GLENS FALLS—The Adirondack Thunder came into Game 6 with a 3-2 series lead after taking all three games in Norfolk after dropping the first two games at home. Norfolk, looking to salvage their season on Tuesday, would scratch Stephan Timofeyev, who had three goals in the series. Carson Golder was out with an injury suffered in Game 5, which is a big loss as he had a goal and five assists for six points in the first five games of the series. Adirondack would waste no time getting on the scoresheet as Filip Engaras opened up the scoring just 2:05 after the opening faceoff, but it would take a second look to confirm that the Thunder had gotten their 1-0 lead. All series, there have been some questionable hits, and in the first, we would have yet another one as Dmitry Kuzmin would cross-check Yushiro Hirano from behind after the whistle, which caught the attention of the Thunder, but they couldn’t convert on the lone penalty of the period.
“Ya, defintley not used to playing this many games this close together, playoff hockey is tough and hard but it’s been a lot of fun, it was nice to kinda find my game a bit today and contibute”
Adiriondack Thunder forward Andre Ghantous on his three assist night
It wouldn’t take long for the Admirals to find the back of the net in the second, as former Thunder Brady Fleurent would get the Admirals on the board as he found a loose puck on the PP and put it past Poulter, and just like the Engaras goal; the refs would take a second look at this one as well as it stood as well. Adirondack had a quick response for the Fleurent goal as less than three minutes later; it would be a nice hit by Will MacKinnon, which led to Shane Harper throwing a beautiful pass to Tristan Ashbrook, who sniped one past Yaniv Perets to give the Thunder a 2-1 lead. Norfolk would get a golden chance to tie it up as Brandon Osmundson would get a breakaway on Poulter and would hit the post as the Admirals had nearly tied the game, and Adirondack would capitalize later on in the PP as Adirondack took advantage of a three-on-one in front as Andre Ghantous fed Engaras for his second of the night to give the Thunder a two-goal lead after 40.
Ya, for sure. I think the team played really well tonight and we really wanted to close it down, it obviously it’s fun to score three”
Filip Engaras on his hat-trick in the Game 6 Victory of the Norfolk Admirals
Adirondack would add two more goals in the third, including Filip Engaras finishing off the hat-trick on the Thunder’s fourth goal of the game, and then Shane Harper would score while falling to the ice on Adirondack’s final goal of the night, Harper with a goal and an assist on the night extended his point-streak to five games and Yushiro Hirano added two assists on the night as his point-streak extends to six games. With the win, Adirondack becomes the 20th team in ECHL history to win a best-of-seven series after winning the losing the first two games.
It’s been like that all year, when we’re at the top of our game we’re one of the best teams in the league and when we’re not it can get a little squirley and could be more hectic and stressful than it needs to be, so it looks like we figured it just in time for the series that’s for sure
Adirondack Thunder Head Coach Pete MacArthur on coming back from down 0-2 to winning the series in six games
The Adirondack Thunder will now face the Florida Everblades in the Eastern Conference Finals, which begins Friday Night at Cool Insuring Arena.
