THUNDER COMEBACK FALLS SHORT IN 5-3 LOSS TO MONARCHS

Glens Falls, NY – The Adirondack Thunder fell to the Manchester Monarchs for the third straight game as their third period rally fell just short in a 5-3 defeat on Monday afternoon at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

Manchester got on the board first just 3:54 into the game with a goal from forward Joe Diamond. Monarchs’ forward Matt Leitner dropped the puck back to Diamond, who was trailing the play, and the Manchester forward sent a wrist shot over the blocker Adirondack goaltender Drew Fielding for his 13th goal of the season. Leitner was awarded the lone assist on the play, his 22nd of the season.

Just under two minutes later, Adirondack tied the game on the man advantage with a goal from rookie forward Brett Pollock, his seventh tally of the season. From the top of the point, defenseman Stepan Falkovsky sent a pass to Pollock, who was camped out in the slot to redirect the puck home for the goal. Falkovsky and defenseman Ryan Culkin collected assists on the play, the fifth assist for Culkin in three games with the Thunder.

The Thunder gained the lead for the first time in the game with their second power-play goal, this off the stick of forward Nick Bligh. The Thunder worked the puck throughout the offensive zone, and Thunder Captain Peter MacArthur fired a cross-ice pass to Bligh, who tapped it home at the back door for his sixth point in as many games this season with Adirondack. MacArthur and Patch Alber tallied assists on the play, MacArthur’s fourth straight game with a point.

The Monarchs flipped the score with two late second period goals, the first coming from forward Zac Lynch with 3:27 to play in the second. Lynch capitalized on a defensive zone turnover by the Thunder and he walked the puck through the slot for a wrist shot that beat Fielding. Lynch’s goal, which came unassisted, was his sixth of the season. Manchester then finished out the second period with a power play goal from Leitner with less than two seconds to play in the period. From behind the net, Leitner fed the puck in front from the goal line and it deflected off of the skate of an Adirondack defenseman and into the back of the net for the goal. Diamond and Teddy Doherty were awarded the helpers, Diamond’s 12th of the season.

Nearly halfway through the final period, Manchester increased its lead over the Thunder to two goals with a slap shot from Quentin Shore for his 13th goal of the season. After Adirondack was unable to clear its own defensive zone, the puck was intercepted and Kevin Morris found Shore for a one-timer goal from the bottom of the left-hand circle. Morris and Cory Ward were awarded the assists on the play, Shore’s 18th of the season.

At the 13:38 mark of the third period, the Thunder struck back to make it a 4-3 game with a goal from forward Cullen Bradshaw, his second of the season. From behind the net, James Henry dropped a backhand pass to Roman Dyukov, who saw his slap shot blocked, but Bradshaw crashed backdoor and swatted the rebound past Imoo for his third point in three games. Dyukov and Henry collected the helpers, Henry’s sixth point over the last three games.

Despite a third period surge from the Thunder, which saw them attempt 19 shots on goal, one short of a season high, Manchester iced the game with an empty-net goal with just four seconds remaining in the game from Lynch, his second of the evening.

The Thunder are back in action on Wednesday for the 2017 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic, to be held at the Glens Falls Civic Center, as they take on the ECHL All Stars in a non-traditional format. Tickets are still on sale for the Game and Skills Competition. All tickets are $35 plus taxes and fees for total of $40 and can be purchased at the Adirondack Thunder front office, the Glens Falls Civic Center Box Office, or by calling 518-480-3355 x1. The All-Star Classic Mini Pack, consisting of 2 All-Star Classic Tickets, 2 Thunder Flex Tickets and an All-Star Classic hat, a $140 value, is also available for just $99.

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