Monarchs Sink Pirates in Home Opener, 5-2
October 24, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, NH - Justin Auger's first career goal in the AHL proved the game-winner as the Monarchs topped Portland in their home opener, 5-2.
The Monarchs opened the 2014-15 home campaign with a goal at 4:43 of the opening period from right wing Brian O'Neill. The play started as fellow right wing Sean Backman skated up the right side boards towards the face-off circle where he would connect with a pass to Center Jordan Weal who was stationed in front of goaltender Mike McKenna. Weal quickly sent a pass to a wide open O'Neill in the right face-off circle for a slap shot that beat McKenna on his low glove side for his 3rd goal of the season.
The Monarchs would score again at the 13:49 mark of the first period as defenseman Nick Ebert scored his 1st of the season. O'Neill would skate the puck into the zone where he found Weal at the top of the blue line and passed over to Ebert who beat McKenna glove side high.
The Monarchs wasted little time adding to their lead as right wing Justin Auger tallied his first of the season at the 1:12 mark of the second period. Left wing Michael Mersch carried the puck into the zone along the Pirate bench and left a pass for Center Nick Shore to receive and skate along the right face-off circle where he found Auger in the high slot for a goal over McKenna's high stick side.
Defenseman Jeff Schultz scored his second goal of the season at 13:38, giving the Monarchs a 4-0 lead late in the second period. Backman deked through the Pirates defense to deliver a cross-ice pass to Schultz, who skated in toward McKenna and beat him over his glove hand.
Portland cut into the Manchester lead with a goal of their own in the late stages of the second period. Center Alexandre Bolduc scored his third of the season at 16:54 on a play that started at the far end of the ice. McKenna sent a pass to the Monarchs blue line that found the stick of Center Henrik Samuelsson. A pass was then sent to Bolduc who sent a wrist shot towards Monarchs goaltender Jean-Francois Berube. The shot from Bolduc found its way on the back of Berube. As he attempted to pin the puck against his back, the puck trickled into the net.
The third period stayed scoreless until the Monarchs added to their lead with a goal from Backman, his first of the season at the 11:13 mark of the third. The goal was set up thanks to a skate up the left side boards by Weal who carried the puck from his own zone and into the Pirate offensive zone. Weal delivered a pass to the high slot where Backman beat McKenna low to his glove side.
Less than a minute later, at the 11:44 mark of the third, Portland answered with a goal from right wing Lucas Lessio, his second of the season. Fellow right wing Tobias Rieder carried the puck into the Monarchs zone and sent a pass to Bolduc at the top of the left face-off circle where he then sent a pass across the high slot to Lessio where he got off a wrist shot that beat Berube low stick side.
Notes:
* Brian O'Neill has a point in three of the Monarchs' four games this season. He has scored a goal in each of Manchester's victories. * Jordan Weal and Sean Backman both set a team season high with three points apiece tonight. * J.F. Berube stopped 31 of 33 shots, lowering his GAA to 2.02 this season.
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