MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Manchester Monarchs got a hat trick out of Sam Kurker on Friday night, coasting to a 6-3 victory over the Adirondack Thunder.
Kurker’s first two goals came just under two minutes apart in the first period, grabbing a power-play goal halfway through the third to seal the Monarchs’ victory.
Kurker also added an assist, with Nic Pierog, David Kolomatis and Daniil Miromanov scoring the other goals for the Monarchs.
Kurker’s first goal also eliminated an early Thunder lead obtained by Cullen Bradshaw’s 11th goal of the season. Bradshaw scored the goal just 21 seconds into the game off a rebound from Matt Salhany’s shot at the right faceoff circle.
Jake Linehart and Nikolas Olsson also scored goals for the Thunder.
The win allowed Manchester (30-24-2-2) to stay one point ahead of the red-hot Maine Mariners in the ECHL North Division, with Maine picking up their ninth win in ten games on Friday with a shootout win over Utah.
Manchester’s win also brought them within three points of Adirondack for second place in the division, a gap they can cut to one point on Saturday in a rematch between the two teams. Puck drop at SNHU Arena is set for 6 p.m.