MANCHESTER, NH – The Manchester Monarchs closed out a three-game homestand with a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Cyclones on Sunday, Oct. 30 at SNHU Arena.
The Monarchs (4-2-0-1) and Cyclones (2-5-0-0) completed their season series, and will only meet again if both teams make the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
“We did a good job with the little things tonight, and made the proper decisions on the ice when we needed to,” said Monarchs head coach, Rich Seeley. “We played more of a blue-collar game and were rewarded when we got to the dirty areas on the ice. It was a nice response from last night.”
The Cyclones opened the scoring at 12:48 of the first period when Gabryel Boudreau netted his 1st goal of the season. Boudreau received a pass from Eric Knodel in the neutral-zone before walking into the slot from the left-wing boards to beat Monarchs goaltender, Sam Brittain, through the five-hole.
Justin Agosta evened the game for the Monarchs with his 2nd goal of the season at 13:29 in the first period. Leitner circled outside right circle to find Agosta in the high slot for a one-timer that he sent through the five-hole of Cyclones goaltender, Michael Houser, to make the score, 1-1.
The Monarchs extended their lead with Cory Ward’s 4th goal of the season at 4:16 in the second period. Tony Turgeon threw the puck to the front of the net to a crashing Ward, who got his stick on the puck and deflected the puck low glove-side past Houser, making the score, 2-1, Monarchs.
Joey Diamond gave the Monarchs a 3-1 lead at 8:37 in the second period when he scored his 3rd goal of the year. Gasper Kopitar found Diamond in the slot from behind the net where he collected the puck surrounded by three Cyclones defenders and shot the puck high glove-side past Houser.
The Cyclones bounced back with Rob De Fulviis’ 1st goal of the season at 13:25 in the third period. Andrew Yogan found De Fulviis skating to the right-wing circle where he beat Brittain high stick-side with a wrist shot.
Gasper Kopitar finalized the win for the Monarchs with a short-handed goal from center ice into an empty net at 19:10 in the third period, sealing the Monarchs victory.
The Monarchs are back on the ice Tuesday, Nov. 1 (7 p.m.), when they travel to Glens Falls N.Y. to take on the Adirondack Thunder in a North Division showdown.
NOTES
- Joey Diamond is on a three-game point streak
- Gasper Kopitar scored two points (1g, 1a) in his return to the lineup
- Craig Wyszomirski appeared in his first game of the season
- Sam Brittain recorded his first win of the season
