The Manchester Monarchs took on the Adirondack Thunder in Glens Falls New York on Wednesday night. Colin Stevens started in net for the Monarchs opposed by Kent Simpson for the Thunder. The Monarchs looked to bounce back from two shootout loses over the weekend to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.
The Thunder controlled the puck off the opening face-off, and were able set early in the Monarchs end of the ice. The Thunder were able to slide an early one past Stevens, Michael Kirkpatrick scored assisted by Greg Wolfe and Patch Alber. The Monarchs were able to take some of the momentum back from the Thunder as they were able to generate offensive chances straight off the next face off.
The two teams traded chances at both ends of the ice, but the Monarchs just couldn’t get anything past Simpson. As the period was coming to a close Colin Stevens was forced to make some big saves as the Thunder peppered him in a late flurry. The first period ended with the Thunder leaden 1-0 and the shots 15 to 12.
The Monarchs came back out for the second period looking to find the tying goal. But it only took the Thunder 44 seconds to extend their lead to two. Ryan Constant scored for the Thunder, assisted by James Henry and Mathieu Brodeur.
The Thunder Struck again 21 seconds later Mads Eller scored for the Thunder, Alber and Gunnar Hughes got the assists on the goal. The Monarchs were able to tighten up defensively after two early goals and limit the Thunder’s scoring chances. The Monarchs keep grinding away in the Thunder end, but Simpson stayed strong for the Thunder.
They continued to trade chances with neither team giving an inch to the other in their offensive end. In the later stages of the period the Monarchs started to chip away at Simpson forcing him to make some of his best saves of the game. The second period ended with the Monarchs trailing 3-0 and the shots 27 to 19 for the Thunder.
The Monarchs came back out for the third period looking to find some sort of answer to Simpson and Thunder defense. Maxim Kitsyn finally broke through for the Monarchs just over a minute into the third, Derek Arnold was given the lone assist on the goal. But the Thunder answered right back as Alexandre Carrier picked off a clearing pass and fired it past Stevens.
The Monarchs continued to battle in the Thunder zone, but the defense for the Thunder denied any quality chances. Robbie Donahoe scored cut the lead to two when he scored assisted by Michael Boivin. The Monarchs continued to battle and trade chances with the Tunder, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Colin Stevens and Kent Simpson were both forced to make some stellar saves to keep both their teams in the game. The Monarchs pulled Stevens with just over a minute left looking to find the two tying goals that they needed. Gunnar Hughes popped the the puck into the empty net with just nine seconds left to ice the game for the Thunder.
Dana Fraser was given the assist on the empty net goal that put the Thunder up 5-2. The Thunder were able to hang on for the victory 5-2 with the final shots 35 to 27 for the Thunder. Third star Alexandre Carrier, he scored what would be the game winning goal for the Thunder.
Second star Patch Alber, he had two assists in the game on the games first and third goals. First star Ryan Constant, he had a goal in the game helping the Thunder to victory over the Monarchs. The Monarchs will travel to Elmira to take on the Jackals in a weekend series, looking to bounce back.
Contact the writer at James.McGowan@prohockeynews.com
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