STRONG SPECIAL TEAMS CARRY THUNDER PAST ROYALS

Reading, PA –The Adirondack Thunder bounced back from last night’s defeat to sink the Reading Royals by a 3-2 final on Sunday afternoon at Santander Arena.

Adirondack got today’s scoring started with a power-play goal early in the first period. With Reading’s Justin Crandall sitting in the penalty box, the Thunder moved the puck in the offensive zone and Ryan Constant let go wrist shot from the point, that snuck through traffic in front and past Royals’ netminder Martin Ouelette for the goal. The tally for Constant, his third of the season, came off of assists from Greg Wolfe and Patch Alber and marked just the second time in eight games that the Thunder have scored with the man advantage.

Special teams was the theme on Adirondack’s second goal of the game as well, this time coming with the Thunder shorthanded. With Ryan Culkin serving a roughing minor, Mads Eller forced a turnover on the Reading breakout, put a fantastic move on Crandall, and went to the backhand for the goal, his second of the season. The goal for Eller, which came unassisted, marked just the third shorthanded goal of the season for the Thunder, the first away from home.

After a scoreless second period that saw Drew Fielding keep the Royals at bay with 14 saves, Reading opened the scoring in the third period with a goal just over six minutes into the final stanza. The Royals worked the puck to Derik Johnson at the point and the defenseman fired a shot on goal, that was redirected home by winger Scott Tanksi to cut the Thunder lead to 2-1. The goal for Tanski was his fourth of the season.

It took just 51 seconds for Adirondack to respond, however, as Wolfe fought through traffic to find the back of the net and make it 3-1 Thunder. Greg Wolfe had his first bid denied by Ouelette, but stayed with the rebound and poked it into the back of the net while lying on his stomach to put the Thunder on top by two. The goal for Wolfe, his sixth of the season, was assisted by James Henry and Patch Alber, the second helper of the evening for Alber.

Reading made it an interesting finish as they scored with just 1:16 to play in the third. After the Thunder were unable to get the puck out at their defensive blueline, Reading pounced on the puck, threw it into the crease and jammed it into the back of the net. Matt Hatch got credit for the goal, his eighth of the season. The Royals controlled the puck for the majority of the final minute but were unable to get anything past Fielding and the Thunder held on to take two-of-three from the Royals.

Adirondack returns home to the Glens Falls Civic Center, where they will play their next five games. The Thunder will take on the Manchester Monarchs on Wednesday evening, before a pair of games with the South Carolina Stingrays on Friday and Saturday.

Don’t miss out on the speed, skill, strength and sounds of Thunder hockey with a partial season flex or mini ticket plan today. The Adirondack Thunder have several mini-packs on sale now, consisting of two or four tickets, combined with a taste of downtown gift card. Send a jolt into your holidays with the gift of Adirondack Thunder hockey. For more information on all Thunder ticket plans, call 518-480-3355 x1 or visit echlthunder.com.

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