MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Manchester Monarchs broke their five-game losing streak on New Year’s Eve, defeating to the Maine Mariners, 3-2.
Manchester’s Jack Nevins and Maine’s Louie Rowe dropped the gloves just 17 seconds into the contest, the first of four melees during the game, but early goals proved hard to come by, with the first coming 9:03 into the second period.
That goal came from Maine’s Morgan Adams-Moisan, a blue line slapshot nudging its way past the right-hand side of Manchester netminder Charles Williams.
Manchester equalized just moments before the second intermission as Daniil Miromanov launched another blue line shot, this one heading through the five hole of Maine goaltender Brandon Halverson.
Cory Ward slipped the puck past the left post 7:49 into the third period, providing Manchester their first lead of the night and enough offense to secure the victory. Captain David Kolomatis provided an empty net goal with just over a minute on the clock, with Adams-Moisan adding another goal just seconds later.
Adams-Moisan was tossed from the contest immediately after the goal after he responded forcefully to a shove by Nevins.
Manchester is now 2-5 on the season against the expansion Mariners, avenging a pair of losses against Maine last week.
The Monarchs end the 2018 portion of this season with31 points, a pace they will need to improve upon for a playoff berth this spring.
Manchester next hits the ice on Friday night in upstate New York with a matchup against Adirondack (7 p.m.) followed by a return to Manchester for showdowns against Reading (Saturday, 6 p.m.) and Norfolk (Sunday, 3 p.m.)