MANCHESTER, NH – The Manchester Monarchs fell to the Adirondack Thunder, 4-3, Friday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena, but clinched the East Division with some help from across the league on Fan Appreciation Night.
The Monarchs (38-24-4-5) will close out their 15-game series with the Thunder (38-27-2-4) Saturday night, in a game that will have playoff implications for both teams.
Monarchs struck first on Troy Power’s 5th goal of the season at 7:23 of the first period. On the rush, Power tried to pass the puck to Alex Lintuniemi but the puck was deflected up into the air, and while trying to clear the zone, Adirondack’s Louick Marcotte tipped the puck up and over Thunder goaltender, Ken Appleby, for the early Monarchs lead.
Adirondack tied things up on a James Henry goal at 9:34 of the first period, his 7th of the season. After a Monarchs turnover in the defensive zone, Henry and Monarchs newcomer, Jacob Middleton, swiped at the puck simultaneously, and the puck found its way over the glove shoulder of Monarchs goaltender, Colin Stevens, tying the game, 1-1.
The Thunder took the lead on the 29th goal of the season from Michael Kirkpatrick at 11:33 of the first period. Kirkpatrick found a loose puck at the Monarchs blue line, skated to the left face-off circle and fired a wrister over the blocker shoulder of Stevens, giving the Thunder a 2-1 lead.
Adirondack extended their lead with one minute remaining in the opening period, when Greg Wolfe scored a short-handed tally, his 15th goal of the season. While on the power play, Stevens tried to play the puck in the left corner but mishandled the biscuit, giving the puck to Wolfe who skated directly to the goal to stuff a backhander into the yawning cage, giving the Thunder a 3-1 lead.
The Thunder added to their lead when Dana Fraser scored his 9th goal of the season at 19:16 of the second period. While on the power play, Kirkpatrick walked off the left half-boards and sent a wrister on Stevens, but Fraser was in good position to tip the puck through Stevens’ five-hole, giving Adirondack the 4-1 lead.
Michael Boivin brought the Monarchs back to a two-goal deficit when he scored his 9th goal of the season while on the power play. Boivin took a pass from Lintuniemi and one-timed a slap shot from the top of the left face-off circle, beating Appleby high glove, making the score, 4-2.
The Monarchs closed the deficit to one when Zac Larraza netted his 18th tally of the season at 19:34 of the final frame. With the goalie pulled, Larraza sent a wrister from the left circle that was blocked right back to him, but he didn’t miss the second chance, roofing a wrister over Appleby’s glove, closing the gap to 4-3.
The Monarchs would put pressure on Adirondack in the final seconds, but couldn’t complete the comeback with the goalie pulled.
Manchester returns to the ice Saturday night (7 p.m.), when they visit the Thunder in final game of the regular season.
Notes
- Doug Carr relieved Stevens to begin the third period
- Danick Paquette returned to the Monarchs lineup after missing 11 games (Mar. 6)
- Zac Larraza recorded his 7th multi-point game of the season
- The Monarchs clinched the franchise’s 3rd consecutive division title
