GLENS FALLS, NY – The Manchester Monarchs are in trouble.
Following Tuesday’s 5-3 defeat, the Monarchs are down two games to one against the Adirondack Thunder in their best-of-seven ECHL North Division Finals series. However, how the defeat unfurled raised additional causes for concern.
Manchester escaped the first unscathed, but Adirondack would grab the game’s first goal 2:35 into the second period thanks to Ryan Schmelzer.
After a steal by Adirondack’s Desmond Bergin, Schmelzer moved into the slot and wristed the puck past Manchester netminder Charles Williams, giving him his fifth goal of the playoffs and his second goal in as many games.
Schmelzer’s score opened the floodgates for four more goals, the first time in franchise history that Adirondack has scored five goals in a single period.
After the fifth goal, Williams left the contest for the second straight game and only the fourth time in 49 appearances over the regular season and playoffs.
Rob Hamilton’s power play goal 4:18 into the second period and Tony Turgeon’s power play goal nearly 11 minutes later would give Manchester some home, but the Thunder’s offensive explosion proved too much to overcome.
Kevin Morris would add Manchester’s final goal, another power play goal, with 9:14 left in the game.
The Monarchs return to SNHU Arena on Sunday at 6 pm, and they could be facing elimination depending on Thursday night’s 7 o’clock contest in Glens Falls.
If necessary, Manchester would host Game 6 on Monday at 7 p.m., with the final game of the series heading back to Adirondack on Wednesday if things are still deadlocked.
