Coming into the three-game set vs. Newfoundland Growlers, the Thunder had played well against the Northern Division weekend, as they had a record of 4-2, which is a lot better than how they had fared last season vs. Newfoundland. Despite the struggles in the weekend series, the Thunder PP stayed hot as they scored at least one PP goal in their previous five games, which was an area the team had struggled with earlier in the season. The biggest disappointment for the Thunder is that they lost ground on Worcester Railers for the fourth and final playoff spot in the North, now trailing the Railers by 11 points in the standings. However, the Thunder have four games in hand on them. Let’s take a closer look at what happened to Adirondack during their three-game set with Newfoundland.
Poulter Shines Once Again as Thunder Take Opening Game of the Series
The Adirondack Thunder came into Wednesday night needing a win after a 6-1 loss to the Reading Royals, which started a four-game road trip for the Thunder, who came into Wednesday night with a record of 4-11-2 away from Glens Falls. Adirondack would get on the board as Patrick Grasso would score on the first Thunder shot of the night and put them up 1-0 just under five minutes into the game. The final five minutes of the period would hurt the Thunder as Brandon Kruse would even it up at the 17:35 mark, and with just 40 seconds left, Brandon Schultz would take a penalty giving the Growlers some solid time with the man advantage and fresh ice to start the middle frame. Adirondack killed off the penalty and used that momentum to score as Patrick Grasso fed Brady Fleurent on a nice give-and-go as Fleurent finished it off for his third of the season. The Thunder weren’t done quite yet as just 3:23, Shane Harper found a rebound on a nice three-on-two by the Thunder to put the Thunder up by two. Harper’s goal would chase Luke Cavallin, who came into tonight fifth in the league and first in the North Divison with a 2.44 GAA, as he gave up three goals on 11 shots. Pavel Gogolev would keep the Growlers in it with a shot that beat Poulter, and after 40, the Growlers were within one shot from tying this game.
The third period was all Growlers as they outshot the Thunder 18-6, but Isaac Poulter had another strong game as he’s starting to find his groove between the pipes for Adirondack. Poulter made a huge save on a one-timer by Zach Solow and then stopped the rebound attempt by Orrin Centazzo to hold the Thunder lead, as Poulter finished the night with 37 saves. Grant Jozefek would be tripped on a break-away short-handed and be awarded the goal even though the puck didn’t cross the blue line as the Thunder won by a score of 4-2.
Skriving’s Late Goal Gives Growlers Edge in Middle Game Of Series
Adirondack came into tonight’s game with confidence after a strong performance on Wednesday Night in Newfoundland, where they picked up a 4-2 victory. On Wednesday night, it was Adirondack who got on the board with their first shot of the game, and on Friday, it was James Melindy who got his first goal of the season with the Growler’s first shot on net, which started a five-goal first-period between the two sides. Ryan Smith had a golden chance to tie the game up on a misplayed puck by Dryden McKay but hit the post with a wide-open net. Adirondack would finally get on the board shortly after a successful penalty kill as Travis Broughman scored from the point to tie the game up. Michael Joyaux would score less than three minutes later off the faceoff and then scored again, putting up his second goal in 14 seconds. Down by two, the Thunder needed a boost, and that’s exactly what they got as Shawn Weller does what he does best and got a tip-in on the PP with 16 seconds left to put the Thunder within one after 20.
Adirondack didn’t waste their chances tonight as Jeff Taylor had a bomb of a one-timer from the point on the PP to tie the game for the Thunder, as they once again were able to erase a two-goal deficit. Pavel Gogolev has killed the Thunder this season as he scored on the PP for his 19th goal overall on the season and fifth vs. Adirondack to get the Growler’s lead back and had them up one heading into the third. The Thunder fought and clawed their way in this game and would tie it up as Ryan Da Silva finished off a three-on-two to tie the game up at four. Isaac Poulter didn’t have his strongest game of the year but had some timely saves that kept the game tied in the third as the Thunder were hoping to at least salvage a point out of this one. However, it would be Todd Skriving who scored from the side of the net with 4:29 remaining to give the Growlers a 5-4 lead that they would hold on to tie the weekend series up at one.
Thunder Hit Empty In the Third Period, Lose Series to Growlers
Adirondack came out hot as they wanted to avenge Saturday’s loss with a win to take another series from the Growlers. Recently the Thunder have been getting a lot more scoring from their blueline, and Wayne Letourneau would take advantage of a Growlers turnover in front of the net and put the Thunder up 1-0, as it was Letourneau’s first career ECHL goal. The powerplay has been firing on all cylinders for the Thunder as Matt Stief’s shot from the point would be deflected by Ryan Smith, who picked up his 8th of the season, as his powerplay goal made it five straight games that the Thunder have found the back of the net to double lead. They had that lead at the halfway point of the game. Newfoundland would get one back as Issac Johnson got a nice feed from Orrin Centazzo to get the Growlers on the board, and after 40, it was 2-1 Adirondack.
The Growlers would waste no time in the third as Pavel Gogolev, who has been a thorn in the Thunder’s side this season, would score just 28 seconds in the final frame to tie the game up at two and the Thunder seemed a little sluggish to start the final frame. Less than three minutes after the Gogolev goal, the Thunder had to kill off a five-on-three for 1:15, and they would do so successfully, as they killed off all five of the Growler powerplays on the night. Brett Budgell would give the Growlers the lead on a nice fore-hand back-hand move beating a Thunder defender and then beating Jake Theut. Gogolev would erase any hope the Thunder had as he scored 1:06 after the Budgell goal to put the Growlers up two; Todd Skriving would add an empty netter to seal a 5-2 victory for Newfoundland.
Adirondack is back in action on Wednesday Night as they face the Maine Mariners at the Cool Insuring Arena.
