Monarchs win Game 1 vs. Hartford

First game in the Eastern Conference Final to the Manchester Monarchs: Nic Dowd and Michael Mersch (his second) scored in the second period to break a 1-1 tie, enough to withstand Mat Bodie’s third-period goal in a 3-2 win at Verizon Wireless Arena.

J.F. Berube made 24 saves for the Monarchs against Yann Danis’ 22. Game 2 is Saturday night in Manchester, and then the series is back in Hartford on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Michael Fornabaio