MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Manchester Monarchs could not extend their four-game winning streak on Friday night, falling 5-4 at the hands of the Reading Royals.
Reading scored first, with David Drake lighting the lamp 5:20 into the first period, and Alex Roos would give Reading another goal just under two minutes later.
Manchester’s Jack Nevins scored his first goal of the year after that to bring the Monarchs back within a goal, but they wouldn’t gain further ground in the opening frame.
Following Nevins’ goal, Chris McCarthy’s seventh goal of the year restored Reading’s two-goal lead, a two-goal lead that found itself restored again later in the first period by Josh McDonald after a power play goal from Manchester’s Cory Ward.
Manchester added goals from Ward and Danil Mironov in the second period, sandwiching the second goal of the game from Roos.
Neither team could find the back of the net in the third period, with new signing Danny Tirone stepping into goal for Manchester after the departure of Chris Driedger at the first intermission.
Despite the loss, one silver lining for the Monarchs came from their power play production, with Ward and Mironov each providing a goal while on the advantage.
Prior to Friday, the Monarchs had scored just one power play goal at home in 11 contests.
The Monarchs hit the ice gain at 6 p.m. to face the Maine Mariners.
