The St. John’s IceCaps coughed up three two-goal leads, allowed the tying goal with 42 seconds left in regulation time and then watched as the Manchester Monarchs outscored them in the shootout for a 5-4 loss Friday night.
At Mile One Centre, the setback ruined a four-point night (two goals, two assists) by Eric O’Dell, and a three-point effort (goal, two assists) by Kael Mouillierat, two of the IceCaps’ few consistent performers during the second half of the 2012-13 American Hockey League season.
Jordan Weal and Colton Yellow Horn scored for the Monarchs in the shout, while Mouillierat was the only one of five IceCaps shooters to solve Martin Jones.
Andy Andreoff led the Monarchs with two goals. Tyler Toffolli and Brandon Kozun also scored for the winners in regulation time.
Patrice Cormier had the other goal for St. John’s.
In a game which featured five power play goals and a shorthanded effort, Andreoff forced overtime and the resulting shootout, disappointing the crowd of 6,287 — another official sellout — with the tying goal late in regulation time.
With Jones on the bench for an extra attacker, Andreoff banged home his eighth goal from the top of the goal crease.
Cormier had the only goal in a sluggish first period, picking up his sixth on the year at 16:26 on a nice centering pass from O’Dell. Mouillierat also drew an assist on the play, giving him nine power play helpers this season, second only to Derek Meech, currently on recall to Winnipeg.
O’Dell started the second period flurry just 12 seconds in, racing down the right side and wiring a lot shot past Jones.
Kozun got the Monarchs on the scoreboard 1:24 after the O’Dell goal, scoring from the top of the faceoff circle for the third straight man-advantage tally.
The IceCaps, whose record falls to 23-31-1-2 on the year, outshot the Monarchs 37-37.
The teams go at it again tonight at 7:30.
rshort@thetelegram.com
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