BRAMPTON, Ontario – The Manchester Monarchs scored three unanswered second-period goals and defeated the Brampton Beast by a score of 4-1 Friday night at the Powerade Centre.
The Monarchs (37-23-7-4) evened up the season series against the Beast (39-24-3-5) with a record of 1-0-1-0 this season and put themselves just one point behind the Beast for third place in the North Division standings.
Brampton opened the scoring at 4:42 of the first period on Guillaume Asselin’s first goal of the season. After a shot from the neutral zone bounced in on Charles Williams, the rebound was left at the bottom of the left circle with players crashing the net. Chris Auger got there first and slid a pass to the top of the crease, where Chris Leveille shot it towards the open net. Asselin was there to help it in, as the puck tapped off his stick and in, giving the Beast a 1-0 lead.
The Monarchs responded at 12:55 of the first when Rihards Bukarts scored his 16th goal of the season, putting a shot top shelf over the blocker of Andrew D’Agostini. Cory Ward forced a turnover in the neutral zone and pushed a pass along to Kevin Morris, making his way over the blue line, creating a 2-on-1 with Bukarts. Morris sent a cross-ice pass to Bukarts, who held on to it until the bottom of the left circle, where he ripped a shot over the shoulder of D’Agostini to tie it 1-1.
Manchester took its first lead of the night at 2:36 of the second period, as Kevin Morris scored his 16thgoal of the season. After a Monarchs faceoff win, Bukarts circled out to the left point, where he sent a pass cross-ice to David Kolomatis. Kolomatis took a shot towards goal, where Morris was perfectly placed in front of the net and tipped the shot past D’Agostini, giving Manchester a 2-1 lead.
The Monarchs added to their lead with a power-play goal by Daniel Doremus at 5:36 of the second period. Kolomatis walked along the blue line with the puck and slid a pass to Bukarts at the top of the left circle. Bukarts cut towards the middle of the slot, bringing a defender with him and leaving a clear lane to pass to Doremus, waiting beside the net, where he beat an outstretched D’Agostini, making it 3-1, Manchester.
At 8:09 of the second period, Manchester made it a three-goal game, off Chris Leone’s fifth goal of the season. Ashton Rome chased a puck into the left corner and wheeled out to the left hashmark. Rome found Leone streaking into the offensive zone at the top of the left circle. Leone took a few strides towards goal and put the shot over the blocker side of D’Agostini and finished the scoring for the night, making it 4-1, Monarchs.
The Monarchs close the regular season Saturday, April 8 (7:15 p.m.), when they complete their two-game series with the Brampton Beast at the Powerade Centre.
The Monarchs will open the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs at SNHU Arena for games A & B of their North Division semifinal matchup Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15. For tickets to the Kelly Cup Playoffs, click HERE!
Notes
- Cory Ward recorded his 25th professional assist.
- Charles Williams improved to a perfect 3-0-0-0 in his career.
- Monarchs improve to 33-0-3-2 when leading after two periods.
