KIRKPATRICKS GOAL GIVES THUNDER BACK-TO-BACK OVERTIME WINS

Charleston, SC – The Adirondack Thunder did it again in thrilling fashion as they took down the South Carolina Stingrays 4-3 in overtime on Saturday evening. Michael Kirkpatrick scored 3:03 into overtime and Drew Fielding made 41 saves to earn the Thunder another win in the back end of a three-in-three set.

The Stingrays opened the scoring this evening with 8:43 to play in the first period. The Stingrays moved swiftly through the attacking zone and after Drew Fielding denied the original shot from South Carolina forward Patrick Gaul, Jared Staal crashed the net and buried the rebound for his ninth goal of the season and a 1-0 lead. Gaul’s helper was his 11th of the season, while defenseman Marcus Perrier had the secondary assist, his ninth.

South Carolina struck quickly after their opening tally as they opened up a 2-0 lead just 1:17 after Staal opened the scoring. With the Stingrays on the power-play, the team moved the puck around the offensive zone, culminating in a point shot from Joe Devin that beat a screened Fielding. The goal for Devin, his 15th of the season, was assisted by former Adirondack Flame Brett Cameron and Stephan Vigier, the 26th helper of the season for Cameron.

The Thunder were able to cut their deficit in half a few minutes before the first period came to a close, as they capitalized on a power play of their own. Adirondack took advantage on an Austin Fyten cross-checking minor as Jeff Silengo redirected a Patch Alber shot past Stingrays’ netminder Mark Dekanich for his 12th goal of the season. Alber’s helper was his 24th of the season, which ties him with Michael Kirkpatrick for the team lead, while Mathieu Brodeur picked up the secondary assist, his ninth point over his past nine games.

After a scoreless second frame, the Thunder got their equalizer against the run of play late in the third period. With less than six minutes on the clock, James Henry won a battle in the corner that jarred the puck to Greg Wolfe. The Thunder winger made a move towards the net and set up Mike Bergin in the slot, where the RPI graduate hammered a one-timer past Dekanich to knot the score at two. The goal was Bergin’s second of the season while Wolfe and Henry picked up their 18th and 11th assists on the season respectively.

For the second straight night, the Thunder would need more than 60 minutes and tonight it was Kirkpatrick who provided the heroics. After he took a drop pass from Wolfe, Kirkpatrick dragged the puck around a South Carolina defenseman, went to his forehand and put a wrist shot past Dekanich to earn the Thunder another thrilling win. The tally was Kirkpatrick’s first career overtime winner and his team leading 24th goal of the season. Wolfe and Brodeur had assists on the play, giving each a multi-assist game.

The Thunder finish their stretch of four consecutive home games on Tuesday in Manchester before they return home on Thursday against Elmira. The team then travels to Lake Placid for the first professional game in Lake Placid history against the Reading Royals on Sunday, March 13, with puck drop slated for 7:00 p.m.

Full Season Tickets for the 2016-17 Adirondack Thunder season are on sale now for just 13 dollars per seat no matter where you sit. Experience Adirondack Thunder Hockey in a more affordable way than ever before. Sign up by March 31st and pay even less. And Full Season Ticket Holders have exclusive access to 2017 CCM/ECHL All Star Classic tickets. For more information and to get your seats now, call 480-3355 extension 1. Experience Thunder Hockey like never before.

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