Chris Clegg
NPHL.com Writer
Matt Boyd scored twice and Josh Rutherford and Logan Newman added one goal each as the visiting Manning Comets defeated the High Prairie Regals 4-2 Saturday night.
The win evened Manning’s record at 5-5-0-0 while the Regals remained winless in 10 starts [0-8-1-1].
The win also completed a weekend sweep for Manning, who defeated Grimshaw at home the previous night 5-3.
Logan Newman scored the only goal of the first period to give the Comets the lead.
In the second period, Larry Yellowknee scored short-handed to tie the game, but Matt Boyd scored on the same power play 56 seconds later to restore Manning’s lead 2-1.
Josh Rutherford scored with 43 seconds left in the period to give the Comets a 3-1 lead.
In the third, Hector Lamouche scored to make it 3-2 and the Regals had life. When Jarod Lorencz took a tripping penalty with 1:17 left, HP was primed to tie the game.
However, Boyd scored on a breakaway short-handed just 18 seconds into the power play to seal the win.
The Comets have won all three games against the Regals this season.
The Comets halted a modest two-game losing streak in High Prairie with the win.
Comets 4 at Regals 2
Saturday, Dec. 8
First period
1. MAN, Logan Newman 2 (unassisted) 11:27
Penalties: Brian Halcrow HP (interference) 2:35, Tyler Dillman MAN (holding) 3:57, Jarod Lorencz (holding) 12:14, Matt Boyd (slashing) 17:38, Garrett Sinclair HP (slashing) 18:41.
Second period
2. HP, Larry Yellowknee 1 (Mikal Van De Ligt-Chalifoux) 13:38 (sh)
3. MAN, Matt Boyd 2 (Josh Rutherford, Michael Gillen) 14:34 (pp)
4. MAN, Josh Rutherford 10 (Payton Proskurniak) 19:12
Penalties: Brett Nicklasen MAN (slashing) and Lawrence Anderson HP (slashing, unsportsmanlike, misconduct) 12:42, Mikal Van De Ligt-Chalifoux HP (high-sticking) 13:55.
Third period
5. HP, Larry Yellowknee 1 (Kirk Ruecker, Austin Mood-Flag) 9:08
6. MAN, Matt Boyd 3 (unassisted) 19:01 (sh)
Penalties: Britt Olischefski MAN (interference) 1:45, Austin Doan HP (holding) 3:31, Mikal Van De Ligt-Chalifoux HP (slashing) 11:05, Jarod Lorencz MAN (tripping) 18:43, Larry Yellowknee HP (match penalty for slew footing) 19:32.
Shots on goal:
Manning 9 13 9 -31
High Prairie 11 7 8 -26 Goaltenders: Comets, Braden Gamble; Regals, Ryan Penchuk.
Power Plays: MAN 1-6; HP 0-5.
Penalties in Minutes: MAN 12; HP 29.