The Adirondack Thunder returned to action on Saturday Night against the Norfolk Admirals after a well-needed eight days off since their last game. Adirondack came out ready to play and would be rewarded as Kevin O’Neil would feed Kurt Gosselin for his third of the year at the 9:32 mark of the period, and then with less than 30 seconds remaining in the first period, O’Neil would feed Josh Filmon as the Thunder would head into the second up 2-0. Normally, a late-period goal would give a team momentum, but the Admirals would get on the board just 1:11 into the second period as Filip Fornaa Svensson would feed Brandon Osmundson, who found the back of the net for his 13th goal of the season as he was playing in his 100th pro game tonight. Surprisingly, the first penalties of the night wouldn’t come until the 6:21 mark of the second as Andre Ghantous and Stephan Timofeyev each went off for roughing. Adirondack would regain their two-goal lead as Ryan Francis, in his first game back from a concussion, threw a beautiful pass to Ryan Wheeler, who netted his seventh goal of the season as the Thunder would once again head into the locker room holding a two-goal lead.
“Ya that was a huge win for us. Hopefully a confidence booster and hopefully we keep it going”
Kevin O’Neil on the win tonight
In the third, Greg Smith would find Josh Filmon as he found the back of the net for his second of the game and 10th of the season, and the Thunder had a three-goal lead with less than five minutes to go in regulation. After just eight minutes in penalties through the first two periods of play, tension began to boil over late in the third. At the 16:03 mark, German Yavash would be called for slashing, which would begin a giant scrum involving Spencer Kennedy, who slashed Wheeler multiple times on his way to the penalty box, as two players from each team would hit the showers early as 50 minutes of penalties were handed out at the 16:03 mark. It wouldn’t end there as less than two minutes later, Keegan Iverson would slew foot Sean Gulka, then refuse to answer the bell, as that capped off a third period which included 72 penalty minutes. T.J. Friedmann would add a PP goal to make it 6-1 as the Thunder snapped an eight-game losing streak and picked up their first win at home since December 4th.
“That’s a big game for myself, but most importantly the team. We played a full 60 minutes tonight and they helped me out as much as they could and I stopped the shots I needed to”
Tyler Brennan on what this win meant for him
It would be a massive game for Tyler Brennan, who came out to boos when introduced in the starting lineup. Brennan, who had been pulled in each of his last two starts, which both came at home, would make 22 saves for his fifth win of the season.
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