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ECHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs Can't Complete Comeback, Fall to Toledo, 5-4

April 1, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


TOLEDO, Ohio - The Manchester Monarchs could not complete a furious third period comeback, and fell to the Toledo Walleye, 5-4, Friday night at the Huntington Arena.

The Monarchs (38-22-4-5) finish the season series with the Walleye (44-19-2-3) with a record of 2-3-0-0, but played their Conference rival tough all season, being outscored by an 18-17 margin.

The Walleye got the scoring started early, when Shane Berschbach scored his 24th goal of the season at 1:05 of the opening period. After a shot from the point by Vili Saarijarvi was deflected a few times, the puck fell to the stick of Berschbach, who beat Monarchs goaltender, Doug Carr, for the 1-0 Toledo lead.

Toledo extended their lead at 3:31 of the first period on Evan Rankin's 13th goal of the season. Rankin was sent in on a partial breakaway by Saarijarvi, and while Alex Roach did all he could to disrupt the scoring chance, Rankin made a forehand-to-backhand move and beat Carr to the stick side, giving the Walleye the 2-0 early lead.

The Monarchs struck back when Michael Boivin scored his 8th goal of the season at 5:39 of the first period. While on the power play, Boivin let a slap shot go from the blue line that was tipped by a Toledo defenseman in front of goaltender, Jeff Lerg, bringing the Monarchs to within one goal, 2-1.

Toledo took their two-goal lead back when Tylor Spink scored his 2nd goal of the season at 1:15 of the second period while on the power play. Spink took a cross-ice pass from Berschbach in the left face-off circle, and one-timed a shot through defenseman, Josh Brown, and past an out-stretched Carr, making the game, 3-1, Toledo.

The Monarchs cut into the Toledo lead again, this time on Matt Fornataro's 8th goal of the season at 1:54 of the third period. While on the power play, Fornataro sent a one-timer from the left point through a screen and past Lerg, who had no chance at making the save.

Joey Diamond brought the Monarchs all the way back, scoring his 19th goal of the season at 3:22 of the period. Diamond took a slick, through the legs pass from Fornataro, cut across the face of Lerg's net, and lifted a wrister over the down-and-out netminder, making the game, 3-3.

Toledo would regain the lead at 6:05 in the period when Matt Caito scored his 1st goal of the season. Caito corralled the puck at the blue line, skated into the slot and sent a wrister under the right arm of Carr, giving Toledo the 4-3 advantage.

Manchester roared back again when Diamond scored his second goal of the game and 20th of the season at 11:13 of the final period. Diamond grabbed the puck from behind the Toledo net, skated along the left half-boards, curled into the slot, and ripped a wrister through a screen and over the blocker of Lerg, tying the game at 4-4.

The Walleye took the lead for good when Tyson Spink netted his 1st career goal at 15:56 of the final period. Kyle Bonis found Spink with a pass on a 2-on-1, and after a forehand-to-backhand move on Carr, Spink slipped the puck through Carr's five-hole, giving Toledo the 5-4 advantage.

Manchester had a power play opportunity with 1:19 remaining, but could not score the equalizer with Carr pulled for the extra attacker.

The Monarchs get back on the ice Saturday, April 2 (7:35 p.m.), when they visit the Wheeling Nailers from WesBanco Arena.



ECHL Stories from April 1, 2016


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