Adirondack had a strong weekend against the Reading Royals as they picked three of a possible four points. The Thunder were down some key names, as Isaac Poulter, Jarrod Gourley, Nick Rivera, and Sebastian Vidmar were all out of Adirondack’s lineup on Friday Night; Vidmar would return on Saturday Night. However, Jake Theut would be the story of the weekend as coming into the weekend, he held a 10-12-3-1 record with a 3.37 GAA.891 SV%, along with one shutout. Theut would end up making 92 saves over the two games. Adirondack now pulls within 11 points of Worcester with four games in hand for the fourth spot in the North, as Adirondack currently holds a record of 19-23-7-1
Four Goal First Period and Jake Theut Lead Thunder to Victory
GLENS FALLS, NY- The Adirondack Thunder got off to a quick start on Friday Night as Grant Jozefek found a rebound off a shot from the point from Matt Steif and put it home on the second attempt to open up the scoring at the 3:32 mark of the opening period. Adirondack’s line of Parent-Broughman-Jozefek has been massive all season, and they would be the highlight of a four-goal first period. Travis Broughman would feed Xavier Parent, and he’d find the back of the net, and just 2:14 seconds after his first goal, Grant Jozefek would find Parent heading to the net. He’d net his second of the game and a three-point period, “It was great; whenever you can find Parent in the slot, he’s probably gonna score; just try to keep feeding the hot hand,” said Jozefek. Adirondack wasn’t done yet as Colin Long, who was playing in his first game since January 29th, would find Brett Ouderkirk, who put home his first goal with the Thunder, and just like that, Adirondack had a four-goal lead less than halfway through the opening frame. Reading would get their chances as they outshot the Thunder in the first, but Jake Theut was on his game tonight as he picked up 43 saves in the win, “I was really hit out there; it was kinda exhausting, but I’m happy the team got the win, and it’s a good test to our character” said Theut
The Royals would fail to score as Brady Fleurent took the game’s first penalty, but it would give Reading enough momentum as Jacob Goucher would get them on the board shortly after the penalty expired. Reading would get a golden chance to put the game within reach as they would get a five-on-three for a full two minutes as Jeff Taylor went off for slashing, and then Brandon Schultz would get an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. However, the Thunder would escape without giving up a goal. Adirondack’s power play was abysmal tonight as they gave up more chances than they were getting and finished the night 0/5, but they did kill off all four penalties they took. Reading would come alive late in the third as Yvan Mongo would put the Royals within two, and then they’d pull their goalie with 3:00 left in the third, and Shane Sellar would score to put the Royals within one, but that’s as close as they’d get.
Theut’s 49 Saves Not Enough as Adirondack’s OT Woes Continue
Jake Theut single-handly has helped the Thunder pick up three of a possible four points over the past two games. For the second straight night, the Royals would come up firing shots at Theut as they would pick up 18 shots in the opening frame as it was also a penalty-free period for both sides, but that would change over the following two periods. Adirondack would have a chance to break through on the powerplay early in the second. Charlie Gerard would take a minor for interference and then a minor for unsportsmanlike misconduct. Still, Adirondack’s PP would continue to struggle as the Adirondack couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity. That would stay the same as they went 0-3 with only three shots on goal on three powerplay opportunities. Reading would break through Theut at the 14:22 mark as a Will MacKinnon shot would open up the scoring. Adirondack has been no stranger to coming back, and they would early in the third as Brandon Schultz took advantage of Royal’s turnover and fired it past the glove of Kayden Fulcher to tie the game for the Thunder. Before regulation would come to an end, Ryan Smith and Colin Felix would drop the gloves. Sebastian Vidmar would take a holding penalty with 1:10 remaining in the third, giving Reading a PP to start the OT frame. Adirondack would be able to kill off the sentence, but Charlie Gerard would score at the 2:31 mark of the OT frame to send Reading home with the extra point, as the Thunder are 1-7-1-1 in 10 OT games this season.
