WORCESTER, Mass. – The Manchester Monarchs are atop the ECHL North Division for now thanks to a timely victory over an old foe.
In the 12th game between them this season, the Monarchs defeated the Worcester Railers on Sunday afternoon, 4-1.
Manchester came into the game with a five-game losing streak and during each of those games the Monarchs were outscored in the first period.
Sunday was no different, with Worcester getting onto the scoreboard first thanks to a Matt Lane goal 10:20 into the contest.
However, Manchester responded in the second period with three scores of their own from Rob Hamilton, Matt Schmalz and Keegan Iverson.
Iverson’s shot from the right-hand circle was Manchester’s first power play goal in a week, going scoreless during their previous 13 power play opportunities up to that point.
With just under two minutes in the game and Worcester’s net emptied, Spencer Watson seal Manchester’s victory with his first goal since returning to the Monarchs earlier this week.
Evan Cowley stopped 30 shots for Manchester in his first win since returning from Springfield, his fifth game of the season with 30 or more saves for the Monarchs.
With the win, Manchester (34-20-3-2) climbed to 73 points, one point above idle Adirondack in the division standings. As it stands right now, Manchester a combination of eight more wins and/or losses by Worcester to clinch a playoff spot.
The Monarchs return to the ice again in Glens Falls, NY on Friday night at 7 to face Adirondack in a rematch of last weekend’s two-game set at SNHU Arena.
