Lock Monsters Defeat Providence
by Alex Pufhal

The Lowell Lock Monsters are finally starting to take the form that many expected. They have now won three games in a row, 5 of the first 7.

In a week of firsts for the franchise, they finally won a game on a Saturday night, after losing the last two weeks to New Haven, they defeated the Providence Bruins 4-3 in front of the 2nd largest crowd (5,503) of the season.

Unlike past games, the Lock Monsters had to play catch-up hockey. Providence came out with two first period goals, Jay Henderson opened the scoring at 8:28 with a power play goal, Shawn Bates scored just 21 seconds later and the Monsters were in a two-goal hole.

The Monsters were out-shot 10-4 in the first, and I would guess were subject to a tirade by coach Frank Anzalone. Whatever happened in the room must have worked as Warren Luhining picked up his third goal in the last 2 games at 1:47 of the 2nd. Mike Gaul and Mark Lawerence nailed power play markers at the 6:00 and 6:28 minute mark of the 2nd.
The Lock Monsters out-shot Providence 13-6 in the 2nd. The 13 shots equals the total shots on for the entire game for Lowell against Syracuse on Friday night.

They came out flying again in the 3rd scoring just 32 seconds in on the 2nd power play goal of the game by Mike Gaul. Providence's Terry Virtue scored at 5:53 of the 3rd on the power play but, it was too little too late as Lowell goaltender Marcel Cousineau once again came up huge, stopping 16 3rd period shots.

John Grahme made 20 saves in the loss for Providence. The Lock Monsters host Springfield on Wednesday night, and the Falcons host Lowell on Friday, then travel to Portland on Saturday and New Haven on Sunday.

G Marcel Cousineau should get some strong consideration for AHL player of the week as should teammate Warren Luhing. Cousineau was 3-0-0 with a shutout and a 2.00 GAA. Luhning had a 5-point week.


Nashua Telegraph:

LOWELL 4, PROVIDENCE 3

Monsters mash Baby B’s
By MIKE ZHE, Telegraph Sports Correspondent

LOWELL, Mass. -- The visitor’s penalty box at Tsongas Arena is turning into the place where hopes at a road win go to die.

The Lowell Lock Monsters, owners of one of the American Hockey League’s best power plays, posted their third straight win Saturday night, scoring three times with the man advantage to knock off the Providence Bruins, 4-3.

A crowd of 5,503 at Tsongas Arena -- the largest since opening night, and likely one with at least a smidgen of mixed loyalties -- saw an intense, hard-hitting game that sprinted to a wild finish, involving a team that may wind up as the Lock Monsters’ No. 1 rival. Because they produce future Boston Bruins.

With Lowell leading by a goal but shorthanded in the game’s final minute, Vladimir Orszagh could have ended the drama, but his shot at the empty Bruin net hit both posts and rebounded out. Seconds later, Providence’s Shawn Bates saw his blast beat Monster goalie Marcel Cousineau (30 saves) but clang harmlessly off the right post.

The Lock Monsters (5-2) did the bulk of their damage in the first 6:28 of the second period, bulging the net three times to quickly transform a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead.

Warren Luhning kicked off the parade 1:40 in, screening the goalie and getting his stick on a soft Ray Schultz shot from the point. But the critical event came three minutes later, when Providence’s Joel Trottier was assessed a five-minute major penalty for throwing punches at Lowell defenseman John Namestnikov in a scrum behind the Lowell net.
Namestnikov, the veteran, did not retaliate, and his restraint earned his team an extended power play.

With Lowell a man up, the tying and go-ahead goals came just 28 seconds apart. Defenseman Mike Gaul tied the game at 6:00, one-timing a pass from across the point for his first goal of the season.

Mark Lawrence gave the Monsters the lead 28 seconds later, after a wheeling Namestnikov spotted him unattended on the doorstep and fed him a quick pass from behind the net. The goal was his team-leading fourth.

Gaul notched his second of the night 32 seconds into the third, perching himself on the goal-mouth and stuffing in a cross-ice Sean Haggerty pass for another power play tally. In 36 extra-man chances this season, Lowell has produced nine goals.

The B’s got to 4-3 with a fluke goal at 5:53 -- the puck deflected into the net when Cousineau stuck out his stick to break up a crossing pass -- but couldn’t even it. The loss dropped them to 2-4 on the season.

Providence had scored two goals during a 36-second span midway through the first period to wrest control of this one early. With Lowell shorthanded, former Boston Bruin Dennis Vaske spotted Jay Henderson streaking toward the net, and fed him perfectly for the game’s first goal.

Another former Bruin -- Bates -- made it 2-0 immediately after that, positioning himself on the right side of the net and backhanding a rebound of an Andre Savage shot into a vacated net.

Providence Journal:

P-Bruins lose at Lowell, 4-3

LOWELL, MASS. -- A goal by Mike Gaul 32 seconds into the third period gave Lowell a two-goal advantage and the Loch Monsters went on for a 4-3 victory over the Providence Bruins in an American Hockey League game last night.

Lowell (5-2) held a 3-2 advantage entering the final period. Providence's Joe Harney was called for a tripping penalty early in the period and the Loch Monsters converted the opportunity when Gaul connected down low at the far post for his second goal of the night, increasing his team's lead to 4-2.

Defenseman Terry Virtue closed the gap to 4-3 with his first goal as a P-Bruin when he attempted pass to Cameron Mann bounced off the skate of Lowell defenseman Vladimir Chebaturkin and into the Loch Monster net.

Even though Providence outshot Lowell 17-7 in the third period, the team would not be able to get closer. The P-Bruins outshot the Loch Monsters, 33-24, in the game.

Providence (2-4) had one final opportunity to tie the game when former P-Bruin Dean Malkoc was called for high-sticking with 2:26 remaining in the game. Providence pulled goalie John Grahame for a two-man advantage. The move almost paid off when Shawn Bates hit the right post with 10 seconds left.

The P-Bruins held a 2-0 lead after the first period following a power-play goal by Jay Henderson at 8:23 and an even-strength score by Bates 36 seconds later. However, Lowell would rebound in the second period for three goals, including two during five-minute, power-play opportunities.

Providence will resume play Wednesday night at St. John's, Newfoundland, looking for its first road win of the season and the 200th victory in franchise history.


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Providence 2 0 1--3
Lowell 0 3 1--4
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FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Providence, Henderson 2 (power play) (Barney, Vaske), 8:28. 2, Providence, Bates 3 (Savage), 8:59. Penalties: Namestnikov, Low (tripping), 2:41; Aitken, Pro (interference), 4:31; Namestnikov, Low (interference), 6:57; Haggerty, Low (Ob holding the stick), 9:36; Luhning, Low (slashing), 15:09; Malkoc, Low (cross
checking), 15:55; Barney, Pro (Ob holding the stick), 19:39.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Lowell, Luhning 3 (Malkoc, Schultz), 1:47. 4, Lowell, Gaul 1 (power play) (Haggerty, Chebaturkin), 6:00. 5, Lowell, Lawrence 4 (power play) (Namestnikov, Nabakov), 6:28. Penalties: Prpic, Pro (interference), 2:12; Trottier, Pro (fighting major, game misconduct), 5:09; Downey, Pro (roughing, charging), 10:41; Malkoc, Low (roughing), 10:41; Gaul, Low (interference), 13:23; Virtue, Pro (tripping), 17:16.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, Lowell, Gaul 2 (power play) (Kennedy, Haggerty), 0:32. 7, Providence, Virtue 1 (power play) (unassisted), 5:53. Penalties: Barney, Pro (Obstr tripping), 0:11; Luhning, Low (slashing), 4:26; Luhning, Low (high sticking), 14:21; Bates, Pro (tripping), 15:16; Malkoc, Low (high sticking), 17:38.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------
Providence 10 6 17--33
Lowell 4 13 7--24
---------------------------------
Power-play Conversions: Pro - 2 of 9, Low - 3 of 8. Goalies: Providence, Grahame (24 shots, 20 saves; record: 1-2-0). Lowell, Cousineau (33, 30; record: 5-1-0). A: 5,503. Referee: Joannette. Linesmen: Costello, Ross.


 


DATE: 10/24/98
OFFICIALS: Joanette, Costello, Ross ATT.: 5503
PERIOD TIME TEAM GOAL ASSIST ASSIST
1 8:28 Providence Jay Henderson (2)-Power Play Joe Barney Dennis Vaske
1 8:59 Providence Shawn Bates (3) Andre Savage  
2 1:40 Lowell Warren Luhning (3) Dean Malkoc Ray Shultz
2 6:00 Lowell Mike Gaul (1)- Power Play Sean Haggerty Vladimir Chebaturkin
2 6:28 Lowell Mark Lawerence (4)- Power Play Yevegeny Namestikov Dimitri Nabokov
3 0:32 Lowell Mike Gaul (2)- Power Play Mike Kennedy Sean Haggerty
3 5:53 Providence Terry Virtue (1)- Power Play Unassisted  


GOALS 1 2 3 O T
2 0 1 0 3
0 3 1 0 4
GOALTENDERS TEAM MINS SHOTS SAVES W/L
John Grahme PRO 60:00 24 20 1-2-0
Marcel Cousineau LOW 60:00 33 30 5-1-0
SHOTS 1 2 3 O T
10 6 17 0 33
4 13 7 0 24

PERIOD TIME TEAM PLAYER PENALTY
1 2:41 Lowell Yevegeny Namestikov Tripping
1 4:31 Providence Johnathan Aitken Interference
1 6:57 Lowell Yevegeny Namestikov Interference
1 9:36 Lowell Sean Haggerty Obstruction-Holding the Stick
1 15:09 Lowell Warren Luhning Slashing
1 15:55 Lowell Dean Malkoc Cross-Checking
1 19:39 Providence Joe Barney Obstruction-Holding the Stick
2 2:12 Providence Joel Prpic Interference
2 5:09 Providence Joel Trottier Fighting-Game Misconduct
2 10:41 Providence Aaron Downey Roughing, Charging
2 10:41 Lowell Dean Malkoc Roughing
2 13:23 Lowell Mike Gaul Interference
2 17:16 Providence Terry Virtue Tripping
3 0:11 Providence Joe Barney Obstruction-Tripping
3 4:26 Lowell Warren Luhning Slashing
3 14:21 Lowell Warren Luhning High-Sticking
3 15:16 Providence Shawn Bates Tripping
3 17:38 Lowell Dean Malkoc High-Sticking

Three Stars of the Game (Selected by Alex)

1. Marcel Cousineau Lowell
2. Warren Luhning Lowell
3. Sean Haggerty Lowell