THUNDER REBOUND STRONG WITH 4-1 WIN OVER READING

Reading, PA –The Adirondack Thunder rebounded in a big way with a 4-1 victory over the Reading Royals on Sunday afternoon at Santander Arena. Goaltender Garrett Bartus collected his first win as a member of the Thunder while the Thunder ended their four game losing streak.

Adirondack opened the scoring early as they found the back of the net less with less than two minutes off the clock. Thunder forward Dana Fraser found the puck in the slot and as he fell to the ice, slid it over to Gunnar Hughes, who one- timed it over the glove of Reading netminder Martin Ouelette for Hughes’ eighth goal of the season. Fraser and Quinn Smith has the assists on the play, the second point in as many nights for Smith.

The visitors doubled their lead less than two minutes later as Fraser found the back of the net at the 3:24 mark of the first period. With Adirondack on the power play, the Thunder worked the puck in the offensive zone, culminating in a Ryan Lomberg pass to Fraser, who collected and buried on the backhand. The goal gave Fraser the first multi-point of his professional career, while Lomberg and Michael Kirkpatrick had the helpers on the play, the 20th of the season for Kirkpatrick.

Reading got on the board at the 5:23 mark of the second period as Nick Luukko scored for the second consecutive game to cut the Thunder advantage to 2-1. As the Royals rushed the puck in transition, winger Joey Sides took the puck behind the net and dropped the puck to Luukko who beat Garrett Bartus on the glove side for his fourth goal of the season. The assist for Sides was his third in as many home games against Adirondack, while Ian Watters had the secondary helper.

Adirondack got an insurance goal at the 5:33 mark of the third period as they extended their advantage to 3-1. Defenseman Patch Alber took a slap shot from the right point, which Ouelette turned aside, but Kirkpatrick followed up on the play and put home the rebound for his 19th goal of the season. Alber had the lone assist on the play, his 15th of the season. Lomberg would add an empty netter with just 15 seconds to play to ice the game and secure the 4-1 win for Adirondack.

The Thunder added their Adirondack next returns to the Civic Center for a Tuesday game at 7:00 p.m. against the Wheeling Nailers, the Thunder’s last home game until February 27.

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 weekend 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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