MANCHESTER, NH – A new look Manchester Monarchs squad broke out of their four-game slide on Wednesday morning, earning a 4-1 victory over the Adirondack Thunder.
The two teams traded goes over the first two frames, with Spencer Watson striking 16:16 into the first period, followed by Connor Riley’s goal for Adirondack 15:30 into the second period.
Manchester responded with a trio of goals in the game’s final two minutes, including one from Nic Pierog and a pair from Matt Marcinew, including an empty net score for Marcinew with 45 seconds left.
The game marked Manchester’s first without longtime defenseman Colton Saucerman, who was traded to the Idaho Steelheads on Monday, one of several transactions for the Monarchs over the past few days. .
Saucerman, 26, played 12 games with the Monarchs this season, tallying one goal and three assists for four points with 23 penalty minutes.
Coming to Manchester as part of the deal is forwards Jack Nevins and Joe Pendenza.
Pendenza, 27, played 11 games with the Steelheads this season, recording three goals and four assists for seven points. He had four shots on goal against the Thunder. Nevins did not appear in Wednesday’s contest.
The Monarchs return to the ice on Friday night with a 7 p.m. puck drop against the Orlando Solar Bears.