The Manchester Monarchs are proving to be a stubborn opponent.
Pierre-Luc Mercier scored 2:16 into overtime to give the Monarchs a 2-1 decision over the Newfoundland Growlers, and send their ECHL North Division final series back to St. John’s.
The Growlers still lead the series 3-2 entering Game 6 slated for 7 o’clock Monday night at Mile One Centre.
In Exeter, N.H., where the game was played in the Monarchs’ practice rink because the SNHU Arena in downtown Manchester was previously booked, all the scoring the regulation time was done in the second period, with the Monarchs’ David Kolomatis and Zach O’Brien trading goals three minutes apart.
O’Brien’s seventh goal leads all Newfoundland goal-scorers.
Both goalies, the Monarchs’ Charles Williams and Michael Garteig for the Growlers, made 30 saves.
The winner of the Newfoundland-Manchester series will take on the Florida Everblades for the Eastern Conference crown, and a trip to the Kelly Cup final on the line.
The Everblades got a goal from John McCarron at 14:48 of double overtime Friday night to beat the Orlando Solar Bears 2-1 and take their best-of-seven series in five games.