Game report provided by the Monarchs, LA Kings AHL affiliate…
MANCHESTER, NH – Center Andy Andreoff scored the game-winning goal as the Manchester Monarchs defeated the Worcester Sharks, 2-1, in their traditional Cabin Fever Night at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Wednesday night.
Manchester (14-12-2-2) is tied with the Providence Bruins (15-10-0-2) for second place in the Atlantic Division with 32 points each. Worcester (14-11-1-2) is in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with 31 points.
“It was a gutsy effort,” said Monarchs Head Coach Mark Morris. “I was really impressed with the way (Peter) Mannino battled in the net and the way our guys defended when we were shorthanded. We had some timely goals too. First, the one from (Stefan) Legein and then (Andy) Andreoff buried his chance with the two-on-one so it’s great to see the contributions all around.”
Andreoff gave Manchester the lead for good at 8:30 of the second period. Andreoff intercepted a pass at the blueline in the Monarchs zone and skated around a Sharks defenseman. Andreoff continued to skate down the right wing boards and broke in on a two-on-one with left wing Richard Clune. Worcester goaltender Alex Stalock edged the crease and began to approach Andreoff as he swooped through the right wing face-off circle. Just as Stalock skated outside of the net, Andreoff fired a quick wrist shot over the shoulder on the glove side for his fourth goal of the season.
Right wing James Livingston scored the opening goal of the game giving the Sharks a 1-0 lead at 9:25 of the first period. Worcester center Freddie Hamilton passed the puck up from just outside the bottom of the left wing face-off circle to defenseman Matt Irwin at the center point. Irwin took a slap shot that Manchester goaltender Peter Mannino saved with the right leg pad. The puck trickled between Mannino’s legs and toward the right post. Livingston put in the loose puck over the left skate for his second goal of the season.
At 6:35 of the second period, Manchester right wing Stefan Legein tied the score at 1-1. Left wing Dwight King chipped the puck out of the Monarchs zone and into the neutral zone. Legein skated the puck through the neutral zone and into the Sharks territory along the left wing boards. At the top of the left wing face-off circle, Legein crossed with left wing Marc-Andre Cliche before launching a quick wrist shot that found the back of the net low on the stick side of Stalock. Defenseman Andrew Campbell also tallied an assist on Legein’s second goal of the season.
Mannino (7-2-0) earned his seventh win of the season stopping 29-of-30 shots. Stalock (10-6-1) took his sixth loss of the season making 25 saves on 27 shots.
Manchester went 0-for-5 on the power play. Worcester was 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
Notables: The Monarchs have won back-to-back games for the first time since they won three in a row from October 20 – 28…Center Andy Andreoff’s unassisted goal is his first point since Canadian Heritage Night on October 28.
The Monarchs will faceoff in a rematch with the Sharks in Worcester tomorrow night.
Finally, Andreoff was a recent guest on the MayorsManor show – to listen to what he had to say about being a Kings prospect, adjusting to life in the AHL, his new teammates and more, click here now.
