GLENS FALLS, N.Y. – Cory Ward scored with 3.8 seconds remaining in in overtime to give the Manchester Monarchs a 4-3 win over the Adirondack Thunder on Friday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
The Monarchs (2-1-0-1) and Thunder (2-0-1-0) have now played overtime in two of their first three meetings, with 12 game remaining between the North Division rivals.
The Monarchs opened the scoring when Alex Guptill netted his 2nd goal of the season at 18:14 of the first period. Guptill took a cross-slot pass off the backhand of Matt Leitner, and beat Thunder goaltender, Mason McDonald, low glove for the ice breaker and a 1-0 Monarchs lead.
The Thunder evened the score when Mathieu Brodeur netted his 1st goal of the season at 5:29 of the second period. The Monarchs were on the penalty kill when Joey Diamond received an extra two minutes after a fight, and the Thunder took advantage quickly with Brodeur sending the puck off a Manchester stick past Monarchs goaltender, Colin Stevens, to level the score, 1-1.
Adirondack grabbed the lead when Brett Pollock scored his 1st goal of the season at 8:11 of the middle frame. Pollock took a slap-pass from the right point off the stick of Alex Wall, and redirected the shot into an open cage behind Stevens, making the score, 2-1.
The Monarchs tied the game when Joe Pendenza netted his 2nd goal of the season at 17:03 of the second period. After huge hit by Tony Turgeon in the right corner that caused a turnover, Pendenza redirected a pass from Justin Agosta that trickled through McDonald, making the score, 2-2.
Pendenza got back to work with :10 seconds remaining in the second period, netting his second goal of the night and 3rd on the season. The Monarchs held the puck in the Thunder zone on a strong forecheck, and Pendenza took a pass from Agosta in the slot, skated to his forehand, and roofed a wrister over McDonald’s glove, sending the Monarchs into the third period with a 3-2 lead.
The Thunder tied things up when Brian Ward netted his 2nd goal of the season at 3:46 of the final period. Ward skated in on Stevens on a partial breakaway and at the last minute, David Kolomatis lifted Ward’s stick, but the puck fooled Stevens, and slid past his right pad, tying the score, 3-3.
Cory Ward ended the game when he netted his 2nd goal of the season with 3.8 seconds remaining in the overtime period. After extended offensive-zone time while playing 3-on-3, Pendenza sent a shot on McDonald that flipped into the air, where a crashing Ward punched the puck home for the game-winner.
The Monarchs are back in action Friday, Oct. 28 (7 p.m.), when they host the Cincinnati Cyclones for the first time in franchise history on Heritage Night at SNHU Arena.
NOTES
- Alex Guptill scored a goal for the second consecutive night
- Matt Leitner extended his point streak to four games
- Cory Ward scored the game-winning-goal for the second consecutive game
