GLENS FALLS, NY – The Manchester Monarchs staved off elimination Monday night, beating the Adirondack Thunder, 2-1, in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
After a scoreless first period, the Monarchs drew first blood when Matt Leitner scored his 1st goal of the playoffs at 16:36 of the first period. Joey Diamond got the play started with a strong effort, digging the puck from behind the net and trying a wrap-around that was stopped by Thunder goaltender, Ken Appleby, but the rebound fell directly to Leitner’s stick, and the rookie forward sent home his first career playoff goal on the power play, giving the Monarchs a 1-0 lead.
Adirondack tied things up late in the first period when Ryan Lomberg netted his 2nd goal of the playoffs at 19:43 while on the power play. Lomberg took a cross-ice pass from Greg Wolfe, skated into the right face-off circle, and lifted a wrist shot over the glove of Monarchs goaltender, Doug Carr, tying the game, 1-1.
The Monarchs regained the lead when Darik Angeli scored his 1st goal of the playoffs at 11:00 of the third period. After a strong forecheck by Zac Larraza created a turnover, Larraza sent a backhand pass to a wide-open Angeli, who roofed a one-timer over the glove of Appleby from just inside the right face-off circle, making the score, 2-1, Monarchs.
The Monarchs held solid in the last minutes of the game when Appleby was pulled for the extra attacker, and won their first game of the series.
The Monarchs return to the Verizon Wireless Arena for Game 5 of this Eastern Conference Quarterfinals matchup Wednesday, April 20 (7 p.m.) from the Verizon Wireless Arena.
Notes
- Matt Leitner scored his 1st career playoff goal
- Darik Angeli netted his 1st career playoff goal
- Doug Carr netted his first playoff win with 29 saves
- Rich Seeley wins first career playoff game as head coach
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