THUNDER DROP SECOND STRAIGHT OVERTIME CONTEST IN ATLANTA

Atlanta, GA – The Adirondack Thunder came from behind once again to force overtime but they were unable to earn the second point as they fell 4-3 on Saturday evening at the Infinite Energy Arena.

Atlanta opened the scoring with two goals in the back half of the first period as they took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. First, Josh Atkinson scored the game’s first goal 11:18 into the opening period. Teammate Thomas Frazee won the faceoff in the attacking zone to Atkinson, who fired over the blocker of Thunder netminder J.P. Anderson for his seventh goal of the season. Just 1:24 from the break, the Gladiators struck again as Eric Neiley redirected home a shot from the point for his 22nd goal of the season. Justin Buzzeo and Tommy Vannelli collected the helpers on the play, Buzzeo’s 35th of the season.

After more than 50 minutes without a goal, Adirondack finally got on the board at the 10:48 mark of the third period as the Thunder capitalized on a power-play chance. Forward Dennis Kravchenko skated the puck through the neutral zone, between the Atlanta defense and sent a shot between the legs of Atlanta netminder Dan Vladar for his second goal in as many nights. Kravchenko’s goal, his 11th of the season, was recorded as unassisted.

With less than five minutes to play in regulation, Atlanta capitalized on a power play of their own as they regained their two-goal advantage at the 15:04 mark of the third period. Atkinson slid the puck into the left-hand circle to Frazee, where the Gladiators’ center fired a wrist shot past Anderson’s blocker for his 15th goal of the season. Atkinson and Mark Naclerio collected the helpers on the play, the 29th assist of the season for Atkinson.

The Thunder surged back in the game’s final three minutes as they scored twice to force overtime. First, Kravchenko fed the puck to Lough, who skated in from the right point and fired a wrist shot past Vladar for his first career professional goal at the 17:13 mark of the third. With just 23 seconds left on the clock, Adirondack tied the game as Gunnar Hughes collected a loose puck at the top of the right-hand circle and sent a wrist shot under the crossbar for his eighth goal of the season.

After both teams earned a point from regulation for the second straight night, the Gladiators once again claimed the additional point as Atkinson buried his second of the game at the 3:29 mark of the overtime period. With the teams skating 3-on-3, Tyler Murovich fed Atkinson streaking through the slot, where the 6-0 blueliner fired home a point-blank wrist shot to end the game.

With the point, Adirondack moved to 62 points on the season and sit in third place in the North Division, one point shy of the Reading Royals for second place.

The Thunder head to South Carolina for a 4:00 p.m. contest against the Stingrays tomorrow afternoon. 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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