Monarchs advance to East finals

Vyacheslav Voynov scored 1:55 into overtime to give the Manchester Monarchs a 2-1 victory over Worcester in Game 6 of their second-round AHL playoff series. The Monarchs have now won the series 4-2 and will face the Hershey Bears in the Eastern Conference finals. Gabe Gauthier and Voynov scored goals for the Monarchs, while Jonathan Bernier made 28 saves for the win. Worcester took a 1-0 lead on Ryan Vesce’s goal 1:45 into the first period, and Gauthier tied the game, with assists to Trevor Lewis and Voynov, on the power play 9:06 into the second period to set up a scoreless third period and Voynov’s overtime winner.

Hershey, which had the most points in the Eastern Conference this season, swept Albany in the second round (three of the games went into overtime). Hershey will host the Monarchs in Games 1 and 2 on Wednesday, May 12, and Saturday, May 15. The next three games are scheduled for Manchester on Monday, May 17; Tuesday, May 18; and Thursday, May 20. Game 6 would be Saturday, May 22, at Hershey, and Game 7 would be Sunday, May 23, at Hershey. The winner of the series will advance to the Calder Cup Finals. This will be the Monarchs’ second trip to the conference finals in their nine years of existence. In 2006-07, the Monarchs were swept by Hershey in the conference finals.

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