The Adirondack Thunder (35-15-5-3) were back in Portland to take on the Maine Mariners (24-26-7) on Friday Night after suffering a 7-0 loss just one week ago as Brad Arvanitis, who shut them out last week, would once again get the start for the Mariners. Adirondack came out of the gate quickly, testing the former U-Mass Minutemen goaltender, who would stop all 14 shots in the opening frame as the Thunder outshot the Mariners 14-6 in the opening 20 minutes of play. Coming into Friday, the Thunder had the second-best PK in the league, but Maine would waste no time in the second as Gabriel Chicoine would feed Jimmy Lambert on the PP for a one-timer just 36 seconds into the middle frame. Maine would get another PP opportunity at the 7:01 mark as Jordan Di Cicco headed off for delay of game, and the Mariners would convert again as Zach Malatesta fired a slapper past Jeremy Brodeur to double Maine’s lead. Adirondack needed something to keep them in the game, and just over three minutes later, it would be the Thunder who would convert on the PP as it would be Shane Harper finding Tristan Ashbrook, a play that is familiar to the Thunder fans as Ashbrook picked up his 21st of the season. Andre Ghantous would pick up his first career ECHL point with an assist on the goal.
Heading into the third period, the Thunder would trail by just one goal, but it would be Grant Jozefek who would head to the box for a questionable goaltender interference call as Chase Zieky would score just nine seconds into the PP as the Mariners had their third PP marker of the night to make it 3-1. It would take over the midway point of the third period to see the first five-on-five goal of the night as Zach Malatesta finished off a two-on-one for the Mariners as Malatesta picked up his second of the night after having two goals in his first 21 games of the season. Brooklyn Kalmikov and Tristan Ashbrook would pick up goals 26 seconds apart from each other, and Alex Kile would hit the empty netter as the Mariners have now outscored the Thunder 13-2 in the last two games at Cross Insurance Arena. Brad Arvanitis would have another solid performance for the Mariners, making 40 saves in the win.
Take-Aways:
Andre Ghantous looked really solid in his first game, with the Thunder picking up assists on both of the Thunder’s goals. This is just another test that, despite their current struggles, the Thunder have continued to bring in guys who produce right away.
Tristan Ashbrook picked up his third multi-goal night of the season and second against the Mariners this season. He now has seven points in his past four games.
Gabriel Chicoine finished the night with three assists
