MANCHESTER, NH – The Monarchs dropped the second of back-to-back game with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a 3-0 loss at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Saturday.
“I look at the opposition and the way they play, and I see two very similar teams,” Head Coach Mike Stothers said. “We could play each other 100 times, and it would probably end up 50-50. I just see great, great hockey.”
It marked the Monarchs’ (35-15-5-2) first loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (33-19-2-4) in four games against them and was Manchester’s fifth shutout loss this season.
Patrik Bartosak took the loss after making 24 saves on 27 shots. It snapped a streak of four straight starts allowing two goals or less.
The Penguins were the first on the board when Matia Marcatuoni sent a wrist shot past Bartosak at 17:30 of the first period.
At the 9-minute mark of the third period, Tom Kuhnhackl scored on a shorthanded breakaway to bring the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton lead up to 3-0.
Sean Backman was granted a penalty shot exactly halfway through the third after a delay of game call against the Penguins, but Murray made the save.
The Monarchs finish off their three-game weekend at the Verizon Wireless Arena with a matinee game on Sunday against Hartford at 3 p.m.
Notes:
- Patrik Bartosak held opponents scoreless for 98:16 consecutive minutes before the first goal tonight.
- Tom Kuhnhackl scored the first shorthanded goal against the Monarchs since STJ scored one on Nov. 1.
- The last time the Monarchs took a penalty shot was Jan. 23 at PRO (Michael Mersch).
- The Monarchs average 2.37 goals per game with Bartosak in net. Overall the team averages 3.07 goals per game.
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