The Manchester Monarchs earned a 4-1 victory over the Utah Grizzlies on Saturday night, earning a three-game sweep during their first ever series in Utah.
Utah’s Chris Leibinger got the contest’s first goal 20 seconds into the second period, his first goal of the season. However, that would be all for the Grizzlies, with Manchester netminder Charles Johnson posting his highest one-game save percentage to-date this year.
On the other end of the ice, Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman responded with a shorthanded goal seven minutes later and Matt Schmalz put Manchester in the lead a minute after that.
Joel Lowry and Zac Lynch added insurance goals in the third frame.
With the win, Manchester (11-7-1-1) returns to first place in the ECHL North Division, two points ahead of the Wheeling Nailers and three points ahead of the Reading Royals.
The Monarchs will hit the ice again on Saturday, Dec. 2 with a 7:05 p.m. start against Worcester.
They return home on Friday, Dec. 8 with a 7:00 p.m. start against Norfolk.
