Manchester snaps six game losing streak to Worcester

Brandon Kozun had a two point night with goal and an assist and goalie Jeff Zatkoff {7-5-1} stopped 27 shots as the Manchester Monarchs {10-6-1-1; 22 points} defeated the Worcester Sharks {7-5-1-2; 17 points} for the first time this season, 3-1, Friday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire, snapping a six-game losing streak to Worcester.

Manchester, now on a three-game winning streak, struck first on Vlatcheslav Voynov's power-play goal at 6:43 of the first period. With Worcester's T.J. Trevelyan in the sin-bin for a holding minor, Voynov passed the puck over to teammate Brayden Schenn, who was camped on the right goal line, and received the puck back from Schenn and buried it home past Worcester goalie Alex Stalock {6-6-1}, who had no chance at stopping the puck, for his fourth goal of the season. Schenn, who was playing in his first game for Manchester on a conditioning assignment from Los Angeles of the NHL, and Kozun were credited with assists on the goal.

Worcester would respond halfway through the period when Benn Ferriero scored his 10th goal of the season at 10:06. 20-seconds after Manchester's Justin Azevedo was called for a hooking minor at 8:36, Manchester Captain Marc-Andre Cliche was called for high sticking on Worcester's James Marcou. With a 5-on-3 advantage and great puck possession in the Manchester zone, Ferriero fired a one-time from on top the left face-off circle that found the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. Justin Braun and Steven Zalewski were credited with assists on the goal.

At 3:26 of the second period, Kozun put Manchester back in the lead, 2-1, with his sixth goal of the year on a shot fired from the left face-off circle that beat Stalock down low. Azevedo and Thomas Hickey were credited with assists on the goal.

Late in the third period, Cliche would seal the game for Manchester with his first goal of the season at 13:42. Trevelyan, who was behind the Worcester net, attempted to clear the puck with a back-handed sweep but did not get a full swing and the puck went right up the middle to Cliche, who was standing six-feet on top of the crease and buried the puck past Stalock, who snapped his goalie-stick in two out of frustration after the goal.

Worcester will be back in action Saturday night when they visit the Portland Pirates. Puck drops at 7p.m./et.

NOTES.....Shortly before the game, Mike Moore and Frazier McLaren were reassigned to Worcester by the San Jose Sharks and they will make the trip for the Portland game.....Worcester is now 24-19-5-3 all time vs. Manchester.....This was the third meeting of 12 this season between the teams.....Worcester's Andrew Desjardins played in his 169th consecutive AHL game.....Worcester out-shot Manchester 28-27.....Worcester was 1-for-5 on the power-play while Manchester was 1-for-4.....Scratches for Worcester were Tony Lucia and Cameron MacIntyre.....Riley Gill was released from his PTO.....3 STARS were Cliche {1 point: 1 goal}, Zatkoff {27 saves; 96.4%sv} and Kozun {2 points: 1 goal, 1 assist}.