Monarchs Topple Royals, 5-1
March 22, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
READING, Pa. - Jack Flinn's 35 saves and two goals from Joey Diamond propelled the Monarchs past the Reading Royals, 5-1, Wednesday night at Santander Arena.
With the win, the Monarchs (33-20-7-4) finished their season series against the Royals (36-24-2-2) with an 8-1-1-0 record, and jumped into the third seed in the North Division playoff race.
The Monarchs broke the ice when Teddy Doherty scored his 8th goal of the season at 17:17 of the first period. Rihards Bukarts brought the puck into the zone and put on the brakes at the top of the left circle where he attracted two Royals defenders. Bukarts then sent the puck on net that bounced off Kevin Morris to the slot, where Teddy Doherty found the loose puck and sent a snapper through Royals goaltender, Martin Ouellette, to make the score, 1-0, Manchester.
Manchester added to their lead when Daniel Doremus netted his 9th goal of the season at 7:06 of the second period. Doremus intercepted a clearing attempt by the Royals in the middle of the blue line, skated to the slot and sent a wrister past the blocker of Ouellette, to double the Monarchs lead, 2-0.
Reading cut into the Manchester lead when Steven Swavely scored his 13th goal of the season at 8:29 of the middle frame. Swavely took a cross-slot pass from Florian Iberer and buried the puck past the out-stretched glove of Flinn, to bring the Royals back to within one, 2-1.
The Monarchs added to their lead when Diamond potted his 21st goal of the season at 5:28 of the third period. After a suffocating forecheck, Doremus crashed the net and after being pushed to his stomach, tipped the puck to Diamond who found the loose puck, put a quick deke on Ouellette and swept a backhander past the left pad of the Royals goaltender to put the Monarchs up, 3-1.
Manchester added to their lead when Diamond potted his second goal of the night at 14:53 of the final frame. Doremus sent the puck behind the Royals net where Wade Murphy collected the puck and found a wide-open Diamond in the slot, where the Monarchs forward roofed a shot into a yawning cage, to the increase the Manchester lead to 4-1.
Kevin Morris sealed the deal when he scored into an empty-net at 17:01 of the final stanza. Morris found the puck on his stick after coming over the boards and sent a writer from just outside the blue line to make the score, 5-1, Monarchs.
The Monarchs are back on the ice Friday, Mar. 24 (7 p.m.), when they open a two-game series with the Elmira Jackals 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 Jack Flinn now has stopped 115-of-120 shots (.958) in his last three games against Reading Teddy Doherty's goal was the 25th point of his career Gasper Kopitar recorded the 60th assist and 90th point of his career Eric Schurhamer recorded the first point of his professional career Joey Diamond now has 130 career points.
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