Monarchs Erupt in 7-4 Victory over Elmira
March 25, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
ELMIRA, N.Y. - Two goals by Cory Ward and 27 saves from Charles Williams paced the Manchester Monarchs to a 7-4 victory over the Elmira Jackals on Saturday night at First Arena.
The Monarchs (34-21-7-4) outshot the Jackals (16-42-7-1) 31-18 in the first two periods, before ultimately winning the shot battle, 34-31.
Box Score
Manchester opened the scoring early when Ward scored his 14th goal of the season, just 1:06 into the game. Rihards Bukarts circled the zone and sent a wrister towards goal from the left point. Although his shot was blocked, Ward found the puck in the slot and swept a turn-around wrister past the left leg of Jackals goaltender, Andy Iles, to put the Monarchs up early, 1-0.
The Monarchs added to their lead at 4:06 of the opening period when Tyler Elbrecht netted his 6th goal of the year. Elbrecht completed a tic-tac-toe passing play with Gasper Kopitar and Rob Hamilton into an open net, to double the Manchester advantage, 2-0.
Elmira got on the board early in the second period when Sebastien Sylvestre scored on the power play, his 22nd goal of the season at 1:09. Sylvestre took a redirected pass out of the slot from Nathan Moon on the right dot and fired a one-timer past the glove Williams to cut into the Monarchs lead to 2-1.
It didn't take long for Manchester to regain their two-goal lead, when Peter Leblanc netted his 12th goal of the season just 32 seconds after the Sylvestre tally. Wade Murphy started the play by driving to the net from the left dot and sent a shot that beat the glove of Iles that hit the post, but Leblanc was in the right place at the right time to bang the puck home into an empty net, pushing the Monarchs advantage to 3-1.
The Monarchs made it a 4-1 game at 10:04 of the middle frame when Ward netted his 2nd goal of the night and 15th of the season, a power-play goal. Teddy Doherty fired a slap shot from the right point that rang the crossbar, but the rebound fell directly to Ward who was camped to the left of Iles for the easy tap-in goal.
Manchester continued to pour it on when Eric Schurhamer scored the 1st goal of his career at 11:12 of the second period. Bukarts found Schurhamer at the middle of the blue line, and the first-year defenseman drifted to the top of the right circle and sent a wrister through Iles to end the goaltender's night.
The Monarchs made it a four-goal second period when Colton Saucerman scored his 3rd goal of the season at 15:17 while on the power play. Saucerman took a perfect D-to-D pass from Mario Puskarich at the top of the left circle, and ripped a one-timer past the glove of new Jackals goaltender, Jason Kasdorf, to send the Monarchs into the dressing room with a 6-1 advantage.
Elmira chipped into the Monarchs lead when Kenton Miller scored his 29th goal of the season at 2:37 of the final stanza. Matt Stanisz slid a pass to Miller just inside the left circle where the former Monarchs forward sent a wrister past the glove of Williams to make the score, 6-2, Manchester.
The Jackals made it a three-goal game when Davis Vandane scored his 8th goal of the season at 13:33 of the third period while on the power play. Vandane sent a shot from the middle of the blue line that made its way through four pairs of legs and beat Williams five-hole, to bring Elmira closer, 6-3.
Elmira wouldn't go quietly when Sylvestre scored his 2nd of the night at 17:36 of the third period while skating 6-on-5. Sylvestre took a cross-ice pass from Sam Povorozniouk that he one-timed from the right dot against the grain and past the blocker of Williams, to make it a 6-4 game.
Manchester iced the contest when Puskarich potted his 2nd goal of the season into an empty net at 18:15 of the third period. Puskarich stole the puck at center ice and fired a wrister on frame to seal the deal, 7-4.
The Monarchs complete their three-game series with the Jackals on Sunday, Mar. 26 (4:05 p.m.), in their final game at First Arena.
The Monarchs return home to SNHU Arena on Saturday, Apr. 1 (6 p.m.), when the host the Elmira Jackals for two games on Fan Appreciation Weekend. Tickets for the remainder of the season are available, HERE.
Notes
Charles Williams made his professional debut in net
Tyler Elbrecht has scored goals in consecutive games
Eric Schurhamer scored the 1st goal of his career
Rihards Bukarts recorded his 30th professional point
Rob Hamilton notched the 1st point of his professional career
Colton Saucerman recorded the 30th poinTS
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