NORFOLK, VA – The Manchester Monarchs stormed back from a three-goal deficit to beat the Norfolk Admirals in overtime, 5-4, Friday night at the Norfolk Scope Arena.
With the win, the Monarchs (6-4-0-1) took the first of eight meetings with the Admirals (1-7-2-0).
Norfolk opened the scoring when Nick MacNeil scored his third goal of the season at 12:36 of the first period. MacNeil took a pass off the right half-boards from Paul Rodrigues on a three-on-three rush, and beat Monarchs goaltender, Jack Flinn, to put the Admirals up, 1-0.
The Monarchs tied the game at 14:21 of the opening period when Cory Ward netted his fifth goal of the season. Ward took a pass from Daniel Ciampini while sitting on the right face-off circle, and beat Norfolk goaltender, Connor Knapp, with a wrist shot to make the score, 1-1.
Norfolk regained their lead when Jaedon Descheneau potted his second goal of the season at 17:25 of the first period. Descheneau was posted to the right of Flinn and banged home the loose puck off a deflected Anthony Calabrese pass, to give the Admirals a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
The Admirals took a 3-1 lead when Paul Rodrigues scored his first goal of the season at 3:39 of the second period. Rodrigues was skating towards the slot when the puck hit his legs and deflected past Flinn.
Aaron Harstad extended the Norfolk lead when he scored his first goal of the season at 6:54 of the middle frame. Harstad sent a wrister from the right point through traffic that beat Flinn’s blocker, to give the Admirals a 4-1 lead.
The Monarchs crept closer when Alex Guptill netted his third goal of the season at 13:15 of the middle frame. On the rush, Guptill threw the puck towards goal and it was deflected in the net off the skate of a Norfolk defender, making the score, 4-2.
Manchester made it a one-goal game when Quentin Shore scored a power-play goal, his third goal of the season, at 14:51 of the second period. After extended pressure in the offensive zone, Shore found the rebound off a Justin Agosta shot and potted the puck into a wide-open net to beat Knapp, making the score, 4-3.
The Monarchs tied the game with 59.1 seconds remaining when Shore netted his second goal of the night, and fourth goal on the season. With the goaltender pulled, the Monarchs broke out of their zone with a stretch pass from Agosta to Joey Diamond at center ice. Diamond hit Guptill with a quick backhanded pass near the left point where he sent Shore in on goal with a saucer pass. Shore collected the puck, deked Knapp and sent in a backhander to tie the game, 4-4.
The Monarchs completed the comeback and ended the game in overtime when Alexx Privitera scored his third goal of the season. After a 4-on-3 power play ended, the Monarchs kept pressure in the offensive zone and Justin Gutierrez found Privitera alone in the slot where the defenseman sent a wrister past the blocker of Knapp for the game-winning-goal.
The Monarchs are back in action Saturday, Nov. 12 (7 p.m.) when they visit the Reading Royals in a North Division showdown.
Notes: Joey Diamond recorded his 90th professional point…Quentin Shore recorded the first two-goal game of his professional career…Jack Flinn started in net in his first game back from Ontario (AHL)…The Monarchs set their high-water mark for shots this season with 40.
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