The Adirondack Thunder will be moving onto the second round of the Kelly Cup playoffs after beating the Manchester Monarchs in five games. The Monarchs were able to stave off elimination after winning game four in Adirondack. But couldn’t rise to the occasion twice as they were knocked out with a 3-0 defeat.
Doug Carr got his fourth start of the series opposite Ken Appleby who had started all five games for the Thunder. For the Opening face-off the Monarchs looked tired and couldn’t get much going early. The Thunder where all over the Monarchs through the beginning of the first, but couldn’t solve Carr.
The Monarchs struggled to break the puck out of their zone leading to many of the Thunder’s opportunities. Thunder captain Peter MacArthur got the scoring started on a goal assisted by Mitchell Heard and Ryan Constant. The Monarchs started to respond right after the goal, pounding away at Appleby trying to tie the game.
But couldn’t slide anything past the hot goalie. The Thunder continued to pressure the Monarchs, who grew increasly frustrated at their lack of results. Derek Arnold took a double minor high sticking penalty that put the Thunder on the their second power play of the game.
Ryan Constant scored on the power play for the Thunder assisted by Ryan Lomberg and Greg Wolfe. The Monarchs struggled too find the back of the net as the first period expired, after one it was 2-0 Thunder with the shots 11 to 7 for the Thunder. The second period started started the opposite way for the Monarchs.
They looked as if they have been shot out of a cannon through the early part of the second. Appleby was under a tremendous amount of stress through much of the second period, with the Monarchs walking right through the Thunder defense. The Monarchs tried their hardest, but couldn’t find the back of the net on Appleby.
Doug Carr was great in net for the Monarchs when needed making the saves to keep the game close. But the Thunder continued push themselves away on a goal from Dana Fraser assisted Ryan Constant. At the other end Appleby was standing on his head keeping his shut out alive for the Thunder.
Joey Diamond missed a wide open net to get the Monarchs on the board. The second period ended with the Monarchs still down 3-0 and the shots 25 to 18 for the Monarchs. The third period was similar to all the third periods in the series, defense was prioritized over all else.
Both teams sold out completely to block any shot in the slot or at the point. Both teams were playing their best defense of the game and were able to keep the score the same. The Monarchs were met by a wall of Thunder defense, and anything that got through Appleby was there to save them.
The Monarchs struggled again to break the puck out of the zone and couldn’t get anything going to save their season. As the period got into the final minutes the Monarchs gave Appleby all he could handle, but couldn’t get anything past him. The Monarchs watched the clock tick down on their season with every shot they attempted.
The Monarchs lost to the Thunder 3-0 with the final shots 33 to 24 for the Monarchs. Third star Greg Wolfe, the killer for the Monarchs who has had a point in every single game this series and added an assist in game five. Second star Ken Appleby, he mad 33 saves in the shutout victory.
First star Ryan Constant, he had a goal and assist to finish off the Monarchs in game five. The first season in Manchester was widely a success for the Monarchs and the ECHL, but a first round exit ends it early then many Monarchs fans expected. A great season comes to an end, and a gritty team with a lot of heart moves onto the second round.
Welcome to the Kelly Cup playoffs.
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