Monarchs Ring in New Year with 3-2 Win
Published on December 31, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, N.H. - Gasper Kopitar scored the overtime game-winner to lead the Manchester Monarchs to a 3-2 victory over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on New Year's Eve at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
The Monarchs (20-11-0-1) lost a 2-0 lead, but wouldn't let the Swamp Rabbits (15-12-5-0) storm all the way back.
"We didn't get going very well, but I thought we got going in the second period," Head Coach Rich Seeley said. "Ultimately, I liked the effort, and we got a good result."
Greenville looked to take the lead at 1:40 of the first period as the goal light went on, but the referee waved the goal off immediately. After a consultation with the goal judge, the puck was determined to have slipped under the side of the goal after it had been pushed off its pegs.
The Monarchs broke the ice at 15:26 in the second period when Matt Mackenzie scored his 1st goal of the season. Mackenzie scored on a shot from the point after he intercepted a clearing attempt by Darian Dziurzynski, beating Greenville goaltender, Mackenzie Skapski, to make the game 1-0.
Maxim Kitsyn extended the lead for the Monarchs at 6:30 in the third period, scoring his 10th goal of the season. After a dump-in to the corner by Josh Brown, Kitsyn picked up the puck and skated along the top of the left circle to the slot, beating Skapski through the five-hole for the 2-0 advantage.
The Swamp Rabbits closed the gap to make it a 2-1 game at 16:55 with a power-play goal. Greenville pulled their goaltender for a two-man advantage and Jordan Knackstedt sent a one-timer past Monarchs goaltender, Colin Stevens, high glove.
Greenville capitalized again on the four-minute penalty assessed to Alex Roach with their second power-play goal of the night at 18:32 in the third. Again with the goaltender pulled, Scott Fleming netted his 10th goal of the season on a pass from Rob Kwiet.
Gasper Kopitar ended the game at 1:33 in overtime, giving the Monarchs their 20th win of the season. Kitsyn fired a shot from the point and Kopitar tipped in the puck for his 4th goal of the season and first game-winning-goal of the campaign.
The Monarchs return to the ice Saturday (3 p.m.), as they take on the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in the middle game of their three-game series on Trophies Night at the Jungle. Fans are invited to get their picture taken with the Stanley Cup and many of the trophies the Los Angeles Kings won during their 2013-14 Stanley Cup season. The Kelly Cup, Calder Cup, Red Sox World Championship Trophies and many more will be on display behind section 219 on the upper concourse.
Notes
Gasper Kopitar scored the 50th goal of his ECHL career, his first since Dec. 12 against Adirondack
Colin Stevens' shutout streak ended at 128:55 minutes, the longest of his professional career
The Monarchs improved to 16-0-0-0 when scoring three or more goals
ECHL Stories from December 31, 2015
- Mavericks Close 2015 with Huge 7-1 Win over Wichita - Kansas City Mavericks
- Rush Rally, Fall on NYE - Rapid City Rush
- Mavericks Skate Past Wichita on New Year's Eve - Wichita Thunder
- Mallards Top IceMen on New Years Eve in Evansville - Evansville IceMen
- Oilers End 2015 with Victory over Rush - Tulsa Oilers
- Mallards Down IceMen 6-4 - Quad City Mallards
- Komets Blank Fuel to End 2015 - Indy Fuel
- Jackals Fall in Final Game of 2015, 5-3 - Elmira Jackals
- Monarchs Ring in New Year with 3-2 Win - Manchester Monarchs
- Swamp Rabbits Battle Back for Point in OT Loss - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Reading Closes out 2015 with Shootout Loss in Adirondack, 2-1 - Reading Royals
- Wings Uncork Offense on New Year's Eve - Kalamazoo Wings
- Nailers Rally for a Point, But Fall in Overtime - Wheeling Nailers
- Cyclones Close out 2015 with Shutout Victory - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Thunder Adds Former Buffalo Sabres Draft Pick - Wichita Thunder
- ECHL Transactions - December 31 - ECHL
- Daniel Ciampini Returns from Rockford - Indy Fuel
- Swamp Rabbits Close out 2015 against Monarchs - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Bakersfield Reassigns Goaltender Ty Rimmer to Norfolk - Norfolk Admirals
- Game Notes: vs Toledo - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Thunder & Double H Ranch to Hold Second Annual Walk-A-Thon & Skate-A-Thon on January 10 - Adirondack Thunder
- Madore Recalled to Marlies; Massa Returned to Solar Bears - Orlando Solar Bears
- Nailers vs. Beast Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- Game Day Capsule: Wichita at Missouri, December 31st - Wichita Thunder
- Mallards Game Day - Quad City Mallards
- Jackals Close out 2015 in Kalamazoo - Elmira Jackals
- Defenseman Bobby Shea Recalled to Hershey Bears - South Carolina Stingrays
- NYE Game Day: Oilers at Rapid City - Tulsa Oilers
- Gameday: Adirondack vs. Reading - Adirondack Thunder
- ECHL Today - December 31 - ECHL
- Americans Score Late To Beat Wichita 4-3 - Allen Americans
- Steelheads Put a Bow on 2015: Idaho Tops Eagles, Points Streak Reaches 8 - Idaho Steelheads
- Jackals Reel in Walleye, 2-1 - Elmira Jackals
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