MANCHESTER, NH – Left wing Bud Holloway scored his third game-winning goal in the 2010 Calder Cup Atlantic Division Series B, this one came two minutes into the overtime period to extend the Manchester Monarchs lead in the series to 3-0 as they sunk the Portland Pirates, 2-1, at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Monday night.
“(The overtime goal) is a huge difference,” said Monarchs Head Coach Mark Morris. “I’m glad the overtime didn’t go any longer than it did. It was a taxing game that could have gone either way. We had them on their heels early on in the game; could have been a wide margin. They withstood our good energy.
“3-0 is a pretty tough deficit to overcome. It leaves us in a good state of mind.”
Holloway’s third goal of the playoffs at the two-minute mark of the overtime period gave the Monarchs the 2-1 victory. Left wing Dwight King gathered the puck along the right wing boards from center Justin Azevedo. King found Holloway streaking toward the net from the left wing boards. Going down to one knee, Holloway quickly one-timed a shot that beat Pirates netminder Jean-Phillippe Lamoureux on his blocker side. This was Holloway’s third goal in as many games in the playoff series.
The Monarchs started the scoring off early in the first period as center Marc-Andre Cliche netted his first goal of the playoffs only 35 seconds into the game. Center Corey Elkins gathered a loose puck that was sent down low by defenseman Joe Piskula. From behind the net, Elkins sent a behind the back pass that found Cliche standing just outside the crease. The center one-timed the puck by Lamoureux to put the Monarchs up 1-0.
Portland tied the game at 1-1 at the 7:43 mark of the second period with defenseman Mike Weber’s first goal of the playoffs. Left wing Luke Adam carried the puck out in front of the net from the right post next to Monarchs netminder Jonathan Bernier. Adam lost the puck which ended up trickling out to the left point. Weber blistered a one-timer that beat Bernier glove side. Right wing Kyle Rank also earned an assist on the tying goal.
Bernier (3-0) earned his third playoff victory stopping 37-of-38 shots…Lamoureux (0-3) took his third playoff loss of the season with 22 saves.
Manchester went 0-for-3 on the power play. Portland was 0-for-4 with the man advantage.
NOTABLES: The Monarchs end the streak that had them losing four consecutive post-season home games dating back to a 4-3 win over Providence in Game 5 of the 2007 Calder Cup Atlantic Division Finals…Manchester has a 3-0 lead in a playoff series; the Monarchs led Worcester 3-0 during the 2007 Calder Cup Atlantic Division Semifinals before winning game six and advancing to the division finals…Left wing Bud Holloway scored his team-leading third goal of the playoffs, all of which are game-winning goals…Holloway’s three game-winners lead the AHL…Goaltender Jonathan Bernier recorded his third win in the post-season with 37 saves…Center Corey Elkins (1-2=3) and center Justin Azevedo (0-3=3) have collected a point in all three playoff games.
The Monarchs are set to play game four of the 2010 Calder Cup Atlantic Division Semifinals on Tuesday, April 20 against the Pirates at 7:00 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Arena. Catch all of the play-by-play action of Monarchs hockey with Ken Cail on the Monarchs Radio Network WSMN 1590 AM and at www.manchestermonarchs.com.
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