Defense, timely goal lift Monarchs

MANCHESTER – A smothering penalty kill and a timely goal pushed the Manchester Monarchs to a 2-1 win over Albany in front of 5,012 fans at Verizon Wireless Arena on Friday night.

Manchester had to kill eight River Rats power plays on the night and did so thanks to solid pressure shorthanded and good goaltending from Jonathan Bernier (33 saves).

"It's hard to know what you can and can't do (to get called for a penalty)," said Monarchs head coach Mark Morris. "I don't know what we did to deserve that, but credit our guys with a fantastic job killing them off."

The Monarchs improved to 12-4-3 and are at Lowell today at 1:30 p.m. and at Providence tomorrow at 4:05 p.m. Albany fell to 9-9-2.

The Monarchs' John Zeiler goes airborne trying to control the puck during Friday night's game in Manchester. (AARON ROHDE)

The Monarchs got the game-winner at 11:24 of the third period on a Bud Holloway goal. Oscar Moller stole the puck along the right wing boards and skated in, sending a shot on net that goalie Mike Murphy turned aside. The rebound came to Holloway in the slot for the put-back for his fifth of the season.

"We just stuck with our plan of getting pucks to the net. We had a lot of shots (38) tonight. It was a harmless looking shot and then a rebound," Holloway said. "The more you put on (net), the higher percentage that one's going to bounce in."

►Click here to read Ian Clark's Monarchs blog, 'Puttin' On The Foil.'

Albany had tied the game at 1-1 at the 2:14 mark of the third period. With a delayed penalty coming up against the Monarchs, River Rats defenseman Jay Harrison took a slap shot from the blue line. Steven Goertzen deflected the puck in the slot, beating Bernier inside the right post.

Just over a minute later, Monarchs defenseman Patrick Mullen got caught with his head down and took a hard check from Zack Fitzgerald that leveled Mullen and left him on the ice for several minutes before he was helped off. Mullen did not return but Morris said he thought he was fine.

Manchester enforcer Kevin Westgarth was on the ice and immediately dropped the gloves with Fitzgerald in Mullen's defense. Westgarth got the better of the fight, landing several furious punches.

"That was something that shows our good team camaraderie. You never want guys taking runs at you," Morris said. "He was obliged to step up for a teammate and he did."

Manchester pumped 19 shots on net in the second period, scoring the lone goal in the stanza on the power play to take a 1-0 lead into the third. Gabe Gauthier netted his second tally of the season off helpers from Slava Voynov and Andrei Loktionov.

Voynov's shot from the right circle was fought off by Murphy. But Murphy could not control the rebound and was down on the ice as Gauthier collected the puck and roofed it from a tough angle camped at the right post.

The first period ended scoreless, but not for lack of opportunities as much of the period was played with one team or the other on the power play. Albany skated four extra man chances, with a pair of five-on-three opportunities of 35 and 43 seconds but could not break through.

"When we started the season, we really keyed on our special teams," Gauthier said. "Our P.K. has been so committed to playing strong defense and shutting down their power play. It's a matter of in your mind, you have to have that will and pressure them every chance you get."