MANCHESTER, NH – Slava Voynov tapped the puck into the empty side of the Worcester Sharks goal with 1:55 expired in overtime to push his Manchester Monarchs into the Eastern Conference finals. With the Game 6 win the Monarchs move into the conference finals for the first time since 2007. Ironically the club will face the Hershey Bears, the team that swept them out in 2007.
Worcester broke onto the scoreboard early when Ryan Vesce was credited for a goal after the puck bounced off Manchester defenseman Andrew Campbell and past Monarchs netminder Jonathan Bernier.
The lead held until nearly the mid-way point of regulation when a persistent effort by Gabe Gauthier brought the clubs even. The Worcester defense did not contain Gauthier and with his third attempt the Monarchs winger defeated Worcester netminder Alex Stalock.
The two clubs could not find a way to defeat either Stalock or Bernier during regulation. But early in the overtime period Manchester’s Bud Holloway found Andrei Loktionov with a pass. Loktionov then worked a give-and-go with Voynov to set up Voynov’s series-winning goal.
Contact Tom.Schettino@prohockeynews.com
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