The Adirondack Thunder got swept in a very important series vs. Maine Mariners as they came into the weekend sitting only two points behind the Mariners in the standings, but now after the weekend sit seven points behind both the Maine Mariners and Trois-Rivieres Lions. This weekend started with a lot of action. However, that would be as exciting as the weekend would get for the Thunder. Now the Thunder will continue their road trip as they face the last place Norfolk Admirals for three games starting on Wednesday Night.
108 Penalty Minutes Later
The first game of a three-game set between the Thunder and Mariners resulted in 108 penalties, and five players tossed, oh and the Thunder lost by a score of 4-1. Coming into tonight’s game, the Thunder and Mariners were separated by one point, and Adirondack came out sluggish to start the game. It cost them as Tim Doherty would open the scoring as he found a loose puck in front of the net and put it past Jake Theut. In the opening period, there wasn’t much happening, and after 20, Adirondack once again found themselves in a familiar place as they were down in the game despite outshooting the Mariners 8-4. In the second, it would be all Mariners as just 2:03 into the frame, Tim Doherty would skate around Jarrod Gourley and double the Mariners lead. At the 12:46 mark of the period, the game would change drastically as Matthew Santos appeared to take a knee-on-knee collision with Nick Rivera and the Thunder weren’t happy about it as Nick Rivera and Curtis Hall would drop the gloves; Garret Van Wyhe would get a roughing penalty, Rivera would get the extra two for the instigator. There would be one other penalty in the period, and despite being outshot 17-2 in the middle frame, the Thunder still had a chance to come back. In the third, it would be a parade to the locker room and penalty boxes as 84 minutes of penalties would be handed out, starting with a high-sticking penalty to Chad Pieterenaro. At the 6:29 mark, we’d add another six minutes of penalties during a delayed call on Rivera for boarding. Grant Jozefek and Alex-Olivier Voyer would each get two for roughing. Nick Rivera and Yanick Turcotte would both get into fights, and Noah Corson, Connor Dougherty, Alex-Olivier, Nick Rivera, and Sebastian Vidmar all got tossed. Oh, and the teams exchanged goals in the third as Rivera scored for Adirondack, and Keltie Jeri-Leon scored an empty net goal for the Mariners.
No Miracles for Thunder On Saturday Night
Tonight for just the fourth time all season, the Thunder would get on the board first as Ryan Da Silva fed Noah Corson in front, who would finish it off at the 5:32 mark of the opening frame. Maine would take advantage of the first PP they got tonight as Alex-Olivier Voyer opened the scoring as he finished off a three-on-two rush by the Mariners. Just six minutes later, the Mariners would take the lead on a goal from Curtis Hall and gave Maine a 2-1 lead as they also doubled up the Thunder in shots in the opening frame 10-5. Adirondack would play a much better second period and would have two chances on the man advantage but couldn’t convert as that would be a theme as they finished the night 0-5 on the PP. Maine would grab a two-goal lead late in the third as Curtis Hall picked up his second goal and third goal in two games vs. Adirondack. Despite being down, the Thunder were not out as Jeff Taylor scored on a 6 on 5 for his first goal of the season as he played his first game since November 4th as he was out with an injury, “It’s great to be back, shake the rust off a little bit, it’s always nice to get that first one, especially on home ice, great crowd again” said Taylor. “Oh, it’s great, he’s been awesome, he brings an urgency that we don’t seem to have all the time,” said MacArthur on Jeff Taylor returning to the lineup. Patrick Shea would hit the empty net at the 18:52 mark, but Garett Van Wyhe would make it a one-goal game, but that’s as close as the Thunder would come as they dropped their second straight by a score of 4-3. Francis Marotte made 24 saves in the loss, “Frankie was unreal,” said MacArthur.
Maine Finishes Off Sweep On Home
The scene of the series may have changed, but the result was the same for the Thunder as they lost by a score of 4-1. Maine would get a chance to open the scoring late in the first as Tim Doherty got a short-handed break-away but would be denied by Jake Theut and would keep the game scoreless after the opening 20. Curtis Hall, who had scored two goals in the series coming into tonight, would open the scoring for the Mariners just 2:38 into the second period. Adirondack would do their best to stay in the game as they had a 2 on 0 with a little over six minutes remaining but couldn’t find the back of the net. The Mariners would all but put it away as Connor Doherty scored on a break-away to make it 3-0. Adirondack hasn’t been shutout yet this season, and that wouldn’t change on Sunday afternoon as Shane Harper picked up his fifth goal of the season to get the Thunder on the board on a rebound, but that’s all they would get as Tim Doherty would add an empty-netter to make it a 4-1 game for the Mariners. Jake Theut would make 33 saves in the loss.
