MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) – Jared Aulin scored two goals and Manchester added two short-handed goals in 30 seconds of the third period to beat Portland 4-1 Wednesday night.

The victory pulled the Monarchs within one point of getting home ice advantage for the first round of the AHL playoffs.

Aulin, playing his first game after missing 19 games with an injury, fired a back-hander past goalie Maxime Ouellet 44 seconds into the second period.

At 10:07 of the period, he took a pass from Jeff Guiliano and scored again. The Monarchs clinched the game by scoring twice during a five-minute major penalty to Derek Bekar midway through the third period. Dan Welch scored the first and Eric Healey the second.

Portland broke Travis Scott’s shutout at 11:40 of the third when Todd Rohloff scored a short-handed goal.

AP-ES-04-02-03 2254EST