Jeff Hamilton scored 61 seconds into overtime as Hartford defeated Manchester on Sunday evening, 4-3, putting an end to the Monarchs’ 13-game winning streak.
Manchester (20-1-1-0) also lost for the first time in 11 games this season at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
Hamilton, who set an AHL record last season with 15 game-winning goals, recorded his third goal of 2004-05. All three have been game-winners as well.
The game, which pitted the top two teams in the Atlantic Division for their first meeting of the season, was scoreless for nearly 38 minutes before the clubs combined for six goals in a span of 8:17. Mike Cammalleri‘s 20th goal of the season tied the score at 1-1 late in the second period ended the Wolf Pack’s shutout streak at 227:58, just under 22 minutes shy of the AHL record.
Manchester led by a goal twice in the third period, but Hartford answered each time. Craig Weller finished with a goal and an assist for the Pack, and Jason LaBarbera made 27 saves to run his record to 10-4-1 on the year.
Mathieu Garon (13-2-0) lost for just the second time in 15 games for the Monarchs.
Elsewhere on Sunday:
Michael Garnett made 38 saves as Chicago took a 3-2 shootout decision from San Antonio… Michel Ouellet scored his team-leading 13th goal of the season as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton beat Norfolk, 4-2… Patrice Bergeron had two goals and an assist for Providence in a 6-2 win over Hershey… Alexei Shkotov and Troy Riddle had a goal and an assist apiece as Worcester edged Portland, 3-2… Eric Staal and Chuck Kobasew each had a goal and two assists for Lowell in a 6-4 win over Springfield… Brandon Bochenski scored twice and Jason Spezza had three assists, but Binghamton still lost to Manitoba, 5-4.
