Taylor's Shutout Snaps Six Game Home Losing Streak
Monarchs are victorious with Winning Weekday game
MANCHESTER, NH – For the second time this season, left wing Petr Kanko scored the winning goal while goaltender Daniel Taylor recorded his second shutout in as many games as the Manchester Monarchs beat the Worcester Sharks 2-0 surrounded by 4,810 fans at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Wednesday evening breaking the Monarchs six game home losing streak. With the win, every fan in attendance can redeem their ticket at the Verizon Wireless Arena's box office for a free ticket to the Monarchs game on Monday, February 4 against the Milwaukee Admirals as part of the Winning Weekdays promotions.
Manchester (20-18-4-2) is in fifth place in the Atlantic Division with 46 points. Worcester (18-17-3-3) is in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with 42 points.
It only took the Monarchs seven minutes and 35 seconds into the first period to score the game winning goal off the stick of Kanko giving the Monarchs a 1-0 lead early in the shutout. Center Brian Boyle stole the puck in the right corner amidst a sea of Sharks and connected a tape-to-tape pass with center Brady Murray. Controlling the disk, Murray took the initial shot which was saved off the left pad of Sharks netminder Taylor Dakers. The rebound bounced in front of the net and on one skate Kanko gave the Monarchs a lead they would not relinquish.
Right wing Lauri Tukonen chased the puck the length of the ice and converged on the disk with Sharks defenseman Patrick Traverse behind the Sharks net. Tukonen was able to pick Traverse's pocket and skated toward the left post. With Dakers positioned to defend the winger, Tukonen opted to pass to right wing Kevin Westgarth at the top of the crease who was able to score his third goal of the season extending the Monarchs lead to 2-0 at the 10:13 mark of the final box.
Taylor earned his second shutout victory rejecting all 35 shots he faced. Dakers skated away with the loss stopping 34-of-36 shots.
Manchester went 0-for-5 on the power play. Worcester was 0-for-6 with the man advantage.
The Monarchs stay at home for their next game on Friday, January 25 against the Lowell Devils with a 7:05 P.M start time. Catch all of the play-by-play action of Monarchs hockey with Ken Cail on the Monarchs Radio Network WGIR-AM 610 and at
www.monarchshockey.com. Watch the game live on B2 Networks for just $6 per game. Log onto
www.monarchshockey.com and click on the link to B2 Networks ten minutes prior to each Monarchs game to watch the game live!