UTICA, NY – The Monarchs lost for the first time in the Calder Cup Finals, falling to the Comets at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday night, 3-2. The loss cut the Monarchs’ advantage in the series to 2-1.
Adrian Kempe scored both of Manchester’s goals in the game. It was the rookie’s first multi-goal game of his pro career. They were his fifth and sixth goals in these playoffs.
Cal O’Reilly gave the Comets their first lead of the series when he scored the opening goal of the game on a wrist shot at 5:45 in the first period.
Utica took a 2-0 lead at 18:58 in the first when Alexandre Grenier scored from the low slot.
Kempe put the Monarchs on the board less than a minute later when he scored at 19:35 in the first period. It was his first in the Calder Cup Finals.
The Comets regained their two-goal advantage on a goal from Nicklas Jensen at 6:18 in the second period.
Kempe collected his second goal of the game at 7:22 in the second, making the score 3-2 Utica.
Manchester was held scoreless in three power-play chances.
Game 4 of the Calder Cup Finals will be played on Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
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Notes:
- All three of the Calder Cup Finals games have been decided by one goal.
- The Monarchs snapped an eight-game winning streak in the playoffs. They scored the first goal of the game in all eight of those wins, but Utica scored first tonight.
- Sean Backman (assist) moved into a tie for eighth place on the Monarchs’ all-time list for points in the postseason (16).
- J.F. Berube was removed from the game at 7:51 in the first period.
- The Monarchs were outshot 17-9 in the first period, but had 25 shots to Utica’s 21 from the second period on.
With Manchester game report
