Glens Falls, NY - The Adirondack Thunder returned to winning ways with a 3-2 victory over the Norfolk Admirals on Wednesday afternoon at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
The Thunder were led by forward Mitchell Heard and defenseman Mike Bergin, who each collected a goal and an assist, while they also received 23 saves from goaltender Ken Appleby, who picked up his eighth victory of the season.
The home side got the scoring started just 3:36 into the game, when Mike Bergin’s blast from the point trickled in off Norfolk goalie Ty Rimmer’s pads. Bergin’s shot was set up by a beautiful pass from Mitchell Heard after he led the rush into the offensive zone. Bergin’s goal was his first of the season and Heard’s helper was his sixth this year, which extended his scoring streak to four games.
Adirondack made it a two-goal game a few moments later, when Dana Fraser took a Bergin pass deep in the Norfolk zone, deked out Rimmer and put the puck into the back of the net on the backhand for his second goal of the year. The assist gave Bergin the first multi-point game of both his season and his ECHL career, with Fraser’s goal his first at the Civic Center.
The Admirals answered shortly after, however, when forward Tommy Mele collected a Steven Whitney rebound and beat Ken Appleby to cut the Thunder lead back to one. The goal was Mele’s first of the season and the assist was the fourth for Whitney.
Norfolk then tied the game up at two just over six minutes into the second period, when Jonathan Lessard put home a rebound in front. After a series of Norfolk shots that went off the post, Lessard was on hand near Appleby’s crease and snuck the puck past the Adirondack netminder and just over the line for his second goal of the season. Jordan Hill and Alexandre Ranger picked up the assists on the play, the second and third helpers on the season respectively.
The Thunder immediately responded, however, as they struck just 10 seconds after the Norfolk tally for the game winning goal. Adirondack won the center ice faceoff and Louick Marcotte took the puck into the attacking zone between two defenders and dropped it back to Mitchell Heard, who fired home from the hashmarks for the goal. Heard’s goal, his fifth on the season, proved to be the game winner, with Marcotte’s assist his first point since October 25.
The team has the next six days off from games and returns to action next Wednesday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center, where they look to continue their perfect home record when they take on the Elmira Jackals. Wednesday evening is both a canned food and coat drive, where Thunder fans can receive a complimentary silver flex ticket with the donation of a coat or a canned food item.
Full season, partial season, flex and group ticket plans are now available to renew or purchase for the Adirondack Thunder’s inaugural 2015-16 season, presented by Bud Light, along with an Opening Night pack. To purchase tickets, contact the Adirondack Thunder front office at 518-480-3355 x1, visit echlthunder.com/season tickets or stop by the Adirondack Thunder front offices, located at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
###
The Days Of Thunder Are Coming To Glens Falls