Monarchs

February 23. 2013 10:30PM

Weal's power-play goal lifts Monarchs to road win

Jordan Weal's power-play goal at 2:32 of the third period snapped a tie and gave the Manchester Monarchs a 3-2 American Hockey League victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in Connecticut Saturday night.

The win, Manchester's second straight, improved the Monarchs record to 24-24-5. The Monarchs are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division with 53 points.

Worcester remained a point ahead of Manchester in third place by virtue of its 4-1 win over the Portland Pirates Saturday.

With the game knotted at 2-2 and Manchester skating with the man advantage, Weal benefitted from the play of David Kolomatis and Brandon Kozun, and pushed the puck past Sound Tigers goalie Kenny Reiter for the game-deciding goal. It was Weal's eighth of the season in a Monarchs jersey.

Bridgeport led 2-1 six minutes into the middle period before Monarchs all-star Tyler Toffoli tied the game at 2-2, also on a power play. Tanner Pearson and Nick Deslauriers did the digging for Toffoli's 26th strike of the season.

Bridgeport's Matt Donovan gave the hosts a 1-0 first period lead when he beat Monarchs goalie Martin Jones 7:45 into the game.

Manchester newcomer Colton Yellow Horn tied the game at 1-1 with his second of the campaign at 1:52 of the second. Kozun and Vincent LoVerdi assisted.

The Sound Tigers went ahead once again behind Mike Halmo's third of the year at 6:27 of the middle period.

Jones, who stopped 35 of the 37 shots directed his way, pitched a shutout the rest of the way. He was especially focused on the six Bridgeport power play opportunities, denying the Sound Tigers on each.

Manchester was two for six with the extra skater.

Skaters from both teams were whistled for 14 infractions including two fighting and one unsportsmanlike conduct (Halmo) penalty.

Reiter made 32 saves.

The Monarchs travel to Maine this afternoon for a 4 p.m. face off with Atlantic Division rival Portland before motoring for a two-game Friday-Saturday series with the St. John's Ice Caps in Newfoundland. Manchester's next date at the Verizon Wireless Arena is Wednesday, March 6, with the Sound Tigers.