A two-goal effort from Danny Irmen and a 46-save performance by Dieter Kochan went for nought as Houston dropped a 3-2 decision in Manchester.
Matt Moulson, Noah Clarke and Shay Stephenson scored for the Monarchs, who won their sixth in a row. Barry Brust returned to the Manchester lineup and earned his first AHL win since Nov. 11.
Kochan made 20 saves in the first period and 20 more in the second, but still lost his third straight start since returning from injury.