Monarchs bounce back in Glens Falls, beat Thunder

GLENS FALLS, NY – The Manchester Monarchs traveled to Glen Falls New York to take on the Adirondack Thunder on Saturday night, looking to get back into the win column. It took a little extra time but David Kolomatis scored 1:21 into overtime to give the Monarchs a 4-3 win.

Both teams traded chances early, but both goalies – Cedrick Desjardins for Manchester and Ken Appleby for Adirondack – made the easy saves to keep the game tied. The Monarchs were able to find the more consistent chances as the first period progressed but they couldn’t get past the Thunder defense to get quality shots on Appleby.

Things went back and forth until the Thunder finally found the back of the net as the period was winding down. Gunnar Hughes did the bulk of the work, scoring on a pass from Mitchell Heard with Ryan Lomberg getting the secondary assist. The first period ended with the Monarchs trailing by a goal but the shots favored the Monarchs 14-11.

The Monarchs looked to score the tying goal as they came back out for the second period. When Adirondack’s Joe Faust took a slashing minor early in the second, it put the Monarchs on the power play where Yann Sauve capitalized assisted by Kolomatis and Zac Larraza. The two teams continued to trade rushes after the goal, but both goalies were able to keep their teams in the game.

The two teams went back and forth in a very even matchup on the ice until Danick Paquette took a slashing minor at the end of the second period that put the Thunder on the power play. Twenty seconds later, the Thunder took the lead off a goal from Alexandre Carrier assisted by Heard and Lomberg. The second period finished with the Thunder leading the Monarchs 2-1 and the shots 28-26 Monarchs.

The Monarchs came back out for the third looking to tie the game and build more momentum. Both teams tightened up their defense and shots were coming at a premium. It seemed like both teams were selling out to protect the net.

Finally Lomberg picked off a breakout pass from the Monarchs and took it back sliding it past Desjardins for an unassisted goal. The Monarchs responded on a rush just a minute later as Gasper Kopitar scored assisted by Sauve and Kolomatis. The Monarchs continued to pound the net, but failed to initially find the equalizer.

Manchester head coach Richard Seeley pulled Desjardins in the final minutes of the game to give the Monarchs a six-on-five advantage. The Monarchs scored with the advantage as Michael Leitner lit the goal light with 38 seconds left in regulation. Leitner was assisted on the play by Stefan Legein and Sauve. The third ended tied 3-3 and the shots 37-32 in favor of Manchester.

The Monarchs came out for the overtime period with all the momentum. The Monarchs scored just over a minute into the overtime frame as Kolomatis ended it for Manchester assisted by Suave.

Third star in the game went to Manchester’s Kolomatis who scored the game winner for the Monarchs and got an assist in the game. Second star was awarded to the Monarchs’ Sauve who factored in on all the Monarchs goals with one of his own and three assists. First star went to Adirondack’s Lomberg who had a goal and two assists to factor into all of the Thunders goals.

The Monarchs will take on the Thunder again in a Sunday matinee game back at the Verizon Wireless Center in Manchester.

Contact the author at james.mcgowan@prohockeynews.com