AHL Manchester Monarchs

Gale Winds Propel Monarchs' Sails

December 13, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


WORCESTER, MA - Right wing A.J. Gale scored twice to lift the Manchester Monarchs over the Worcester Sharks, 3-1, at the DCU Center on Friday night.

Manchester (17-5-1-4) leads the Atlantic Division with 39 points. Worcester (10-9-1-1) ranks fifth in the Atlantic Division with 22 points.

"Our goals tonight came from some unlikely sources, but we are pleased to see their contributions," said Head Coach Mark Morris. "We got stronger as the game progressed. The ice seemed tilted toward the penalty box throughout the first period. Fortunately, we weathered the storm and hung around long enough to find a way to win."

Gale gave the Monarchs a 2-1 advantage at 3:28 of the third period with his second goal of the season. Gale picked up the puck in the Monarchs zone and carried it up the right wing and into the neutral zone before passing it over the right wing Scott Sabourin along the left wing. Sabourin skated the puck into the Sharks zone and put the brakes on along the half-wall. Sabourin sent the puck into the slot for the tap in by Gale who was positioned on the right doorstep.

The Sharks bit first with a power play goal at 19:04 of the opening frame. Worcester cycled the puck from defenseman Adam Comrie at the right point to defenseman Matt Tennyson at the left point. Tennyson sent a short pass to right wing Daniil Tarasov who carried the puck down the center of the zone and into the slot. From the high slot, Tarasov snapped a wrist shot through traffic and beat Monarchs netminder J.F. Berube on the left side for his ninth goal of the season.

Monarchs defenseman Andrew Campbell tied the game at 1-1 at 16:04 of the second period. Forward Nick Shore grabbed the puck from a group of players in the neutral zone and broke out on a three-on-one breakaway with Campbell and left wing Tanner Pearson. Shore carried the puck down the right wing and dropped a pass back to Campbell at the center point. Campbell picked up the pass and fired a laser beam of a shot into the left corner of the net for his first tally of the season. Right wing Zach O'Brien earned an assist on the tying goal.

Gale collected his second goal of the game and third tally of the season at 6:49 of the final frame. Defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk fired a slap shot from the left point. Sharks netminder Troy Grosenick made the pad save. Sabourin was on the left doorstep and passed the rebound to Gale at the right corner of the crease for the insurance tally.

Berube (8-4-2) earned his eighth win of the season stopping 39-of-40 shots. Grosenick (5-3-0) took his third loss of the season making 22 saves on 25 shots.

Manchester was 0-for-5 on the power play. Worcester went 1-for-8 with the man advantage.



American Hockey League Stories from December 13, 2013


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