The Adirondack Thunder have made a couple of transactions as they return back to the East Coast after taking four of a possible six points vs Allen Americans, in which all three games went into overtime. Adirondack finally gets a body back from the IR as Zach Walker will return to the Thunder lineup after missing the last month and a half for the Thunder. Walker has been hampered by injuries all season, playing in just 23 games this season, putting up three goals and eight assists for 11 points. Getting Walker back before the Kelly Cup Playoffs is a massive addition to the Thunder lineup; not only is he a big body who can hit and produce offensively, but he was also part of the Idaho Steelheads team that went to the Kelly Cup Finals last season. Eric Alarie has also been activated off reserve after being a healthy scratch in Sunday’s game vs. Allen; Alarie has not found the scoresheet since being signed by the Thunder, as he’s played in four games.
Shane Harper and Jackson van de Leest both head to reserve. For Harper, this doesn’t come as much of a shock as the Thunder have been very good this season about getting Harper rest, and with four games in five days, it’s not a shock that he will at least get one night off if not two before the Thunder return home on Saturday and Sunday for their final two home games of the season. Harper has averaged nearly a point per game since joining the team in November, as he has 17 goals and 35 assists for 52 points in 53 games. Adirondack has an abundance of defencemen as both Ryan Wheeler and Connor Blake have seen time as forwards lately, hence moving van de Leest to reserve to get him a few nights off.
Not listed on the ECHL on the AHL transaction page but announced by the Utica Comets was that goaltender Isaac Poulter and forward Andre Ghantous are heading up to Utica. Poulter is heading up to Utica after Kaapo Kahkonen left Sunday’s game with an injury and is not in the lineup for tonight’s game as Akira Schmid got the call-up from the Comets to the New Jersey Devils. Since being sent down, the 22-year-old goaltender has won all three of his starts with Adirondack; he is 17-8-1 with a 2.55 GAA, .911 SV%, and four shutouts with the Comets this season. Ghantous has dominated the ECHL since being signed by the Thunder, putting up points in eight of his nine games with the Thunder, putting up three goals and 10 assists; this is his second call-up to Utica.
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