Manchester, NH. The Manchester Monarchs opened the 2017 Kelly cup playoffs with a win over the Adirondack Thunder. Sam Brittain started in net for the Monarchs opposed by J.P. Anderson for the Thunder. The Thunder control the game early getting quality chances on the Monarchs from the opening draw.
Manchester struggled to sustain offensive pressure for much of the first, until David Kolomatis broke through with the games first goal. Matt Leitner and Quentin Shore assisted in the game’s opening goal. But that was all the offense either team could muster as the first period ended with the Monarchs leading 1-0, and the shots 10 to 4 in favor of the Thunder.
In the second period the Monarchs looked like a different team, coming out and peppering Anderson with shots off the opening draw. Daniel Doremus pushed the Monarchs lead to two, on a goal assisted by Daniel Ciampini and Quentin Shore. The Monarchs looked to be in control of the Thunder until Colton Saucerman was sent off for interference.
Ryan Culkin capitalized for the Thunder scoring on the power play, assisted by Brett Pollock and Stepan Falkovsky. The second period ended with the Monarchs leading 2-1, and the shots 17 to 14 in favor of the Thunder. Both teams seemed evenly match at the start of the third period, with neither team budging defensively.
They went back and forth trading chances, but neither team could seem to find the edge through the third. They traded chances at both ends, but both goalies stood tall to keep the score the same. The Monarch were able to hold off the Thunder’s heavy push in the final five minutes of the game, with Brittain forced to stand on his head.
The Monarchs added the empty netter form Quentin Shore assisted by Daniel Ciampini to seal the win for the Monarchs. The Monarch held onto to win the game 3-1 with the final shots 25 to 24 for the Thunder. The Monarchs take a 1-0 series lead with game two in Manchester New Hampshire tomorrow night.
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