GLENS FALLS, NY – The Manchester Monarchs evened their best-of-seven series with the Adirondack Thunder with a 3-0 victory Thursday night in Game 4 of the North Division Finals.
The Monarchs (6-2) beat the Thunder (6-4) on the back of 18 saves by Evan Cowley, and evened the seven-game series at 2-2.
Manchester got the scoring started at 5:23 of the first period on thethird goal of the playoffs by Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman. Matt Leitner sent a no-look pass to Zac Lynch at the top of the right circle, where Lynch skated into the slot and fed a pass to LaVallee-Smotherman at the left post, where he tapped the puck past Thunder goaltender Drew Fielding to make the score 1-0.
The Monarchs took a two-goal lead at 13:11 of the second period on the second goal of the playoffs by Leitner. LaVallee-Smotherman sent a cross-ice pass to Lynch along the blue line. Lynch filtered a pass to Leitner at the top of the crease, where Leitner tipped the puck over the shoulder of Fielding to give the Monarchs a 2-0 lead.
Manchester added an insurance goal at 11:17 of the third period on the second goal of the playoffs by Colton Saucerman. Tony Cameranesi sent a pass from the bottom of the left circle, to Saucerman at the right point, where Saucerman skated towards the slot and wristed a shot, past the blocker of Fielding to make the score 3-0.
The Monarchs and Thunder travel to Manchester for Game 5 of the North Division Finals on Sunday, May 6th at 6 p.m. at SNHU Arena.
NOTES: Zac Lynch extended his point streak to eight games… Evan Cowley collected a shutout in his first start of the playoffs… The Monarchs were a perfect six-for-six on the penalty kill.
Follow us on Twitter @prohockeynews
You must be logged in to post a comment.