Glens Falls, NY – The Adirondack Thunder twice came from two goals down to take down the division-leading Manchester Monarchs by a 4-3 final score in overtime on Wednesday evening at Cool Insuring Arena.
Forward Ty Loney led the Thunder with four points (1-3-4) in the victory while his linemates Shane Conacher (2-1-3) and Troy Bourke (0-3-3) each collected three points. Goaltender Drew Fielding made 29 saves as he earned his fourth straight victory and his sixth overall on the season.
The Monarchs scored twice within a minute-long span to take a 2-0 lead midway through the opening period. First, at the 12:47 mark of the first period, forward Matt Schmaltz got around the Adirondack defense down the left wing and fed Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman in front of Fielding for his eighth goal of the season. Just 53 seconds later, the Monarchs doubled their advantage as Keegan Iverson fired past Fielding’s left shoulder for his first career ECHL goal. Forward Zac Lynch and defenseman Colton Saucerman collected the assists on the play, Lynch’s 13th of the season.
The Thunder pulled a goal back just 2:09 into the second period as Conacher scored his sixth goal of the season to cut the deficit to 2-1. After he took a feed from Loney, Conacher saw his first effort denied by an athletic stop from Manchester netminder Charles Williams, but the Canisius College graduate collected his own rebound and put it in for the goal. Loney and Bourke collected the assists on the play, Loney’s 11th of the season.
Manchester regained its two-goal advantage with 2:45 remaining in the second period as defenseman David Kolomatis scored his fourth goal of the season. With traffic in front of Fielding, Kolomatis fired a shot from the point that snuck through the maze of bodies to extend the Manchester lead to a pair. Martin Nemcik and defenseman Alexx Privitera collected the assists on the play, Privitera’s sixth of the season.
Adirondack responded with just 65 seconds remaining in the middle stanza as Conacher scored his second of the evening to cut the Manchester lead to 3-2. Stationed below the goal line, Bourke fed Conacher in front, where he ripped a one-timed shot over the glove of Williams for his seventh goal of the season. Bourke and Loney collected the assists on the play, the second point of the evening for both Thunder forwards.
Less than two minutes into the third period, Adirondack drew level as Loney scored his team-leading 16th goal of the season to knot the score at three. After he took a feed from Bourke, Loney dangled around a Manchester defenseman, outwaited Williams and slid the puck into the back of the net on the backhand for the game-tying goal. Bourke collected the lone assist on the play, his third point of the evening.
After Manchester defenseman Craig Wyszomirski took a double minor for roughing at the end of regulation, the Thunder capitalized 81 seconds into overtime to earn the second point. Conacher fed Loney at the goal line, where he slid a pass between his legs to defenseman Desmond Bergin, who one-timed it home for the game-winning goal, his eighth tally of the season. Loney and Conacher picked up the assists on the play, Conacher’s third point of the evening.
The Thunder are back in action this weekend for a pair of games, including the annual Adirondack Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on Saturday. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m. for both games. Tickets are available for all Thunder home games by visiting ECHLThunder.com or calling 518-480-3355 x1.
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Adirondack Thunder Hockey – This Is Our Team