Glens Falls, NY – The Adirondack Thunder fought through a penalty-filled contest as they defeated the Atlanta Gladiators by a 6-1 final on Sunday evening at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The two teams combined for 176 penalty minutes, the most in an ECHL game this season.
The Thunder were first to get on the board with a goal from forward Cullin Bradshaw, his fourth goal of the season. After Conor Riley’s wrist shot from the slot was denied, Bradshaw was waiting for the rebound to the left of Atlanta netminder Matt Ginn and found the back of the net to open the scoring. The two players then reversed roles as the Thunder scored again at the 12:47 mark of the opening period, with Riley finding the back of the net. Bradshaw battled for possession of the puck behind the net before he fed it to Riley, who buried his own rebound after his initial bid was denied by Ginn. Bradshaw had the lone assist on the play his 13th of the season.
3:11 into the second period, Adirondack defenseman Roman Dyukov scored his second goal of the season as he extended the Adirondack lead to three goals. Ryan Culkin carried the puck into the zone and fired a wrist shot that rebounded back through the skates of Austin Orszulak to Dyukov, who fired a one-timer into the upper left corner for the goal. Culkin and Orszulak tallied the helpers on the goal, Culkin’s seventh assist in as many games played this season.
The Thunder extended their lead to four goals with a power-play tally from James Henry to kick off the third period, his 19th goal of the season and ninth point in his past six games. Dennis Kravchenko intercepted a pass from behind the net and dished the puck into the crease for Henry, who sealed the deal with a one-timer at the back post. Kravchenko notched the assist on the play, his 22nd helper of the season.
Atlanta ended J.P. Anderson’s shutout bit at the 8:53 mark with a goal from A.J. White, his fourth of the season. The Gladiators won the face-off their offensive zone and Trevor Mingoia immediately put a shot on goal, which was turned aside by Anderson, but the puck rebounded to the stick of White who slapped it into the net to get his team on the board. Mingoia and Mark Naclerio collected assists on the play, Mingoia’s 18th and Naclerio’s 17th of the season.
The Thunder finished the third period with another pair of goals, the first from defenseman Kevin Lough, his third of the season. Positioned in the slot, forward J.C. Campagna sent a pass to the point where Lough threaded the needle a wrist shot over the glove of Matt Ginn, at the 12:38 mark of the third period. With just 2:50 left in the game, Campagna tallied his second point of the evening with a power-play goal. Dennis Kravchenko, Alex Wall and Campagna connected on a tic-tac-toe passing play, ending with Campagna’s goal, his second of the season.
With the victory, Adirondack improves to 33-20-6-4 on the season and have moved into a tie for second place in the North Division with the Reading Royals at 76 points on the season.
The Thunder are back in action on Tuesday evening as they cap off a six game homestand with their first meeting of the season against the Orlando Solar Bears. Adirondack Thunder individual and group ticket packages are also available for just $13 per t¬icket 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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Adirondack Thunder Hockey - This Is Our Team