THUNDER STALLED IN READING IN 4-1 DEFEAT

Reading, PA –The Adirondack Thunder dropped a 4-1 decision, their third straight loss, to the Reading Royals on Saturday evening at Santander Arena.

Reading got the scoring started as they found the back of the net with the man advantage 14:30 into the first period. Robbie Czarnik moved the puck up ice to Justin Crandall, who skated down the left wing and fired a wrist shot from the left-hand circle past Adirondack netminder Garrett Bartus for his 15th goal of the season. Czarnik and Nick Luukko had the assists on the play, the 20th of the season for Czarnik.

The home side doubled their lead early in the second period as Luukko found the back of the net for his second point of the night. After Adirondack had killed off two minors, including 53 seconds of 5-on-3 time, Reading worked the puck in the offensive zone and Luukko fired a shot from the point past Bartus for his fourth tally of the season. Defenseman Jesper Pettersson had the lone assist on Luukko’s fourth goal of the 2015-16 campaign.

Things went from bad to worse for Adirondack as Joey Sides got into the scoring action at the 6:55 mark of the second period. After a Thunder turnover in the defensive end, Sides collected the puck in the slot and put his wrist shot top shelf for the goal. Sides’ goal, his sixth of the season, came unassisted and marked his second tally against the Thunder on the season. The Royals would add a fourth midway through the third period as Robbie Czarnik took a clever drop pass from Crandall and put his wrist shot over Bartus’ glove from the slot for his team leading 21st goal of the season.

Adirondack would get on the board late in the third period as Quinn Smith collected his first in a Thunder jersey. With less than a minute to play in the game, Smith carried the puck through the slot and put a backhanded shot past Ouelette for his second ECHL goal of the season. Smith scored his other tally as a member of the Norfolk Admirals on November 22 against Manchester.

The Thunder and Royals will battle once again tomorrow afternoon at Santander Arena in Reading. Puck drop is set for 4:00 p.m. Adirondack 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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