THUNDER REBOUND WITH 4-2 VICTORY OVER ADMIRALS

Norfolk, VA – The Adirondack Thunder rebounded from last night’s defeat with a 4-2 victory over the Norfolk Admirals on Saturday evening at the Norfolk Scope.

Forwards Brian Ward led the way for Adirondack with a goal and an assist each, while forward Terrence Wallin and defenseman Dylan Olsen also scored for the Thunder. Goaltender Tomas Sholl made 27 saves from 29 shots as he remained unbeaten in the ECHL with a win in his second consecutive start.

Adirondack opened the scoring with a pair of goals in the game's first four minutes to open up an early 2-0 advantage. First, just 56 seconds into the game, Ward forced a turnover in the Norfolk zone and fed Wallin, who used a nifty move to deke past Norfolk netminder Ty Reichenbach for his 16th tally of the season. Less than three minutes later, Ward scored a goal of his own to put his team ahead by a pair. Shane Conacher stole the puck behind the Norfolk net and fed Ward in front for the goal, Ward's 18th of the season.

Norfolk struck back with 5:28 left in the opening period as forward Grant Besse collected his third goal of the weekend. Defenseman TJ Melancon sent the puck into the right-hand corner to defenseman Sam Ftorek, who fed Besse in front for a tap-in goal on Adirondack netminder Tomas Sholl. Besse’s tally was his 21st of the season while Melancon and Ftorek collected the assists on the play, Melancon’s 19th of the season.

The Thunder regained their two-goal lead with 7:44 left in the middle stanza as Olsen scored through traffic for his fourth goal of the season. Defenseman Desmond Bergin weaved his way into the offensive zone and saw his shot denied by Reichenbach, but the rebound kicked out to Olsen at the left point, where he fired a wrist shot home for the goal. Bergin collected the lone assist on the play, his 22nd of the season.

Norfolk pulled a goal back just past the halfway mark of the third period as forward Christian Horn scored for the second straight game. After Adirondack was unable to clear its defensive zone, Horn gather the puck on the right-wing boards, cut towards the middle and fired a wrist shot over Sholl's glove for his seventh goal of the season. Melancon collected the lone assist on the play, his second of the evening.

The visitors concluded the scoring on the evening with 47 seconds left in regulation as Conacher scored into the empty net for his tenth goal of the season, recorded as unassisted.

The Thunder conclude a five-game road trip tomorrow afternoon with their third straight game against Norfolk, this at 2:00 p.m. Adirondack returns home on Friday, February 16 as they host the Brampton Beast at Cool Insuring Arena for $1 beer night and a t-shirt giveaway. Visit ECHLThunder.com/fourpack or call 518-480-3355 x1 to get your UNO’s Four Pack.

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