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ECHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs Can't Complete Comeback, Fall to Reading, 4-3

February 20, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


MANCHESTER, N.H. - The Manchester Monarchs couldn't make it a sweep of the Reading Royals, dropping the final game of their three-game series, 4-3, Saturday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

The Monarchs (32-15-1-4) outshot the Royals (25-20-5-3) 31-28, but couldn't convert a last-second chance to tie the game.

"We had some good fight tonight, but ultimately, we made the game too hard on ourselves," Monarchs Head Coach, Rich Seeley, said. "We tried to do too many things that ended up costing us to turn the puck over, and we spent too much time in our defensive zone. You have to give them credit for putting heavy pressure on us and scoring some blue-collar goals."

Manchester capitalized early in the first period during a five-on-three power play, when Matt Leitner scored his 12th goal of the season at 4:56. Michael Boivin quickly found Maxim Kitsyn at the bottom of the left circle, who sent a saucer pass across the crease to a waiting Leitner, who sent the puck into an empty net, completing the tic-tac-toe passing play.

The Royals tied the game at 16:36 of the period when Nikita Kashirsky scored his 9th goal of the season. Justin Crandall sent a shot in on Monarchs goaltender Doug Carr who stopped the initial chance, but the puck fell to the skates of Kashirsky who was in front of the net and easily tied the game, 1-1.

Midway through the second period, Joey Sides put the Royals ahead, scoring his 7th goal of the season at 8:33. Sides gathered the puck behind the Monarchs net and curled around the left side of the cage, jamming the puck in quickly, giving his team the 2-1 lead.

Reading added to their lead at 17:54 of the middle period when Robbie Czarnik scored his 23rd goal of the season. Mike Pereira made his way down the left boards before curling into the top face-off circle, leaving the puck for a waiting Robbie Czarnik, who sent a quick snap shot past Carr for a 3-1 Royals lead.

The Monarchs cut into the Reading lead when Maxim Kitsyn scored his 21st goal of the season at 4:02 of the third period. The play started when Joey Diamond blocked a shot in his defensive zone and sent a stretch pass to Kitsyn who went in on a breakaway. After a simple deke, Kitsyn beat Royals goaltender Martin Ouellette on his forehand, closing the gap to 3-2.

Reading would regain their two-goal lead when Mike Marcou scored his 3rd goal of the season at 9:38 of the final frame. A controversial call against Manchester put Zach Leslie in the box for tripping and Marcou capitalized, taking a slap shot from the top of the right circle that found its way into the back of the Monarchs net.

Manchester would not go quietly when Leslie scored his 1st goal of the season at 15:15 of the period. Leitner found Leslie with a tricky pass, and Leslie picked a small hole above Ouellette's glove from a sharp angle, bringing Manchester to within one.

The Monarchs almost tied the game with Carr pulled for an extra attacker, as Ouellette was peppered with shots in the final minute, but the Monarchs couldn't find the equalizer.

The Monarchs return to the Jungle tomorrow afternoon (Feb. 21) for a 3 p.m. game with the Elmira Jackals.



ECHL Stories from February 20, 2016


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