MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Manchester Monarchs dropped Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the South Carolina Stingrays, 2-1, Friday night at SNHU Arena.

The Monarchs (10-6) and Stingrays (10-5) are now tied, 2-2, in their best-of-seven series.

After a scoreless first period, South Carolina struck first on the 6^th goal of the playoffs by Andrew Cherniwchan at 11:20 of the second period. Max Nicastro played the puck along the right boards just above the top of the circle where he hesitated before taking a shot. Cherniwchan was sitting at the top of the crease where the puck kicked off his skate and past the left pad of Monarchs goaltender, Sam Brittain, to give the Stingrays a 1-0 lead.

The Stingrays added to their lead at 1:29 of the third period when Rob Flick scored his 10^th goal of the playoffs. Domenic Monardo skated into the zone along the right wall and flipped a pass through the slot to Flick who caught Brittain moving from post-to-post and shot it over his blocker, to extend the Stingrays lead to 2-0.

Manchester got one back at 13:59 of the third period when Quentin Shore scored his 6^th goal of the playoffs. Daniel Doremus took a shot on goal from the right hashmark along the boards. The shot was blocked in front and the rebound landed on the stick of Shore at the top of the slot where he wristed a shot over the shoulder of Milner, to cut the South Carolina lead to 2-1.

Despite a late penalty on the Stingrays and a 6-on-4 opportunity for the Monarchs, Manchester was unable to tie the score, and fell, 2-1.

The Monarchs return to the ice Saturday, May 20 (6 p.m.) when they host the South Carolina Stingrays for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at SNHU Arena.

Notes

The Monarchs out-shot the Stingrays in the first period for the first time in the series

Manchester is now 4-for-24 on the power play in the series

South Carolina is 0-for-7 on the power play in their two victories

-Monarchs-

Photo Credit: Rich Tilton