BRIDGEPORT, CT – The Manchester Monarchs extended their season-best winning streak to six games by holding on for a thrilling, 2-1 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers before 6,367 fans at the Arena at Harbor Yard on Sunday afternoon.

The win was the first for the Monarchs in three tries against the Sound Tigers this season (1-2-0-0). With the victory, the Monarchs extended their unbeaten in regulation streak to 13 games (9-0-2-2) and their unbeaten in regulation road streak to six games (5-0-1-0). The Monarchs have just one regulation loss in their last 16 games (10-1-3-2) overall.

With the win, the streaking Monarchs (34-21-6-5, 79 points) kept the heat on the Atlantic Division-leading Hartford Wolf Pack (36-18-11-2, 85 points), who edged the Lowell Lock Monsters, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon. The second place Monarchs trail the Wolf Pack by six points with one game in hand. They also lead the third place Worcester IceCats (29-24-11-3, 72 points) by seven points.

After a scoreless opening period, the Monarchs capitalized on their first power play chance of the afternoon with center Michael Cammalleri’s 11th goal, scored 2:59 into the middle period. Cammalleri slammed a rebound past goaltender Dieter Kochan, who was unable to get back into position after defenseman Bryan Muir rang his left point slap shot off the post. Defenseman Tomas Zizka also assisted on the play.

The Sound Tigers tied the game later in the period with defenseman Brandon Smith’s fifth goal, scored at 10:30 with the Sound Tigers on their third power play. Smith uncorked his shot from the top of the left circle and slipped it by goaltender Adam Hauser, who appeared to be screened on the play. Center Justin Mapletoft was also credited with an assist on the goal.

The Monarchs used the power play to regain the lead early in the final period as right wing Pavel Rosa extended his scoring streak to eight games with his 29th goal. Rosa scored just 36 seconds in after Muir neatly fed him for a one-timer from the right circle. Zizka also assisted on what turned out to be Rosa’s third game-winner in the last four games.

With the Monarchs protecting a one-goal lead late in the contest, the Sound Tigers pulled Kochan and replaced him with an extra attacker. Right wing Jeff Hamilton, who on Saturday night scored a dramatic goal late in regulation to give the Sound Tigers a 4-3 win over the Wolf Pack, had a chance to do the same thing against the Monarchs, but his rip from the left wing circle kissed the cross bar with about 20 seconds left in regulation. Hamilton entered Sunday’s game as the AHL’s leading goal scorer with 36 on the season.

Hauser (17-13-6) finished with 19 saves and extended his own unbeaten in regulation streak to nine games (5-0-2-2). Kochan, (16-14-5) who had earned the win in each of the two previous meetings between the teams this season, made 21 stops.

NOTES: Rosa passed former Monarchs left wing Eric Healey and moved into second place on the Monarchs all-time scoring list with his 29th goal on Sunday. Including Sunday’s game, Rosa has 132 points (57-75=132) in 124 career games with the Monarchs. Healey, currently in the Atlanta Thrashers organization with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, collected 131 points (66-65=131) in 140 career games with the Monarchs (2001-03).

The Monarchs return to action when they meet the Lowell Lock Monsters at 7 p.m. at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell on Friday, March 19. The Monarchs next home game is set for Saturday, March 20 when they host the Providence Bruins at 7:35 p.m. on New Hampshire Legends of Hockey Night at the Verizon Wireless Arena. For ticket information, visit the Monarchs on-line at www.monarchshockey.com.