FIVE-GAME POINT STREAK END AFTER 8-3 LOSS IN MANCHESTER

Manchester, NH – The Adirondack Thunder saw their five-game point streak come to an end following an 8-3 loss on Saturday evening at SNHU Arena.

Defenseman Blake Thompson scored his first career ECHL goal in the defeat, while forwards Terrence Wallin and Brian Ward also found the back of the net for Adirondack. Goaltender Drew Fielding faced a season-high 48 shots in the loss as he made 40 saves.

Manchester opened the scoring with a pair of goals in the first 7:15 of the first period to take an early 2-0 lead. First, just over three minutes into the game, forward Zac Lynch scored a power-play goal after he took a drop pass from forward Michael Doherty and beat Fielding for his 20th goal of the season. Just over four minutes later, the hosts scored again as Spencer Watson buried a Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman rebound from close range for his 13th goal of the season to put the Monarchs ahead by a pair.

The Thunder pulled a goal back at the 12:04 mark of the first period as defenseman Blake Thompson scored the first goal of his ECHL career to bring the visitors within one. Forward Andrew Radjenovic, stationed deep in the Manchester zone, fed a streaking Thompson in the slot, where he hesitated and fired past Monarchs' netminder Charles Williams. Radjenovic and forward Stathis Soumelidis collected the assists on the play, Soumelidis' first career ECHL point.

The Monarchs regained a two-goal advantage less than a minute from the intermission as LaVallee-Smotherman collected his second point of the evening. After an odd bounce off the back wall sent the puck towards the crease, Marcinew fired quickly on net, which was kicked aside by Fielding, but the rebound fell to LaVallee-Smotherman, who scored through the five hole for his 24th goal of the season. Marcinew and Watson collected the assists on the play, Watson’s 16th of the season.

The hosts extended their lead to three goals early in the second period as LaVallee-Smotherman scored his second tally of the evening. After defenseman Martin Nemcik weaved into the offensive zone, he held the puck in the left-hand circle before he fed LaVallee-Smotherman entering the zone, who fired past Fielding from the slot for the 4-1 advantage. Nemcik and Marcinew collected the helpers on the play, Marcinew's second of the evening.

Adirondack moved back to within two goals midway through the second period as forward Terrence Wallin scored his 14th goal of the season. With the Thunder on the man advantage, defenseman Dylan Olsen walked the blueline and wired a shot towards the net that was redirected by Wallin in front for power-play goal. Olsen and forward Brian Ward collected the assists on the play, Ward's 13th of the season.

Less than five minutes from the second intermission, Manchester regained its three-goal advantage as Privitera netted his third tally of the season. After Marcinew skated the puck down the left wing, he eluded an Adirondack defenseman and fired towards the slot, where the puck was redirected home by Privitera for his team’s fifth tally of the evening. Marcinew and forward Hayden Hodgson collected the assists on the play, Marcinew’s third of the season.

Just 70 seconds into the third period, the Monarchs increased their advantage to four goals as defenseman David Kolomatis scored from the left-hand circle for his sixth goal of the season. On a 2-on-1 rush that started in the neutral zone, Kolomatis skated down the left wing, used Watson as a decoy and fired past Fielding for the goal. LaVallee-Smotherman and Marcinew collected the assists on the play, Marcinew’s fourth helper of the evening.

The visitors scored with 12:07 remaining in the game, courtesy of Ward, to cut their deficit to 6-3 midway through the third period. After the Monarchs attempted to break out of their defensive zone, Ward intercepted the puck in the right-hand circle, cut towards the net and beat Williams top shelf for his 16th tally of the season. Ward’s goal was recorded as unassisted.

The Monarchs added two additional goals to complete the 8-3 victory. LaVallee-Smotherman completed his hat trick with 5:43 left in regulation as he converted a 2-on-0 rush for his third tally of the evening. After Watson powered past the Adirondack defense down the right wing, he fed across the ice to LaVallee-Smotherman at the back post for the tap-in goal, his 26th of the season. Manchester added their eighth of the evening with 2:50 remaining in regulation as forward Matt Schmaltz collected his 15th goal of the season, an unassisted tally.

The Thunder are back in action next week as they head to Virginia for a three-game set against the Norfolk Admirals, beginning on Friday evening. Adirondack returns home on Friday, February 16 as they host the Brampton Beast at Cool Insuring Arena. Visit ECHLThunder.com/fourpack or call 518-480-3355 x1 to get your UNO’s Four Pack.

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