THUNDER COME FROM BEHIND TO TAKE 5-4 THRILLER

Glens Falls, NY – The Adirondack Thunder came from behind in dramatic fashion in a 5-4 shootout victory over the Florida Everblades on Friday evening at Cool Insuring Arena. The Thunder scored with just 7.7 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at four before they eventually earned the extra point in the shootout.

Forward Brian Ward collected three points for the second consecutive game while teammates Terrence Wallin and Paul Rodrigues also scored for the Thunder. Forward James Henry netted two assists and potted the shootout winner while goaltender Drew Fielding made 25 saves to earn his 11th win of the season.

The Thunder opened the scoring 6:47 into the game as Wallin scored off of a 3-on-1 rush for his 13th goal of the season. Ward’s pass sprang Henry down the left wing, where he delayed before he fed Wallin in the slot, who fired his shot over Florida netminder Callum Booth and underneath the crossbar for his third goal this week. Ward and Henry picked up the assists on the play, the 12th of the season for Ward.

With less than 90 seconds to play in the first period, Florida tied the game at one with its second shorthanded goal in as many games. Just 19 seconds into an Adirondack power play, a Thunder pass to the point escaped the zone and John McCarron hit a streaking Justin Kea, who won the race into the attacking zone and beat Fielding through the five hole for his ninth goal of the season.

Adirondack reclaimed the lead less than four minutes into the middle stanza as the combination of Ward and Wallin connected for the 2-1 advantage. Stationed to the right of Booth, Ward won an offensive zone face-off back to Wallin, who carried in to the right corner and returned the puck to Ward, who beat Booth on the blocker side for his 13th goal of the season. Wallin tallied the lone assist on the play, his second point of the evening.

The Everblades tied the game once again with less than four minutes remaining in the second period as defenseman Matt McKenzie provided the equalizer. Kea sent the puck around the boards to the point to MacKenzie, who sent a shot through traffic and past Fielding on the blocker side for the tying goal. Kea and McCarron collected the assists on the play, the second point of the evening for both players.

Florida scored a pair of goals early in the third period as it took its first lead of the game. First, just 80 seconds into the third, Zack Kamrass scored on the power play for his fourth goal of the season, with Quintin Shore and Gus Young collecting the assists on the play. Just over six minutes later, the Everblades extended their lead to a pair of goals as Brett Bulmer scored his tenth goal of the season. The Florida winger skated in from the right corner and after his first shot was denied by Fielding, he scored on the rebound for the goal, which was recorded as unassisted.

The hosts pulled a goal back with 6:20 remaining in regulation as Ward tallied for the second time on the evening. With the two teams skating 4-on-4, Ward received a James Henry pass on the right half wall, circled up towards through the high slot and fired a shot past Booth on the blocker side for his second goal and third point of the game. The multi-goal game was Ward’s first of the season and Henry collected the lone assist on the play, his second of the game.

With just eight seconds left in regulation, the Thunder completed their come from behind effort as Rodrigues scored from the high slot to knot the game at four. After Adirondack won a faceoff in the offensive zone, a scramble led the puck to defenseman Mathieu Brodeur, who fed Rodrigues in the middle of the ice where he fired through traffic for his eighth tally of the season. Brodeur picked up the lone assist on the play, his tenth of the season.

After a scoreless overtime period, Henry provided the only goal in the shootout when he beat Booth high on the glove side in the second round to give Adirondack the win. Florida was turned aside on all three attempts as Fielding moved to 10-of-11 on shootout attempts against this season.

The Thunder and Everblades are back in action tomorrow evening at Cool Insuring Arena for the final game of the three-game series. Visit ECHLThunder.com or call 518-480-3355 x1 to get tickets for tomorrow’s game, the final Saturday home game until late February.

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