Monarchs Fall in Shootout, 4-3, to Admirals
NORFOLK, VA – The Manchester Monarchs couldn’t complete a third period comeback, and fell to the Norfolk Admirals in a shootout, 4-3, Saturday night at Scope Arena.
The Monarchs (26-10-3-4) took three points out of their three-game series with the Admirals (15-22-4-0), and head to Reading, Pa., for the last game of a four-game road trip.
Norfolk broke the ice at 3:44 of the opening period when Frankie Simonelli scored his 5th goal of the season. A few seconds after Simonelli rang the left post, the Admirals defenseman snuck backdoor in the right slot and converted on a perfect pass from Mike Krieg to beat Monarchs goaltender, Jonah Imoo, to put the Admirals up, 1-0.
The Admirals added to their lead when Brodie Dupont continued his dominating series against the Monarchs with his 11th goal of the season at 15:35 of the opening period. Dupont deflected a pass out of the left corner by Aaron Harstad in the slot, and beat the glove of Imoo for the 2-0 Norfolk lead.
Manchester cut the Norfolk lead in half at 16:07 of the first period when Derek Arnold potted his 9thgoal of the season. Arnold received a pass in the slot from Gasper Kopitar and sent a one-timer past the blocker of Admirals goaltender, Steven Summerhays, to make the score, 2-1, Norfolk.
Norfolk took their two-goal lead back when Ben Murphy scored his 9th goal of the season at 15:25 of the second period. Murphy was sprung on a breakaway by Alex Pompeo, drove to the slot from the left wing and swept the puck off the post and around the left leg of Imoo, to make the score, 3-1, Admirals.
The Monarchs inched closer when Arnold converted on the power play, scoring his second goal of the game at 2:56 of the third period. Arnold found the loose puck just to the left of Summerhays and chopped a backhand past the Admirals goaltender, bringing the score to, 3-2, Admirals.
Manchester tied the game when Teddy Doherty notched his 5th goal of the season at 15:43 of the third period. Doherty snuck behind the Admirals defense, took a cross-ice pass from Quentin Shore and had nothing but a yawning cage to flip the puck into, tying the game, 3-3.
After a scoreless overtime period, the Admirals won the game in a shootout, 2-1.
The Monarchs return to in action Sunday, Jan. 29 (5 p.m.), when they finish their four-game road trip in Reading, Pa., to take on North Division rival, the Reading Royals.
Notes
- Derek Arnold scored twice for the first time since Dec. 3, 2016
- Arnold set the high-water mark on the season with 12 shots on goal
- Monarchs continue their point streak, taking points out of their last nine games
- Alexx Privitera returned to the lineup after being returned from loan by the Ontario Reign
