MANCHESTER, NH – Sam Brittain made 40 saves in Game 5 of the North Division Finals, but the Manchester Monarchs couldn’t clinch the series and fell to the Brampton Beast, 2-1, Wednesday night at SNHU Arena.
Despite the loss, the Monarchs (7-4) continue to lead the series, 3-2, and have a chance to close out the Beast (6-5) on Friday night in Brampton, Ontario.
Brampton started the scoring at 9:38 of the first period on the power play, when David Ling scored his 1st goal of the playoffs. Brandon Marino took a shot along the right wall that deflected to the bottom of the left circle off Sam Brittain, and Ling was waiting for the rebound. In one motion, Ling corralled the puck and wristed a one-timer past a diving Brittain to give the Beast a 1-0 lead.
The Monarchs tied things up at 15:21 of the second period on a power-play goal by Daniel Doremus. Doremus cut across the slot and tipped a David Kolomatis shot from the left point over the blocker of Fucale to tie the game, 1-1, on his 4th goal of the playoffs.
At 9:35 of the third period, Brampton regained their lead on a power-play goal by Reggie Traccitto. Jordan Henry took the puck along the right point and walked the blue line before sending a pass to Traccitto who fired a one-timer from the top of the left circle past the blocker of Brittain to give the Beast a 2-1 lead.
The Monarchs were unable to score the tying goal despite a late power play and now head to Brampton to play Game 6 of the North Division Finals on Fridaynight (7:15 p.m.) at the Powerade Centre.
Notes
- Sam Brittain made 20 stops in the second period, the most in any frame this post-season
- Daniel Doremus extended his point streak to four games (3g, 3a)
- Jordan Henry and Reggie Traccitto both recorded seven shots on goal
- The 42 shots by Brampton were the most against the Monarchs during the playoffs
