EXETER, NH – Michael Doherty scored two goals, and the Manchester Monarchs completed their pre-season sweep of the Worcester Railers with a 5-1 victory Saturday night at The Rinks at Exeter.
The Monarchs opened the scoring for the second-consecutive night, and it was Doherty who broke the ice at 15:05 of the first period. Doherty took a push pass from Rob Hamilton, toe-dragged and roofed his shot past Railers goaltender, Mitch Gillam, for the 1-0 lead.
Manchester made it 2-0 when Tony Turgeon lit the lamp at 16:12 of the first period. Turgeon found the loose puck just inside the right dot, and sent a snap-shot past the blocker of Gillam. After the referee and goal judge conversed, it was determined Turgeon’s shot hit the back bar for the goal.
Worcester got on the scoreboard at 7:15 of the second period when Frankie DiChiara beat Monarchs goaltender, Evan Cowley. DiChiara circled the offensive zone and at the top of the slot, slid a backhander through traffic to make the score, 2-1, Monarchs.
The Monarchs took their two-goal lead back just :18 seconds after the DiChiara score, when Doherty scored his second goal of the night at 7:33 of the middle frame. Doherty took a pass from Gasper Kopitar in the slot, and beat Gillam from point blank to make it a 3-1 Manchester lead.
Zac Lynch made it a 4-1 Monarchs advantage when he scored his first of the pre-season at 15:38 of the second period. Lynch dug the puck out of the left corner, drove to the slot and slid the puck five-hole on Gillam.
Manchester put the game away when Connor Bates scored at 17:38 of the third period. Bates tipped a David Kolomatis shot from the blue line through Gillam to put the Monarchs up, 5-1.
The Monarchs open the 2017-18 regular season Oct. 14 (7:05 p.m.), when they drop the puck against the Worcester Railers at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA. Opening night at the SNHU Arena Oct. 21. Click here for tickets.
NOTES
- Evan Cowley started in net for the Monarchs and earned the victory
- David Kolomatis, Sam Kurker and Craig Wyszomirski made their 2016-17 debuts
- Martin Nemcik and Michael Doherty both dropped the gloves in the third period
