle, fought to the corner and losing his balance centered to “Shooter” Smyth in the slot. Just 59 seconds into the game Kostopoulos snapped away Noah Clarke’s pass to Hershey goalie, Peter Budaj’s (30 saves) backdoor.

Hershey (4-8-1-0) stays at the bottom of the East Division.

NOTES: The Monarchs ran their record to 5-0 when Kings general manager Dave Taylor is in attendance. The streak dates back to last year’s playoff victories at Worcester . . . Monarchs have scored the first goal in all 11games this season and have scored five goals in all five home games. That’s 45,062 free fries (for four goals or more) from McDonald’s since the season opened in the Big V . . . Cammalleri has a team-leading seven-game scoring streak . . . Brown has a five-game scoring streak and Kostopoulos has a three-gamer . . . Lehoux has 40 career goals as a Monarch, fifth all-time . . . Second sellout (9,916) of the year for the AHL attendance-leading Monarchs.

11/14/04  Kings’ trade for Garon looking like a winner
By KEVIN PROVENCHER
Union Leader Sports

MANCHESTER — He is as close as one gets to a guarantee in ice hockey. So far there is nearly a 50-50 chance that Monarchs goaltender Mathieu “Le Guarantee” Garon will post a shutout.

With three shutouts in seven games — one short of his career record for a season — the trade to the Montreal Canadiens of $3.1 million center Radek Bonk and $600,000 back-up goalie Cristobal Huet for the $1.1 million Garon is looking like a stroke of genius by the Los Angeles Kings.

Kings goaltending consultant Andy Nowicki termed Garon’s acquisition “carefully thought out.”

“We had been watching Mathieu for some time,” said Nowicki. “He has been everything we thought he’d be. Very impressed.”

“I just think (Garon’s) a very good goalie,” said Monarchs coach Bruce Boudreau, taking a pass on labeling Garon an NHL starter. “I’m impressed with him as a teammate. Technically he’s so sound. And his work ethic is fabulous. Three good things.”

Garon is on an AHL deal during the NHL lockout, but his rock-solid performances are revealing that he has the stuff to unseat Roman Cechmanek as the Kings’ starter. Cechmanek put together three impressive regular seasons in Philadelphia. But, as quickly as his unorthodox style endeared him to the Flyers-faithful, that style in the playoffs failed to produce a Stanley Cup and in the end he was booed out of town to L.A.

Los Angeles won’t say it but a lockout that eats the remainder of the season and sends the $3.5 million Cechmanek packing into free agency might not be such a bad thing considering the Kings’ new-found guarantee, Mathieu Garon.

Of course this is all if there ever is an NHL season. In the meantime Garon is serving as compound interest for the Kings, money in the bank for their AHL Monarchs.

CONKLIN CONNECTIONS: In the small, exclusive club of NHL goaltending former University of New Hampshire goalie Ty Conklin’s rise as the would-be number one for the Edmonton Oilers has connections with both Mathieu Garon and the Monarchs’ backup goalie Adam Hauser.

In the 2002-03 AHL season Conklin was a teammate of Garon with the Hamilton Bulldogs, who reached the Calder Cup finals. Garon, property of the Canadiens, was 15-2-2 with a 1.77 goals against average that season with his career record four shutouts, while Edmonton’s Conklin was 19-13-3 with a 2.55 goals against average.

At the end of that season Garon became Jose Theodore’s backup. Last season Garon was in the NHL full-time as Theodore’s backup. The Oilers meanwhile made way for the rise of $1.5 million Conklin by trading away starter Tommy Salo to Colorado. Conklin changed his jersey number to No. 1. And the Oilers re-signed Jussi Markkanen as Conklin’s backup, while 20-year-old. 6-foot-4, 192-pound rookie Jeff Deslauriers (Oilers’ second-round pick, 31st overall in 2002) develops in the AHL with the Edmonton Road Runners.

Hauser fell by the wayside amid all this backstop, backup shuffling.

Hauser was the Oilers’ third-round draft choice (81st overall) in 1999. While Hauser was winning the NCAA title for the Minnesota Gophers in 2002, the Oilers had signed undrafted Conklin after he led the UNH Wildcats to the NCAA final in 2001. Sending Conklin to Hamilton and the Canadiens’ sending Garon to Hamilton, eventually spelled “no room for Hauser” when he turned pro in 2003.

The Oilers never signed Hauser and he was swept into the whirlwind of mercenary pro goalies. He got a look from the Boston Bruins in camp. Hauser to this day remembers some in the B’s organization not knowing who he was. So Hauser started in the East Coast League. Hauser’s one-year deal with the Kings after posting a Monarchs’ record seven shutouts last season marks the most security he has had since turning pro.

Now in this NHL lockout it oddly turns out that Garon and Hauser are playing fulltime. The most lucrative NHL deal of Conklin’s career is just paper at this point.

MR. SATURDAY NIGHT: “Brick” Hauser made his fourth start for the Monarchs last night. All of his starts this season have come on Saturday nights and before last night he was 3-0.

DID YOU KNOW? Last season the Monarchs clinched a playoff berth on Saturday night, March 27 in Hershey. Hauser was in goal making 33 saves in his team-record seventh shutout.

BEST FOOT FORWARD: Both Garon and Hauser made promising debuts in theVerizon Wireless Arena before they ever were Monarchs. Garon’s debut was a 6-3 victory with the Quebec Citadelles on Dec. 9, 2001. Hauser’s debut was 3-3 on April 5, 2003 while playing with the Providence Bruins.

11/12/04  "Right On" Garon gives the Monarchs another shutout victory ...  2 - 0 win over Springfield!
Monarchs goals scored: 1st period...Cammalleri;  Kostopoulos;    2nd period...   3rd period...
click here for more game details

11/13/04  Garon stones Falcons
By The Associated Press / Nashua Telegraph

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Mathieu Garon stopped all 32 Springfield shots - including 28 over the final two periods - as the Manchester Monarchs shut down the Falcons 2-0 in an American Hockey League game Friday night at the Springfield Civic Center.

Michael Cammalleri scored his seventh goal 8:07 into the contest and Tome Kostopoulos scored with 4:10 left in the period to give Manchester (9-1-0-0) a 2-0 edge with his fourth.

The shutout was the league-leading third for Garon, who improved to 6-1-0-0.

With the win, the Monarchs improved to 9-1-0-0 on the season (18 points) and moved into a first-place tie in the American Hockey League’s Atlantic Division with the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Jamie Storr stopped 17 for Springfield, which lost its third straight to fall to 2-8-1-1.
 

11/13/04  Garon paces Monarchs to win
Special to The Union Leader

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Goaltender Mathieu Garon finished with 32 saves and his league-leading third shutout this season as the Manchester Monarchs edged the Springfield Falcons, 2-0, before a crowd of 2,692 at the Springfield Civic Center last night.

With the win, the Monarchs improved to 9-1-0-0 on the season (18 points) and moved into a first place tie in the American Hockey League's Atlantic Division with the Hartford Wolf Pack (9-2-0-0, 18 points). The third-place Worcester IceCats (8-2-1-0, 17 points) beat the Wolf Pack, 4-2, at the Hartford Civic Center last night.

The loss was the third in a row for the Falcons, who dropped to 2-8-1-1 (6 points) on the season and 0-2-0-0 in two head-to-head meetings with the Monarchs this season.

The Monarchs charged out to a first period lead with goals from center Michael Cammalleri and right wing Tom Kostopoulos. Cammalleri slammed home his seventh goal, completing a 2-on-0 break into the offensive zone with left wing Dustin Brown at 8:07. Defenseman Mike Weaver, who triggered the breakaway from deep in the Monarchs zone, also recorded an assist on the play.

With the goal, Cammalleri extended his scoring streak to six games (4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points). The Monarchs doubled their lead at 15:50 of the period with the fourth goal of the season for Kostopoulos, who backhanded a goalmouth feed from center Matt Ryan by the outstretched glove of goaltender Jamie Storr. Defenseman Doug Nolan collected the second assist on the play.

The Falcons picked up their game in the middle period, firing 11 shots at Garon. Garon, however, stopped each shot. The Monarchs had five shots on goal in the scoreless period. Garon (6-1-0) cemented his sixth win of the season with 17 third period saves as the Falcons, aided by four third period power play chances, tried desperately to get on the scoreboard. Storr finished with 17 saves and saw his record drop to 2-6-1.

11/06/04  Dustin Brown leads the Monarchs to a 5 - 2 win over Albany with his 3 goals !
Monarchs goals scored: 1st period...Brown;   2nd period...Cammalleri; Kostopoulos;   3rd period... Brown;  Brown;
Garon in goal, Cammalleri gets a 3 point night (goal & 2 assists), Grebeshkov gets a 3 point night (3 assists) ...  
click here for more game details

11/07/04  Brown delivers as Monarchs roll
By KEVIN PROVENCHER
Staff Sports Writer Union Leader

MANCHESTER — Rats should know better than to challenge these King cats.

Except for a little Rats’ scurry at the beginning and the end, it was all Monarchs. Dustin Brown netted his first professional hat trick, while Mike Cammalleri and defenseman Denis Grebeshkov figured in on three goals apiece as the Manchester Monarchs never trailed in a 5-2 victory last night before 9,579 in the Verizon Wireless Arena.

Back on the winning track after a slip-up Friday at Worcester, the Monarchs are 8-1-0-0 and undefeated in four games at home.

“He (Brown) is having a week where everything is going in,” said Mike Cammalleri, who’s the center with Brown alongside. “That’s a sweet feeling.”

Brown, a 20-year-old who spent his rookie season in Los Angeles, strutted on the red carpet last night. His second goal coming 3:44 into the third period was a highlight reel no-look backhander that five-holed former Boston College netminder Scott Clemmensen.

Adding difficulty and style points, Brown was moving away from the goal. Assist Clemmensen who had tossed the Monarchs’ dump-in onto the hard-charging Brown’s stick.

“(Brown’s) coming on,” said Monarchs coach Bruce Boudreau. “Sometimes we forget he just turned 20 years old.”

“Things are bouncing the right way I guess,” smiled Brown, the Kings’ first pick and 13th overall in the 2003 draft. “It’s nice. And it’s nice to do it in a win.”

Brown capped his hat trick through a crowd with 3:09 to play. The only thing Brown didn’t do was start the Albany bus, which was already running after the second period.

The Monarchs broke it open, 3-1, in the second period. On a power play 42 seconds into the stanza, Cammalleri was wide open on the right wing, finishing the dot-to-dot pass of Brown. Then Tom Kostopoulos flashed his NHL ability for a short-handed goal at 5:06. Kostopoulos craftily picked the pocket of Rats’ rookie (via North Dakota), Zach Parise in front of goalie Clemmensen. Deke-ity deke deke. Kostopoulos made it look easy, 3-1.

“Look at this team. On different nights different people are stepping up,” said Cammalleri. “Good stuff.”

The first period was deadlocked 1-1. Center Pascal Rheaume, a veteran of five different NHL teams over seven seasons, raced away on a short-handed breakaway beating goalie Mathieu Garon to knot it with 6:49 left in the opening stanza. Brown scored at 2:57 by converting his own rebound after a perfect little backhanded pass from Cammalleri.

In his third straight start, Garon (5-1) made 27 saves. A Monarchs turnover in front of Garon led to Albany’s final goal by Ryan Murphy with 2:50 to play. No fault of Garon’s.

NOTES: Brad Smyth was shut out last night, ending his scoring streak at eight games. . . . Kostopoulos’ goal was his 100th AHL tally ... left wing Chris Schmidt moved to defense last night, while defenseman Troy Milam was scratched ...

11/05/04  The Red Hot Monarchs have a MELTDOWN with Too many NEEDLESS Penalties and LOSE to the IceCats  4 - 2
 Monarchs goals scored: 1st period...Brown,  Brown;  2nd period... ;   3rd period... ;
Garon in goal ...   ( What happening to the rotation of Hauser / Garon?  Is LA stepping in again this year? )
click here for more game details

11/06/04  Monarchs finally take season's first loss
By KEVIN PROVENCHER
Staff Sports Writer Union Leader

WORCESTER, Mass. — The Manchester Monarchs' win streak crashed into a road block last night in the Centrum as the Worcester IceCats made good on 3-of-10 power plays in a 4-2 victory.

In a battle of the two highest scoring teams in the league, the IceCats, 7-2-0-0, used goals by rookie Ryan Ramsay, Blake Evans, Aris Brimanis and Jon DiSalvatore to avenge their season-opening loss in Manchester.

The IceCats have won six straight and derailed the Monarchs' perfect rollercoaster run of seven consecutive victories.

"We definitely didn't deserve to win," said Monarchs coach Bruce Boudreau.

The Monarchs, 7-1-0-0, host the Albany River Rats tonight at 7:35. The Rats have gone from worst to first in the East Division.

"You're not going to blame officiating," said Boudreau. "Bottomline is they scored on three of theirs and we scored on one of ours, and that was the difference in the game right there."

The Monarchs were 1-for-7 on the power play with four of those man advantages coming with the IceCats leading 4-2 in the final 16 minutes of play.

After nine power plays, the IceCats had finally forged ahead, 3-2, with Blake Evans potting the only goal of the second period. During a 4-on-3 Evans walked in from the right wing corner and with 7:52 left in the second the Monarchs trailed for the first time this season.

"We made a lot of mistakes," Boudreau said. "That team is too good to make that many mistakes. They're going to capitalize and they did."

Manchester's Dustin Brown had a pair of goals in the 2-2 opening period that had NHL written all over it.

Brown's heavy short-range finish of Brad Smyth's 2-on-1 tight feed and a backhander off a cut across the top of the crease kept the Monarchs record of not having trailed in the first period intact.

Sandwiched in there was a DiSalvatore goal for the IceCats. A past Providence College scoring leader, DiSalvatore's power play one-timer from the top of the right circle ended Mathieu Garon's shutout streak at 136 minutes and 22 seconds.

IceCats defenseman Brimanis tied it 2-2 at the end of a power play with a right point slapper that deflected off the stick of Monarchs defenseman Denis Grebeshkov.

Garon made 24 saves, absorbing his first loss in five outings. Curtis Sanford improved to 6-1 in the IceCats' goal with 26 saves.

NOTES: Smyth extended his team-leading points streak to eight games . . . Garon wore his new Los Angeles Kings mask last night. Gone is the old Canadiens' attire . . .

11/04/04  Lehoux breaks through
By KEVIN PROVENCHER
Staff Sports Writer Union Leader

MANCHESTER - Le who?

Bursting from the shadows of older scorers, the Monarchs' 22-year-old Yanick Lehoux has emerged as the AHL's leading goal scorer.

In his third pro season, the spotlight has finally found Lehoux. He finds himself on a career-best, four-game goal scoring streak. His nine goals top the league.

For the past two years, the Quebec native played rather quietly alongside Monarchs snipers such as league scoring champion Pavel Rosa, who has since departed for Russia.

Something certainly rubbed off. In just seven games, Lehoux is already more than halfway to his career high of 16 goals scored during his rookie season.

"The best influence I had in my life was Pavel Rosa. Just the way he approached the game," said Lehoux. "It was little things I learned from him that I put in my game. Little things that made him special I tried to imitate.

"In my head I'm feeling great," said Lehoux. "When you're confident it does so much for you, . . . It's a snowball effect.

"I would get the chance sometime to play on an offensive line because of injuries," Lehoux, a prolific scorer out of Quebec juniors, recalled of his early pro experience. "You get thrown in the mix and people expect you to be the offensive leader and all of a sudden be one of the best players on the team. I was just a fourth-line player and then you want me to be the top offensive guy. It doesn't work that way. It's not a switch that you just turn on."

Monarchs coach Bruce Boudreau notes that every young player develops on a different time line. Lehoux is on the three-year plan as opposed to Monarchs forwards third-year pro Mike Cammalleri or second-year pro Dustin Brown, who each landed in Los Angeles in their rookie seasons.

"There were times last year where (Lehoux) was great. There were times last year when he wasn't so great," Boudreau said. "It's consistency that is different."

So far in seven straight victorious Monarchs games, the line of Lehoux and wingers Tom Kostopoulos and Noah Clarke have been apart in only seven periods. That consistency has to count for something. Lehoux is regularly keying the first power play unit, which he never did in the past.

"On fire," is how Kostopoulos terms Lehoux's streak. A former AHL all-star in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, Kostopoulos was bound for the Los Angeles Kings before the lockout landed him in Manchester.

"(Lehoux's) shooting the puck really well," said Clarke, a second-year pro and all-star last season. "He's getting hot and making the most of his scoring opportunities."

"I came in and said, 'you know what?' I won't give them the chance not to play me," said Lehoux.

"He's earned a better opportunity," added Boudreau. "From the first day of camp he's proven that he's in the position he's got. . . . It's not a situation where we've sat here and just given it to him. He's earned it."

Le who? He is the only player among the top six Monarchs forwards who has yet to play in the NHL, but the way things are going the hockey world will be paying close attention to No. 9 — Yanick Lehoux.

Tomorrow night (7:05 p.m.) the undefeated Monarchs try to equal a franchise-record eight-game win streak established two years ago when they travel to the St. Louis Blues affiliate Worcester IceCats. The Monarchs can also equal their franchise record for road wins (five) with a victory in Worcester.

Incidentally, it took the Monarchs 15 games last season to reach eight victories. Is this team twice as good as last year's team? They are so far.

Saturday night (7:35 p.m.) the Monarchs entertain the Albany River Rats (New Jersey Devils) for the first time this season. There are approximately 1,250 tickets remaining for the upper bowl and single seats for the lower bowl. The first 5,000 fans at Saturday's game receive a Monarchs T-shirt.

GUARANTEED: Goalie Mathieu "Le Guarantee" Garon is unbeaten in his last 15 AHL decisions (13-0-2) dating to the 2002-03 season with the Hamilton Bulldogs. He had an AHL career-high four shutouts in 2002-03 for the Bulldogs. So far with the Monarchs, Garon is 4-0 riding back-to-back shutouts. He played all last season with the Montreal Canadiens.

The Monarchs have shut out opponents in three of their last four outings. Credit franchise shutout leader Adam Hauser with one of those shutouts, too.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: AHL teams are 76-21-9-2 when scoring first so far this season. The Monarchs have scored first in all seven of their games — seven straight victories.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Monarchs forward Dustin Brown turns 20 today. Since the Manchester franchise's inception in 2001-02, the average age of the team has decreased each season to its current average age of 24. The average ages: (2001-02) 24.60; (2002-03) 24.54; (2003-04) 24.08; (2004-05) 24.00.

STREAKING: Right wing Brad "Shooter" Smyth leads the team on a seven-game points streak. . . . right wing Tom Kostopoulos is a team leader with six multi-point games, including 10 assists. . . . Left wing Noah Clarke leads the league with a plus-10 rating. Kostopoulos and defenseman Joe Rullier are second in the AHL with plus-9s. . . . Every active Monarch (except the goaltenders) has at least one point.

THREE FOR THREE: The Monarchs' three victories in three days last weekend tied a franchise record. They first won three-in-three from Dec. 21-23 in their 2001 inaugural season. They repeated the feat on March 14-16, 2003.

 

 

article theAHL.com  ..... Mon, November 1, 2004

Purple reign atop AHL standings
WEEKLY RELEASE #3

For a team that had never won its season opener, the Manchester Monarchs are certainly making the most of a strong start to the 2004-05 campaign.

The Monarchs started each of their first three AHL seasons with a loss. This year, Manchester has reached November unblemished, riding a perfect 7-0-0-0 record to the top of the AHL standings. Manchester has been convincing in its victories, scoring 34 goals while allowing just 10 in seven games, including a remarkable 17-2 margin over its last four.

Leading the Monarchs’ attack has been Yanick Lehoux, who has recorded nine goals and 14 points on the year. Lehoux, 22, is already more than halfway to his pro career high of 16 goals, scored during his rookie season of 2002-03. Mike Cammalleri, who played 59 NHL games with Los Angeles over the previous two years, has contributed five goals and seven assists. Noah Clarke, an AHL All-Rookie forward in 2004, has kicked off his second season with nine points and a league-leading plus-10 rating

New additions to the Manchester lineup are contributing as well. Tom Kostopoulos, who played in two Calder Cup Finals during his five seasons with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, has already recorded six multiple-point games this year. Brad Smyth (4+5=9 pts.) is a two-time 50-goal scorer and former AHL All-Star and Calder Cup champion, and has a point in each of the Monarchs’ seven games. Mike Weaver, a Calder Cup winner with Chicago in 2002, is the club’s top-scoring defenseman with five points.

Also in the mix are top prospects Dustin Brown, Denis Grebeshkov, Tim Gleason and Petr Kanko, as well as a formidable goaltending duo of Mathieu Garon and Adam Hauser. Garon, with back-to-back shutouts this past weekend, is unbeaten in his last 15 AHL decisions (13-0-2) dating back to the 2002-03 season. Hauser, in his second season with Manchester, has lowered his career GAA to 1.94 in 47 AHL appearances.  

Monarchs head coach Bruce Boudreau has an impressive resume as well, with 193 career victories as an AHL bench boss, and from his playing days, an AHL scoring championship (1987-88) and a Calder Cup title (1991-92).

The Monarchs are third in the league on the power play, scoring 13 goals in 53 chances (24.5 percent), and are tied for the league lead with three shorthanded goals. They rank first in offense at 4.86 goals per game, and second in defense with 1.43 goals allowed per game. And their seven-game winning streak is one shy of the franchise record, set early in the 2002-03 season.

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