Dany Roussin scored in the home half of the eighth shootout round to give Manchester a 2-1 win over Lowell in Saturday afternoon action at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
The Monarchs’ Lauri Tukonen and the Lock Monsters’ Leon Hayward traded goals 1:49 apart late in the second period, all of the offense for the two teams in regulation.
Tyler Weiman made 42 saves for Lowell, including 21 in the third period and four more in overtime.
Noah Clarke scored on Manchester’s first shot of the shootout, and it held up until the former Monarch Hayward converted on Lowell’s fifth attempt.
The win moved the Monarchs to within two points of second-place Hartford in the Atlantic Division heading into tonight’s action.
The Lock Monsters are now winless in their last six games (0-4-0-2).
In Saturday’s other matinee, Rochester kept its fading playoff hopes alive with a convincing 5-1 win over Hamilton at the Blue Cross Arena.
The game began 27 minutes late after the Bulldogs experienced travel difficulties, and the Amerks struck quickly, racing out to a 4-0 lead just 21 minutes into the game.
Clarke MacArthur recorded two goals and an assist and Chris Taylor added a goal and three assists for Rochester.
Michael Leighton stopped 34 of 35 shots to earn the win, pulling the Amerks to within six points of fourth-place Toronto in the North Division. The Marlies are in Grand Rapids tonight.
