THUNDER RETURN TO WINNING WAYS WITH 5-2 VICTORY IN ELMIRA

Elmira, NY - The Adirondack Thunder bounced back from two straight overtime defeats with a 5-2 victory over the Elmira Jackals on Friday evening at First Arena.

For the second straight game between the two teams, Adirondack controlled the chances in the first period and capitalized on a power play with 6:02 remaining in the opening period. Defenseman Patch Alber fired a wrist shot from the point towards the Elmira net that forward Greg Wolfe redirected past Jackals’ netminder Andy Iles to put the visitors up 1-0. The tally was the second of the season for Wolfe while Alber and Mikkel Aagaard had the helpers on the play, the team leading fifth point of the season for Aagaard.

Elmira was able to knot the score early in the second period as Sebastien Sylvestre converted on a breakaway opportunity 4:31 into the middle stanza. After the Thunder had controlled the puck in the attacking zone, the Jackals quickly went the other way as Charlie Mosey hit Sylvestre with a two-zone pass and the Quebec native went to his forehand for the finish, his first goal of the season. The assist for Mosey was the first of his ECHL career and his second point in three games on the season.

Adirondack reclaimed the lead just past the halfway point of the game as the Thunder converted for the second time in the game on the man advantage. Defenseman Alex Wall put a pinpoint pass into the wheelhouse of partner Stepan Falkovsky and the 6-7 Belarussian fired a shot home for the first goal of his professional career. The assist for Wall extended his scoring streak to five games while Ty Loney collected the secondary assist, his fifth point in five games this season.

The Thunder took just over a minute to double their advantage as forward Phil Lane collected his second tally of the season in his first game back in the lineup. The 6-3 winger was the first skater to a puck on the right hand boards and he wired a slap shot on net that found its way past Iles for the tally. The goal marked Lane’s third point in three games on the season and went down as an unassisted tally.

With the home side on a 5-on-3 advantage, they were able to cut their deficit to one with a power-play tally, the sixth of the season for the Jackals. After controlling the puck in the offensive end, the puck went out to the point where defenseman Davis Vandane fired a slap shot through traffic and into the back of the net, his first goal of the season. Daultan Leveille and Mike Radja collected the helpers on the play, the second in as many games against the Thunder for both players.

The visitors scored their first shorthanded goal of the season with just 60 seconds to play in the second as Lane converted for the second time on the night. After Matt Bailey forced a turnover, he hit Lane with a pass and the Rochester, NY native outwaited Iles and slotted home on the forehand for his second tally of the night. Bailey’s assist was the first of his ECHL career in his first game with the Thunder, while Lane’s tally gave him his second consecutive multi-point game.

The third period went over 19 minutes without a goal but the Thunder put the icing on the cake as Wall netted his first career professional goal into the empty net with just 27 seconds to play. Wall’s tally extended his team lead to six points on the season and was recorded as unassisted.

The Thunder and Jackals battle again tomorrow evening in a Saturday night showdown at the Civic Center Full and half season ticket packages, as well as flex packs are available now for the 2016-17 season at just $13 per seat, a savings of 34% off of 2015-16 pricing. Call 518-480-3355 x1 to customize a plan and reserve your season ticket locations today.

###

Adirondack Thunder Hockey – This Is Our Team