Schmalz, Doherty help Manchester ring in new year

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Two late goals from Matt Schmalz and Michael Doherty helped drive the Monarchs past the Worcester Railers on New Year’s Eve in the final game of 2017 at SNHU Arena.

The Monarchs (21-10-1-1) outshot the Railers (12-13-2-2), 39-25.

After a scoreless first period, Worcester opened the scoring at 2:31 of the second period when Nick Saracino scored his third goal of the year. Saracino gained control of a rebound off the stick of Kellen Jones, and fired the puck past Monarchs goaltender Charles Williams to give the Railers a 1-0 lead.

The Monarchs tied things up when Michael Doherty scored his seventh goal of the year at 11:00 of the second period. After receiving a cross-ice pass from Alexx Privitera while on a 3-on-2 rush, Doherty fired a one-timer just under the glove of Railers goaltender Mitch Gillam to tie the score at 1-1.

Manchester took the lead after a goal by Zac Lynch, his 16th goal of the year, at 13:23 of the second period. Doherty started the scoring play with a shot on Gillam that the Worcester goaltender stopped, but the rebound fell under him, where Lynch found the puck and buried the puck into an open net to make the score 2-1.

The Railers tied up the game at 12:51 of the third period when Patrick McNally scored his 12th goal of the year during 4-on-4 play. After receiving a pass from Ben Masella just inside the blue line, McNally skated the puck down to the hash marks where he fired a wrister past the blocker of Williams to make the score 2-2.

The Monarchs took the lead yet again at 19:34 of the third period off a goal from Schmalz, his ninth goal of the year. After a battle along the boards, Schmalz gained control of the puck, skated in on Gillam and was able to capitalize on his own rebound, to give the Monarchs the 3-2 go-ahead goal.

The Monarchs put the icing on the cake at 19:53 of the third period when Doherty scored into an empty net for his eighth goal of the year to end the scoring at 4-2.

The Monarchs are back on the ice Wednesday, January 3rd at 7 p.m. when they visit the Adirondack Thunder at the Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls, N.Y.

NOTES: Michael Doherty scored his fifth and sixth goals against the Railers this season… Craig Wyszomirski collected two assists.