Monarchs Complete Sweep of Grizzlies with 4-1 Victory
November 28, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
Monarchs Complete Sweep of Grizzlies with 4-1 Victory
(Manchester Monarchs)
WEST VALLEY CITY, UT - The Manchester Monarchs completed a three-game sweep of the Utah Grizzlies on the back of 36 saves by Charles Williams, and took home a 4-1 victory on Saturday night at the Maverik Center
The Monarchs (11-7-1-1) outscored the Grizzlies (6-8-4-1), 14-5, in their three-game set over Thanksgiving weekend.
After a scoreless first frame, the Grizzlies broke the scoring open with a goal :20 seconds into the second period by Chris Leibinger, his 2nd goal of the season. Sam Windle received the puck along the blue line and snuck down the left-wing wall before sending a cross-ice pass that connected with Leibinger at the back door behind Williams, to give Utah the 1-0 lead.
Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman tied the game up at 7:30 of the second period on a shorthanded breakaway goal for his 7th goal of the season. A bouncing puck hopped over the stick of Utah's Cliff Watson at his offensive blue line where Smotherman beat him to the puck and skated in all alone, before lifting a backhander over the glove of Grizzlies goaltender, Kevin Carr, to tie the score, 1-1.
Just :48 seconds later, the Monarchs took the lead on the 4th goal of the season for Matt Schmalz. Matt Leitner slid a short breakout pass to Schmalz as he exited his defensive zone. Schmalz weaved his way through the neutral zone and into the offensive end where he carried the puck to the top of the left circle and sniped a shot over the blocker of Carr to give the Monarchs a 2-1 lead.
The Monarchs extended their lead at 11:36 of the third period on the 8th goal of the season for Joel Lowry. After an odd-man rush for the Grizzlies, Lowry picked up the loose puck in the neutral zone and skated in on the breakaway where he wristed a shot over the blocker of Carr and into the net to put the Monarchs up, 3-1
Manchester's Zac Lynch collected the final goal of the game when he scored his 9th goal of the season to push the Monarchs lead to 4-1. Lynch gathered the puck in the neutral zone before skating into the heart of the Grizzlies defense, where he split two defenders. Lynch pulled the puck to his forehand and dribbled the puck between the legs of Carr and over the goal-line.
The Monarchs are back in action Saturday, Dec. 2 (7:05 p.m.), when they play the Worcester Railers at the DCU Center.
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