ECHL Manchester Monarchs

Monarchs Knock Down Royals, 5-2

Published on January 8, 2018 under ECHL (ECHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release


READING, Pa. -The Manchester Monarchs received a pair of second period goals from Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman, and claimed a 5-2 win over the Reading Royals on Friday night at Santander Arena.

The Monarchs (18-9-1-1) dominated the start of a two-game series against the Reading Royals (14-12-2-0), and outshot their North Division rivals, 44-34.

Michael Huntebrinker opened the scoring for the Royals at 6:27 into the first period when he netted his 7th goal of the year. Loic Leduc chipped the puck off the right side of the boards in the Royals defensive zone up to Huntebrinker in the neutral zone. Huntebrinker got a shot off at the circle to the right of Monarchs goaltender, Charles Williams, and beat him glove side to put the Royals up, 1-0.

Sam Kurker tied it up just :15 seconds into the second period with his 10th goal of the season. Michael Doherty took a shot from the top of the right circle that bounced off of the post in front of Royals goaltender, Mark Dekanich, and Kurker grabbed the rebound and put it in the back of the net to tie the game, 1-1.

The Monarchs took the lead when Matt Marcinew netted his 6th goal of the year, just :18 seconds after Kurker's goal. Marcinew was camped at the top of Dekanich's crease and re-directed a shot by David Kolomatis from the top of the right circle to give Manchester its first lead of the night, 2-1.

LaVallee-Smotherman tallied his 13th goal of the season 8:47 into the second period and added to the Monarchs lead, 3-1. Martin Nemcik tapped the puck up to LaVallee-Smotherman from the blue line who drove to the net and split two Royals defensemen. LaVallee-Smotherman sent a backhander off the left pad of Dekanich, but found the rebound and went bar down for his first goal of the night.

The Royals made it 3-2 when Huntebrinker netted his 2nd of the game, a power play goal 10:25 into the second period. Chase Golightly passed the puck to the front of the net from the bottom right dot and Huntebrinker deflected it into the back of the net.

LaVallee-Smotherman got his 2nd goal of the night 16:46 into the second period and put the Monarchs up, 4-2. Eric Schurhamer received a pass to the right of Reading's goaltender from Mikkel Aagaard across the blue line and took a shot which got ricocheted off a Royals player and into the air. LaVallee-Smotherman batted the puck down and tapped it into the back of the net for his 14th goal of the year.

The Monarchs secured the 5-2 win 4:26 into the third period when Spencer Watson buried his 2nd goal of the season. Aagaard cleared the puck from a scrum to the left of Dekanich's net and tapped it over to Eric Schurhamer. Schurhamer brought the puck behind the Reading net and passed it up to Watson who got a shot off through traffic from the top of the right circle and into the back of the cage.

Game Notes: The Monarchs extend their ECHL-best road record 10 12-4-1-1 Charles Williams leads rookie goaltenders in wins with 12 Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman extended his point streak to five games (5g, 2a) Sam Kurker extended his point streak to five games (2g, 5a) The Monarchs are now 6-1-0-0 when allowing the first goal on the road.

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ECHL Stories from January 8, 2018


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