The Adirondack Flames were defeated 4-2 by the Rockford IceHogs on Thursday evening at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Michael Ferland and Corban Knight each registered their first goals of the season in the defeat. Goaltender Brad Thiessen made 35 saves in a losing effort in his first full performance in net during the 2014-15 campaign.
Ferland opened the scoring for the Flames 5:22 into the opening period. The Adirondack forward stole the puck in the trapezoid behind the IceHogs’ net, brought it in front and beat Rockford goaltender Scott Darling short side to give the Flames the 1-0 lead. Ferland’s goal, which was unassisted, also gave the Flames their first lead of the 2014-15 season.
The IceHogs pulled even just 2:03 into the second period, as TJ Brennan fired a shot from the top of the left circle to beat Thiessen on the blocker side. The goal for Brennan was his first of the season, as Peter Regin and Teuvo Teravainen also picked up the assists. Brennan led all AHL defensemen a season ago with 72 points (25-47-72).
Adirondack regained its one goal advantage 4:56 into the third period when Knight scored on a breakaway, as he beat Darling with a nice backhand shot. Knight seized the opportunity when Rockford defenseman Ville Pokka fell at his own blue line trying to keep the puck in the IceHogs’ offensive zone, which paved the way for the North Dakota alum to walk in alone.
Adam Clendening was sent to the box for holding at 9:05 of the third to even up play at four-on-four and Viktor Svedberg beat Thiessen with a blast from the point to tie the game at 2. Garret Ross picked up the lone assist on Svedberg’s tying goal.
The IceHogs made the most of a power play opportunity with Knight in the box late in the third. With just 4:18 to go in the game, a Klas Dahlbeck shot, off a feed from Peter Regin, found its way through the traffic in front of Thiessen, and into the back of the net to give Rockford its first lead of the evening.
With 9.1 seconds to go, Regin sealed the deal for the visitors with an empty net goal, to give the IceHogs a 4-2 victory.
The Flames are back in action tomorrow evening, still in search of their first franchise win, as they travel to Allentown, PA for a date with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The two sides return to Glens Falls on Saturday for the second half of a home-and-home, as the Phantoms return to the Glens Falls Civic Center for the first time. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. for both contests. For tickets, visit the Civic Center box office, call 855-432-2849 or online at glensfallscc.com.
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