On a night when the Manchester Monarchs honored hockey hair, they also celebrated their season-best fourth straight win, a 3-2 victory over the Worcester IceCats before a sellout crowd of 9,916 at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Friday night.

Right wing Pavel Rosa had two of the three Monarchs goals, including the game-winner midway through the second period. He’s tied for the Monarchs team-lead in game-winners with four on the season. Defenseman Maxim Kuznetsov also scored for the Monarchs, who extended their unbeaten in regulation streak to 11 games (7-0-2-2).

With the win, the second place Monarchs (32-21-6-5, 73 points) moved to within eight points of the first place Hartford Wolf Pack (35-17-11-2, 83 points) in the Atlantic Division. They also moved five points in front of the third place IceCats (28-23-11-3, 70 points), who lost in regulation for the first time in seven games (3-1-1-2).

The Monarchs raced out to a two-goal lead just 13:26 into the first period. Kuznetsov collected his second goal of the season when he tipped center Steve Kelly’s feed under the left pad of goaltender Curtis Sanford 5:10 into the contest. Left wing Chris Schmidt also assisted on the play, extending his personal scoring streak to five games (1-4=5).

Rosa extended his goal streak to five games (five goals during the streak) with his 27th goal, scored on a breakaway just 8:16 after Kuznetsov’s tally. Defensemen Richard Seeley and Bryan Muir sent Rosa alone into the Worcester zone with two excellent passes at center ice. Rosa completed the play by lifting his shot over Sanford’s blocker.

Center Jeff Panzer put the IceCats on the board at 16:44 of the opening period. Defenseman Aris Brimanis and center Blake Evans assisted on Panzer’s 11th this season. Rookie right wing Mike Glumac tied the game at 8:46 of the middle period with his 20th, scored with the IceCats holding a 5-on-3 power play advantage. Left wing Peter Sejna and center Johnny Pohl assisted.

But Rosa scored his team-leading 28th goal just five minutes later when he five-holed Sanford with a slot backhander. Center Michael Cammalleri and left wing Noah Clarke shared assists on the play.

Thanks to his Friday performance, Rosa, who has points in each of his last six games (6-4=10), now ranks second in the AHL scoring race with 68 points (28-40=68).

Goaltender Adam Hauser (16-13-6) improved to 4-0-2-2 in his last eight games with 23 saves. Sanford (12-12-1) took the loss with 23 saves.

With the win, the Monarchs improved to 3-0-2-0 in their last five meetings with the IceCats this season. They are 3-2-3-0 in eight head-to-head meetings with the IceCats this season.

NOTES: The Monarchs on Friday hosted the induction of the Hanson Brothers, made famous by the classic hockey movie “Slap Shot,” into the Mullet Hall of Fame as part of Mullet Night II, sponsored by TRIMZ Family Haircut Center. The Hanson’s joined the likes of ESPN’s Barry Melrose (class of 2003), actor Patrick Swayze (class of 2002), pitcher Randy Johnson (class of 2001) and country singer Billy Ray Cyrus (class of 2000) in the Mullet Hall of Fame, which recognizes members of the sports and entertainment industry who possess the proper ratio of short hair in the front (10 percent) and long hair in the back (90 percent). Devin Tebo, a 12-year-old from Derry, New Hampshire, was also honored as the Grand Mullet Champion. He was one of four contestants with real Mullets that competed for the title at center ice. Tebo also won the title last year. Greg Kretchsmar, Andy Blacksmith and Roadkill of the Morning Buzz (Rock 101.1 –WGIR-FM) hosted the induction ceremony. As part of Friday’s festivities, the first 5,000 guys (and ladies if they wanted one) into the arena received free Mullet wigs.

The Monarchs return to action when they host the AHL East Division’s Philadelphia Phantoms at 7:35 p.m. on Saturday, March 13. Only single seats remain for Saturday’s game, which will be televised regionally by CN8 TV (channel 3 in Manchester). For ticket information, visit the Monarchs on-line at www.monarchshockey.com.