GLENS FALLS, N.Y. – The Manchester Monarchs marked their first game of the 2019 calendar year with a win on Friday night, defeating the Adirondack Thunder, 5-4 in overtime.
For the first time in over two weeks, Manchester scored first, as captain David Kolomatis wristed a short-side shot past the glove of Thunder goaltender Devin Buffalo.
That goal came 5:55 into the first period, and Travis Walsh also provided the Monarchs with another goal before the first intermission, but the Thunder added first period goals of their own from James Henry (12:00) and Conor Riley (19:42).
Riley’s goal came just forty seconds after Walsh’s, a gritty rebound effort near the mouth of the net.
Following a scoreless second period, Dylan Walchuk gave Adirondack their first lead, but Walsh tied up the contest just over a minute later. Manchester’s Eric Shurhamer and Adirondack’s Matt Salhany provided additional goals, but neither side could break the deadlock in regulation.
In the end, it came down to Cory Ward’s tenth goal of the season, a spinning backhand over the blocker of Buffalo 1:48 into the overtime period.
The Monarchs return to action Saturday, Jan. 5 at 6 p.m., when they take on the Reading Royals at SNHU Arena.