MANCHESTER, NH – After nearly a month, the Manchester Monarchs came back home on Sunday. However, it definitely was not the homecoming they expected.
The Adirondack Thunder defeated Manchester 6-0, placing themselves one win away from the ECHL North Division championship and the Monarchs one loss away from elimination.
Colton White recorded the game’s first goal 9:56 into the contest, coming up on the stick side of Manchester netminder Evan Cawley and calmly wristing the puck over his glove side shoulder.
A poor clearance provided the Thunder with their second goal early in the second period , with a deflection sending the puck trickling its way between the faceoff circles where Ryan Schmeltzer would capitalize.
A sizable contingent of Adirondack fans in Section 108 erupted after that goal, but they’d have more to celebrate.
Blake Thompson made it a 3-0 game 12:29 into the second period, sending a slapshot from the edge of the faceoff circle, with Mike Szmatula adding another goal at 14:48.
Szmatula’s goal marked the end of Cawley’s day and the return of primary Manchester netminder Charles Williams, who had been pulled from Game 2 and did not return after being pulled from Game 3.
Szmatula would add another goal 1:40 into the third period, streaking across the front of the crease and casually placing the puck above Williams’ right shoulder.
Kenton Miller added the game’s final score 12:49 into the third period, shoving the puck in again past Williams’ right side.
Williams would end the night with only four saves, putting his combined save total from Game 2,3 and 5 at less than half of Game 1.
Manchester will look to keep its season alive on Monday night with the two teams returning for Game 6 of the series.
The puck drops at 7 p.m., with the series heading back to Glens Falls on Wednesday for a deciding Game 7 at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.