The Adirondack Thunder had a huge four-in-five this week where they had a chance to pull closer to the Worcester Railers this weekend but failed to do so and are now 10 points back of the fourth and final playoff spot, with two games in and hand, and six head-to-head match-ups vs. Railers. Adirondack got a huge helping hand as Nick Hutchison joined the team and had a huge weekend putting up three goals and two assist over the four games.
Three-Goal Third Propel’s Thunder in Hutchison’s Return
GLENS FALLS, NY- The Adirondack Thunder finished the first half of their four-in-five on Friday Night for their last home game vs. a non-Northen Divison opponent as they welcomed the Atlanta Gladiators to town. Atlanta got on the board first as Isaac Poulter misplayed a puck behind his net, and Cody Sylvester took advantage and buried his 21st of the season at the 4:59 mark of the opening frame. The Gladiators would be able to double their lead as Eric Neiley took a shot that was blocked, but he’d find his rebound and put it past Isaac Poulter, and less than ten minutes in, Atlanta had a 2-0 lead. Adirondack had a ton of chances in the opening frame and finally got rewarded as they took advantage of their first PP of the game as Patrick Grasso got denied by former Thunder goaltender Joe Murdaca on the first attempt but would make no mistake on the rebound to tie put Adirondack within one heading into the middle frame, despite outshooting Atlanta 15-9.
Atlanta would come out hot in the first half of the second period as, at one point in the period, they were outshooting the Thunder 9-3. Isaac Poulter was able to keep the Thunder in the game and would face 27 shots in the final forty minutes but stopped all of them as he made 34 saves in the game, “It was tough to start the game on a little mishap after those two goals I had to tie it in, I was really happy with how the team played overall” said Poulter. Thanks to Poulter, the Thunder were within striking distance. It would take them just 1:42 into the third period as Nick Hutchison found a puck sitting on the goal line and tapped it in to give Adirondack a 2-1 lead, as he had a two-point night just like he had in the 2019-20 season before the league got shut down due to COVID, “Obviously this place is where I started my career, and it’s nice to come back here, the groups been really nice to me already, I’m just happy to be here to contribute and help you guys win some games” said Hutchison. Xavier Parent would fire a rocket of a shot to make it 3-1 just as a Thunder PP had ended. Ivan Chukarov, who hadn’t had a point since January 7th, fired a shot from the point that Travis Broughman’s stick and went in for his eighth of the season, as Chukarov’s 15-game pointless skid had come to an end.
Comeback Kids Strike Again But Thunder Fall In OT
Coming into the second of three in three and third in a four-in-five, it was going to be a challenge for the Thunder as they played on Friday Night in Glens Falls and then had to bus to Trois-Rivieres overnight. Adirondack didn’t seem to have their legs as Anthony Beaugard got the Lions on the board just 30 seconds after the opening faceoff. Nick Hutchison had a strong game on Friday Night and would continue as he got his stick on a shot from Xavier Parent to tie the game at one. Trois-Rivieres would end the period the same way they started it as Brendan Soucie scored with 13 seconds remaining in the period, as the Lions took a 2-1 lead heading into the second. Cedric Lacroix opened up the scoring off the opening faceoff and gave the Lions a two-goal lead just 9 seconds into the middle frame.
Adirondack has not had an issue this season, and Saturday would be no different. Nick Hutchison responded 1:03 after the Lion’s goal for his second of the game. The two sides would continue to exchange goals in the second as a total of five goals would be scored in the middle frame, and the Thunder would find themselves down two heading into the third period. Brady Flurent would get Adirondack rolling just 2:07 into the third, and then it would be Xavier Parent, who had a three-point night who’d tie the game for the Thunder at the 11:17 mark of the third, and that would be enough to ensure that the Thunder would pick up at least one point in the standing. Adirondack hasn’t had the best luck in OT, and tonight, it would be Brendan Stapley who found his spot in front and fired it past Theut to give the Lions the extra point.
Slow Start Strikes The Thunder Once Again
Once again, the Adirondack Thunder got off to a slow start on Sunday as Brendan Stapley fed Thomas Caron just 29 seconds after the opening faceoff to get the Lion on the board. Sunday was the 30th time the Thunder have given up the opening goal this season. Despite giving up the opening goal, Adirondack would respond as Travis Broughman skated down the wing before Grant Jozefek found a rebound and wrapped it around to get the Thunder on the board. Adirondack’s PP has been very solid of late, and they would take advantage of it in the opening frame as Patrick Grasso scored his team-leading 24th goal of the season to give Adirondack a 2-1 lead. Over the past two night’s there’s been a lot of physical play, and Sunday was no different as Jarrod Gourley, and James Phelan dropped the gloves at the 13:16 mark of the period.
In the second, Isaac Poulter and Francis Marotte were on display as they both made huge saves to keep it a one-goal game. Brandon Schultz would take an undisciplined penalty at the 12:46 mark of the period, and that penalty led to a Cedric Montiminy goal that tied up the game for the Lions. Schultz wouldn’t see much ice time after the penalty. Anthony Beauregard scored at the 18:41 mark of the second to give the Lions a one-goal lead heading into the third. Adirondack had a ton of chances in the third, including a play by Travis Broughman where he came down the wing and got Marotte out of position but couldn’t find the back of the net. Ryan Francis would add an empty netter to seal the deal for the Lions. Isaac Poulter made 28 saves in the loss. Adirondack hosts the Reading Royals Friday and Saturday before heading out on their three-game trip in Florida.
