Worcester Falls To Manchester 3-1
By Ryan Bayer
Manchester Monarchs goalie Martin Jones traps the puck by his glove arm as Worcester Sharks Bracken Kearns jumps out of the way during the second period of their game Friday at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester. Mandatory credit: Mark Bolton/Union Leader
Tonight the Worcester Sharks face off against the Manchester Monarchs for some Friday night hockey. The two Atlantic Division rivals met for the eight time this season and the third time at the DCU Center.
Right before the game started Jimmy Bonneau of Worcester and Andy Andreoff of Manchester dropped the gloves that caused both benches rise from their seats. Both combatants traded blows with one another but the fight ended as the refs separated the two. Both received fighting majors at 0:01 of the opener.
The Sharks went into the Manchester Monarchs end as Matsumoto scored on a breakaway to put Worcester up early 1-0. Matsumoto tallied his 10th goal of the season with the lone assist from Daniil Tarasov at the 1:30 mark of the first.
At 6:12 of the period, Sharks Mike Wilson went off to the box for a kneeing minor. The good news for the Sharks was that Monarchs failed to convert on their first power play opportunity of the contest.
On Bonneau’s second shift of the night he dropped the gloves for his second fight of the night with Manchester’s Johnson at center ice. Johnson and Bonneau exchanged some haymakers. After the fight, the two received matching fighting majors at 9:02 of the first stanza.
The Sharks went on their first power play of the game with 5:52 remaining in the first period when Deslauriers of Manchester was caught for an elbow. Like the visiting Monarchs on their first opportunity on the power play, Worcester did not convert on their first attempt.
After 20 minutes of play the Sharks held on their one goal lead. In addition, Worcester and Manchester ended the period tied in the shot clock with six shots each.
Less than two minutes into the second period the Sharks went on the power play as Linden Vey from Manchester went off to the box for slashing. On the second power play for the Sharks, the visiting Monarchs played some keep away to stop the Sharks the opportunity to really set up. Thus making Manchester a perfect 2-2 in the penalty kill department.
Manchester Monarchs Linden Vey scored on a wrist shot short side under the arm of Sateri to tie the game up at 1. Vey’s tally made it his ninth of the season with the assists from both Kozun and Pearson at 7:33 of the second.
At the 9:49 mark of the second frame O’Neill from Manchester and Tennyson of Worcester each get coincidental minors giving the contest the first look at four skaters aside.
Thru 40 minutes of play, Worcester managed to put some distant between them and Manchester with an 18-13 advantage.
Manchester Weal banged one home to take a 2-1 at the 7:27 mark of the final period. Weals goal was his fourth of the season with the assists to Legein and Loktionov.
With 1:12 remaing of the contest, Manchester added some insurance when Toffoli scored his 19th goal of the season. His goal was assisted by Andreoff and Vey.
At the end of the game Worcester beat Manchester on the shot clock by nine shot margin, 29-20.
The Monarchs came away with this one by a final score of 3-1.
3 Stars of the Game:
1. MCH – 31 Martin Jones
2. MCH – 19 Jordan Weal
3. WOR – 18 Yanni Gourde
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