MANCHESTER, NH – On Saturday night, the Manchester Monarchs took on the Norfolk Admirals at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester New Hampshire. Colin Stevens was the star, picking up his first professional win with a 5-1 victory over the Admirals.
The Monarchs dominated play early in the first period, testing Norfolk goalie Tyler Beskorowany early in the first. Manchester parlayed the pressure into a score when Matt White picked off a clearing pass and slipped it past Beskorowany for the game’s opening goal.
As the period progressed, both teams were trading chances, forcing both goalies to make big saves. The first period ended with the Monarchs up 1-0 and the shots 8-6 in favor of the Monarchs.
The second period started with both teams trading chances early but neither side was able to find the back of the net. Norfolk’s Samuel Noreau took an interference minor at the 7:20 mark of the frame that put the Admirals up a man. The Monarchs scored on the power play when Alex Roach fired a blast from the point, assisted by Michael Boivin and Matt Leitner.
The Admirals were able to win back some momentum in the wake of the Roach score. Norfolk was able to cut the lead in half five minutes later when Tommy Mele scored assisted by Michael Pelech and Charles-Olivier Roussel.
Noreau then took another penalty – this time a hook – that the put the Admirals down a skater again. David Kolomatis gave the Monarchs their two-goal cushion back when he scored assisted by Maxim Kitsyn and Yann Sauve. The second ended with the Monarchs leading 3-1 and the shots 21-15 for the Monarchs.
The third period got chippy between the two teams as both sides battled hard in front of the respective nets. Joe Diamond took a Danik Angeli pass and slipped it past Beskorowany to the Monarchs up by three at the 8:22 mark. Just over a minute later, Zac Larraza scored again for the Monarchs assisted by Danick Paquette and Boivin.
Larraza’s tally would be the final nail in the Admirals’ coffin as the Monarchs held on for the 5-1 victory. For goalie Stevens, it was his first professional win since joining the Kings organization. Third star in the game was awarded to Roach who scored what would be the game-winner for the Monarchs. Second star went to the Monarchs’ White who got the scoring started and played a solid game defensively. Stevens earned the first star for his 21-save performance in net.
The three-game weekend series will end Sunday afternoon with a matinee matchup at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
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