Reading, PA – Adirondack Thunder netminder Drew Fielding posted a 37-save shutout as he led his team to a 3-0 victory over the Reading Royals on Friday evening.
Fielding’s 37 saves were a season high as he picked up the sixth shutout of his ECHL career. Forward James Henry collected two goals and an assist in the victory while forwards Pierre-Luc Mercier and Paul Rodrigues each netted two points.
After more than 30 minutes of scoreless hockey, Adirondack opened the scoring 11:05 into the second period as Mercier tallied for the 11th time this season for the game’s first goal. After forward Paul Rodrigues held the puck in the offensive zone, Henry gathered it on the left wing and fed Mercier in the high slot, where he one-timed his shot past Reading netminder John Muse for the goal. Henry and Rodrigues collected the assists on the play, Henry’s 18th of the season.
With exactly 60 seconds to play in the middle stanza, the visitors doubled their advantage as Henry found the back of the net for his 11th goal of the season. After Rodrigues won the puck in the neutral zone, Henry skated down the left wing, evaded a body check and fired his shot off the stick of Muse and into the back of the net. Rodrigues picked up the lone assist on the play for his fourth multi-point game of the season.
Despite 15 shots on goal by the Royals in the third period, Fielding kept the hosts at bay before Henry scored on the empty net for his second goal of the season with just three second remaining in the game. Mercier earned a multi-point effort with the lone helper on the play.
The Thunder are home again tomorrow evening at Cool Insuring Arena as they take on Reading once again, this on Pink in the Rink night at 7:00 p.m. Visit ECHLThunder.com or call 518-480-3355 x1 for tickets to tomorrow evening’s game or any upcoming Thunder home game.
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Adirondack Thunder Hockey – This Is Our Team