THUNDER STEP PAST JACKALS IN 3-2 VICTORY

Elmira, NY – The Adirondack Thunder earned their fourth win in their last five games as they skated to a 3-2 victory over the Elmira Jackals on Sunday afternoon at First Arena.

The Jackals opened the scoring in Sunday’s mid-afternoon contest as Sebastien Sylvestre netted his 13th goal of the season 6:55 into the first period to put his team ahead 1-0. Forward Greg Betzhold skated behind the net with the puck and dropped a pass to the waiting Sylvestre, who slammed it home at the near-side post for the game’s first goal. Betzhold and Mark Bennett collected the assists on the play, the seventh of the season for Bennett.

The Thunder came back to knot the score at one midway through the first period as they converted just over five minutes later. After Greg Wolfe won the puck deep in the offensive zone, he worked it to James Henry below the goal line. Henry then hit Mikkel Aagaard in front and the Danish forward beat Elmira netminder Jason Kasdorf on the blocker side for his 11th goal of the season. Wolfe and Henry collected the assists on the play, Henry’s 15th of the season.

Elmira would retake a one-goal lead as they opened the second period scoring as well. Sylvestre carried the puck through the slot and fired a shot on goal, that was denied by Adirondack netminder Drew Fielding, but Betzhold was on hand in front to collect the rebound and score on the forehand for his seventh goal of the season. Sylvestre and Betzhold each collected their second points of the game, while defenseman Guy LaBeouf picked up the secondary assist on the play.

The visitors would once again come back to tie the score as they took advantage of a power play towards the end of the middle stanza. After they gained possession of the puck off of a faceoff win, defenseman Alex Wall fed the pass to Stepan Falkovsky, who one-timed it home from the top of the right circle for his third goal in as many nights and his eighth of the season. Wall collected the lone assist on the play, his team leading 24th helper of the season.

With less than five minutes to play in the third period, Adirondack took its first lead of the evening as Falkovsky scored again to put his team ahead 3-2. After Wall prevented an Elmira break at one end, the Thunder rushed in 4-on-3 the other way and Aagaard fed Falkovsky in the slot, where the 6-7 defenseman went top shelf for his second goal of the evening and his fourth over his past two games. Aagaard picked up the lone assist on the play, his second point of the evening.

With the victory, the Thunder improved to 21-13-4-3 and now sit tied with Wheeling for third in the North Division.

The Thunder are back in action next week with three games against the Norfolk Admirals, including Friday and Saturday home games at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Adirondack Thunder individual and group ticket packages are also available for just $13 per ticket in addition to new Thunder mini-packs, consisting of four tickets and a gift card to a local restaurant for just $65. Call 518-480-3355 x1 or visit ECHLThunder.com/tickets to customize a plan and reserve your seat locations today.

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