ST. JOHN’S, NL – Colin Miller and Sean Backman each scored less than a minute apart in the second period, helping the Monarchs to a 4-1 win over St. John’s at the Mile One Centre in Canada.
The Monarchs (37-15-5-2) improved to 4-1-2-0 against the IceCaps (28-26-6-2) this season and the win was their first in three games at St. John’s this season.
Backman scored two goals, including an empty-netter. It marked his second straight multi-goal game and third multi-goal game of the season.
Miller (goal, assist) collected multiple points for the 11th time this season. He has at least one point in four of his last five games, registering two goals and four assists in that time.
Justin Auger gave the Monarchs a 1-0 lead just 1:11 into the first period when he buried a rebound chance off an Andrew Bodnarchuk shot. It was Auger’s ninth goal of the season and second in as many games.
The IceCaps tied the score at 4:04 in the second period when Ryan Olsen put St. John’s on the board with his third goal of the year.
Manchester scored twice in less than a minute early in the second period when Miller gave it a 2-1 lead at 6:51 and Backman’s goal at7:38 made it 3-1.
Backman potted the empty-net goal at 18:48 in the third to finish the scoring.
The Monarchs and IceCaps will square off in back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday night. Manchester returns home on Mar. 21 with a 7 p.m. game against the IceCaps.
Notes:
- Justin Auger has goals in each of his last two games, the first time in his career with goals in consecutive games. He has three goals in his last four games beginning on Mar. 6.
- Jordan Weal had two assists tonight, his third multi-point performance in his last five games since the start of March (3 goals, 4 assists).
- Zach O’Brien took his first penalty of the season with a tripping call going against him in the first period. It was his first penalty since Apr. 12, 2014.
- The Monarchs improved to 28-0-0-1 when entering the third period with a lead.
