Even when they’re not at their best, the Manchester Monarchs are tough to beat.
Mike Cammalleri scored three power-play goals and Mathieu Garon was perfect in relief as Manchester posted a 5-4 shootout win over Lowell, its 13th victory in 14 games this season.
Manchester, which had trailed for just over 27 minutes of playing time all season entering the game, allowed the game’s first goal for the first time all year and was down 3-1 before Cammalleri’s final two goals, 2:35 apart early in the second period. Allan Rourke put the Lock Monsters back in front, but rookie Matt Ryan tied it again early in the third.
Garon made 13 saves in the third period and overtime, then stopped all four Lowell attempts in the shootout to go to 9-1-0 on the year, lowering his GAA to 1.28. Starting goaltender Adam Hauser was lifted after allowing four goals in two periods of work.
Yanick Lehoux recorded two assists to maintain the AHL’s scoring lead with 26 points, one ahead of Cammalleri.
Elsewhere on Friday:
Randy Jones recorded a goal and two assists as Philadelphia posted its 12th straight win, a 3-1 decision over Bridgeport… Jason Spezza scored twice and Antoine Vermette got the game-winner in overtime as Binghamton beat Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 3-2… Kyle Wellwood recorded a goal and two assists for St. John’s in a 5-3 win over Manitoba… Mike Smith made 25 saves as Houston ended Rochester’s six-game winning streak with a 2-1 decision… Stanislav Chistov scored twice and Pierre Parenteau netted the winner with 6:55 to go as Cincinnati beat Chicago, 4-3, to end a seven-game losing skid… Mark Hartigan had two goals for Syracuse in a 4-1 win over Hamilton, ending the Crunch’s seven-game winless slide… Craig Anderson made 19 saves and improved to 8-1-1 as Norfolk beat San Antonio in a shootout, 4-3… Ben Guite scored the winning goal with 6:43 left in regulation as Providence beat Springfield, 4-2… Jakub Klepis scored twice, including the winner 1:11 into overtime, as Portland defeated Hartford, 3-2… Eric Manlow picked up two goals and Derek Meech got the winner with 5:09 remaining as Grand Rapids beat Cleveland, 3-2… Peter Budaj stopped 26 shots for Hershey in a 4-2 win over Albany… Scottie Upshall picked up a goal and two assists for the second straight night as Milwaukee beat Utah, 7-3.
