MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) – Mathieu Garon made 23 saves to lead the Manchester Monarchs past the Portland Pirates 3-0 on Friday.

Jeff Giuliano tipped a shot past Kirk Daubenspeck to give Manchester its 3-0 advantage in the third period after David Steckel and Tom Kostopoulos staked a 2-0 lead for the Monarchs.

The Monarchs outshot Portland 14-7 in the first as the game remained scoreless. Steckel scored in the second to break the deadlock, beating Daubenspeck to net the goal. Kostopoulos scored three minutes later on a power play.

Garon thwarted a five-minute Portland power play in the third. Kirk Daubenspeck made 28 saves for the Pirates before being replaced by Maxime Daigneault, who had three saves, at the 7:24 of the third.

AP-ES-03-25-05 2224EST