Monarchs Open Season with 4-1 Win over Penguins
October 12, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Defenseman Jeff Schultz scored a goal just 27 seconds into the game and Manchester never trailed in a 4-1 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the 2014-15 season opener.
Goaltender J.F. Berube stopped 20 of 21 shots on net for his first victory of the year. He held the Penguins scoreless on five power play chances -- which included a five-minute penalty kill after Kevin Raine's boarding major in the third period. Penguins winger Bobby Farnham was granted a penalty shot late in the third period that Berube also turned away.
Brian O'Neill scored a goal, assisted on another and recorded three shots on net. His linemate, Jordan Weal also had multiple points with two assists.
Schultz put the Monarchs on the board in the game's first shift with a wrister from the blue line that fooled Penguins goalie Jeff Zatkoff.
Midway through the opening frame, O'Neill showed a burst of speed down the left wing and beat Zatkoff on the far side to make the score 2-0.
The Penguins cut the score to 2-1 when Jean-Sebastien Dea uncorked a one-timer from the point that beat Berube almost half-way through the second period.
Vincent LoVerde restored Manchester's two-goal lead less than two minutes later when he cut straight down the slot, took a pass from Weal, deked Zatkoff and slipped the puck past him on his backhand to give the Monarchs a 3-1 lead.
Kevin Raine scored Manchester's last goal of the game on a wrister from the point 12 minutes into the third period.
Manchester is back in action this Friday when it travels to Norfolk for a 7:30 p.m. start against the Admirals.
Notes:
- Brian O'Neill has registered at least one point in each of his last five regular season games dating back to last year, with two goals and four assists in that time.
- Kevin Raine received Manchester's first fighting major of the season when he dropped the gloves with Dominik Uher midway through the third period.
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