NORFOLK, VA – The Manchester Monarchs took on the Norfolk Admirals on Saturday night in Norfolk. Behind goalie Colin Stevens’ third straight big time effort, the Monarchs came away with 4-3 victory.
The first period opened with the two teams trading chances in the neutral zone while battling for some position in either offensive zone. The Monarchs found their way into the offensive zone, but their chances were slowed by the Admirals shut down defense. Stevens at the other end was forced to make a couple early saves to keep the Monarchs in it. The teams continued to trade chances as the period wore on, but both Stevens and Norfolk’s Tyler Beskorowany kept the game even. The first period ended with the game tied 0-0 and the shots 12-8 in favor of the Monarchs.
The Admirals found the back of the net first when Ben Betker scored assisted by Charles-Oliver Roussel and Jordan Hill 4:17 into the second period. The Monarchs took over from there, setting themselves up in the Admirals offensive zone. A Samuel Noreau tripping penalty sent the Monarchs to the power play and seconds later a second call against the Admirals gave the Monarchs a 5-on-3 advantage.
The Monarchs scored on the first power play from Michael Boivin, the goal was assisted by Matt White and David Kolomatis. The Monarchs continued to dominate the play at the Admirals end and peppered Beskorowany with shots. The Monarch struck again later in the frame as White scored assisted by Yann Sauve and Stefan Legein.
Just a minute after the Monarchs took the lead, a Matt MacKenzie cross-checking penalty put the Monarchs on the penalty kill. Nicolas Blanchard scored on the ensuing power play for the Admirals assisted by Betker and Roussel. The second period ended with the game tied at two and the shots 30-12 in favor of the Monarchs.
Manchester came back out for the third period looking to find the goal that would break the tie. The Monarchs didn’t have to wait long as Zac Larraza scored just over a minute in assisted by Matt Leitner and Sauve. The Admirals pushed hard through the middle of the third, forcing Stevens to come up with his biggest saves of the game.
The teams went end to end with their rushes, but no one found the back of the net. In the later stages of the third it was Leitner who gave the Monarchs a two goal advantage with Legein and Larraza getting the assists. Troy Power took a delay of game penalty with just over two minutes left in the game, giving the host Admirals life.
Norfolk converted on the power play when Scott Alan scored assisted by Blanchard and Michael Pelech. That was as close as the Admirals would get as the Monarchs hung on for the 4-3 victory.
Third star of the game went to Norfolk’s Roussel with two assists and solid play. Second star belonged to Manchester’s White who scored the second goal of the game for the Monarchs. First star was awarded to the Monarchs’ Larraza who tallied a goal and assist for the Monarchs in the victory.
The Monarchs will return home to take on the Reading Royals on Friday night.
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