NORFOLK, Va. – The Manchester Monarchs couldn’t hold a commanding third period lead for the second consecutive evening, and fell to the Norfolk Admirals in a shootout, 6-5, Friday night at Scope Arena.

The Monarchs (26-10-3-3) allowed four goals in the third period to the Admirals (14-22-4-0), and look to take the final game of this three-game series tomorrow night.

Manchester opened the scoring when Zac Lynch scored a shorthanded goal at 6:15 of the first period, his 10^th marker of the season. Lynch deflected a pass at his defensive blue line and broke in alone on Admirals goaltender, Brandon Anderson. Lynch made a backhand to forehand move and fired a shot that Anderson saved, but the rebound fell to Lynch where he pushed the puck into an open net for the early, 1-0, Monarchs lead.

The Monarchs added to their lead when Craig Wyszomirski scored his 4^th goal of the season at 8:06 of the opening period. Wyszomirski took a drop pass from Rihards Bukarts at the right point, skated toward the slot and sent a backhander over the glove of Anderson to make it, 2-0, Monarchs.

Norfolk cut into the Manchester lead when John Dunbar notched his 12^th goal of the season at 14:52 of the first period while on the power play. Dunbar deflected a slap-pass by Zach Pochiro in the slot, and beat Monarchs goaltender, Sam Brittain, to make the score, 2-1, Manchester.

Manchester regained their two-goal lead when Kevin Morris netted his 10^th goal of the season at 5:08 of the second period. Morris sent a one-timer over the glove of Anderson after a rebound from a shot by Derek Arnold was kicked directly to the Monarchs forward on the left dot, to make the score, 3-1, Monarchs.

The Monarchs made it a 4-1 game when Rihards Bukarts scored his 8^th goal of the season at 12:10 of the second period. Bukarts corralled a breakout pass from Matt Leitner in his skates, and beat Anderson with a forehand-to-backhand move when he roofed a shot over the right arm of the Norfolk goaltender.

Manchester extended the lead when Cory Ward potted his 10^th goal of the season at 18:05 of the middle frame. Ward took a sneaky pass from Gasper Kopitar from the left corner, walked all alone to the slot and slid the puck through the five-hole of Anderson to push the Monarchs advantage to 5-1.

Norfolk made the score, 5-2, when T.J. Foster scored his 11^th goal of the season at 4:45 of the third period. Foster took the puck down the right boards, darted to the slot and swept a forehand past the right leg of Brittain.

The Admirals inched closer when Brodie Dupont scored his 9^th goal of the season at 9:56 of the third period. Dupont caused a turnover behind the Monarchs cage, located the loose puck to Brittain’s right and chipped the puck over the right pad of the Monarchs goaltender, to make the score, 5-3, Manchester.

Norfolk continued to put pressure on the Monarchs when Alex Pompeo scored his 2^nd goal of the season at 14:02 of the third period. Pompeo found the puck on his stick after a shot from the point by Frankie Simonelli was slowed down by the stick of Ashton Rome, and Pompeo fired the puck into an open net to bring the score to, 5-4, in favor of the Monarchs.

The Admirals tied the game at 18:01 of the third period when Dupont scored his second goal of the night. Paul Cianfrini sent a puck on goal from the right dot that Dupont tipped past the left leg of Brittain, and the puck trickled over the goal line to tie the game, 5-5.

After a scoreless overtime period, the Admirals went on to win the game in the shootout, 2-1. Quentin Shore netted the lone Monarchs goal, but it wasn’t enough to grab the two points.

The Monarchs are back in action Saturday, Jan. 28 (7:15 p.m.), when they conclude their three-game series with the Norfolk Admirals at Scope Arena.

Notes

Sam Brittain made the start in his return from the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL)

Rihards Bukarts ended a seven-game scoreless drought

Zac Lynch’s short-handed goal was the 4^th scored by the Monarchs this season

Craig Wyszomirski now has seven points (4g, 3a) in his last seven games

-Monarchs-

Photo Credit: John Malkowski / Norfolk Admirals