Kaspars Not-So-Friendly To The Monarchs
April 20, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
BINGHAMTON, NY - Despite a two-goal effort from left wing Ray Kaunisto, the Manchester Monarchs fell to the Binghamton Senators by a 5-4 score in overtime Wednesday evening at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. The Monarchs still lead the Senators 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Game six is scheduled for Friday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H.
"Penalties did us in [during] game 5," remarked Monarchs Head Coach Mark Morris following the overtime defeat. "We competed and put ourselves in a position to win it, but it's tough to win from the penalty box. We seemed to be on the wrong end of too many of them."
"[The penalties] killed any momentum we tried to sustain," said Morris. "Not much went our way and some nights, it doesn't seem fair. This was one of those games. We'll take a look at everything to see how we can do a better job next game."
"It's back to work in the Verizon Wireless Arena on Friday and we'll be ready," concluded Morris.
Left wing Kaspars Daugavins scored the game-winning overtime goal at 6:38 of the extra frame, lifting Binghamton to the 5-4 victory. On the power play following a slashing penalty issued to defenseman Viatcheslav Voynov, defenseman Andre Benoit played catch with Daugavins, positioned near the right wing boards. A pass by Benoit at the top of the slot preceded a powerful drive on net by Daugavins, which beat Monarchs goaltender Jeff Zatkoff top shelf for the game-winning goal.
Center Cody Bass recorded his first goal of the post-season at 5:52 of the first period, lifting the Senators to the early 1-0 lead. Benoit won a lengthy puck battle against a Monarchs player at the right point, allowing Bass time to set the screen in front of Zatkoff. Skating toward the top of the slot, Benoit let go a powerful blast that was redirected at the top of the crease by Bass for the first goal of the game by either side.
Voynov scored his second goal of the playoffs at 16:14 of the first period, tying the game at one. Center Corey Elkins fed the puck to the left point where it was collected by defenseman Thomas Hickey on the power play. Following several quick passes with Voynov, both defenseman switched places, allowing Voynov to take a booming shot on goal from the left point. Voynov's blast beat Binghamton goaltender Robin Lehner, tying the game while knocking the water bottle off the net in the process.
Kaunisto scored his first professional post-season goal at 18:24 of the first period, giving the Monarchs a 2-1 lead exiting play in the opening stanza. Following a face-off victory, center Brayden Schenn carried the puck into the right wing corner. Right wing Bud Holloway skated from right to left behind the cage, but was knocked off the puck by a Senators defender. In an attempt to clear, the Binghamton player turned the puck over right in the slot to Kaunisto, who beat Lehner for the go-ahead, unassisted goal.
Right wing Bobby Butler scored his second goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs at 5:32 of the second period, tying the game at two. From the Binghamton defensive zone, defenseman Geoff Kinrade sent an outlet pass that was gathered by right wing Roman Wick. Crossing center ice, Wick sent a pass up to Butler, streaking into the zone. Butler unleashed a powerful drive from the right face-off circle that missed wide. The puck took an unpredictable bounce off the glass, shifting the Monarchs defense out of position. Butler skated in, gathered his own rebound, and skated from behind the net and roofed the puck over the head of Zatkoff for the equalizing tally.
Kaunisto scored his second goal of the game at 17:00 of the second period, putting Manchester out in front by a 3-2 score. Defenseman Patrick Mullen, positioned at the left point, fired a blast on goal that was tipped wide by Kaunisto. Following up on his deflection, Kaunisto skated toward the hashmarks and, while spinning around, fired a shot on goal that beat Lehner five-hole for the go-ahead goal. Schenn also collected an assist on the goal.
Center Ryan Potulny scored his sixth goal of the post-season at 3:08 of the third period, temporarily granting Binghamton the lead early in the third period. Center Derek Grant initiated the play along the right side boards. From his position, Grant sent a pass up to the point where it was fired on goal by Benoit. The shot from the blueline was knocked down by Zatkoff, but the rebound was not controlled. Potulny skated toward the crease with the rebound and beat Zatkoff for a go-ahead goal.
Potulny scored his second goal of the evening at 15:26 of the third period, tying the game at four. On the power play, right wing Ryan Keller sent a puck deep into the zone where it was gathered by Potulny behind the Monarchs goal. Potulny quickly sent the puck to the left point to left wing Mike Hoffman, who fired a powerful shot on goal. Standing in the goal crease, Potulny redirected the shot past Zatkoff, who was screened by heavy crease traffic, to force overtime.
Zatkoff (1-2) drew his second loss of the post-season while stopping 37-of-42 shots on goal. Lehner (1-0), in his first appearance of the series, collected the victory by halting 30-of-34 shots on net.
Manchester was 1-for-5 on the power play. Binghamton was 3-for-9 with the man advantage.
Notables: Center Corey Elkins maintains his five-game point streak during the first round of the playoffs, having scored at least a point in each of the five games of the series for a total of five points (2-3=5)...Left wing Ray Kaunisto potted his first two professional post-season goals this evening...The Monarchs 34 shots on goal was a playoff-high against Binghamton this series...Center Brayden Schenn has recorded at least a point in each of his three games (1-3=4) and has also recorded a plus-6 rating over that span since being assigned to the Monarchs by the Los Angeles Kings on April 17.
The Monarchs return to home ice this Friday, April 22 as they face-off with the Senators in game six of the 2011 Calder Cup Atlantic Division Semifinal Series B at the Verizon Wireless Arena at 7:00 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action of Monarchs hockey with Ken Cail on the Monarchs Radio Network WGAM 900/1250 AM and at www.manchestermonarchs.com.
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