THUNDER FALL TO MONARCHS ON COLLEGE NIGHT

GLENS FALLS, NY – The Adirondack Thunder jumped out to a 3-1 lead but could not net another goal as they fell by a 6-3 final Wednesday night at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. 

Manchester jumped out to an early lead less than five minutes into the game when Matt Marcinew converted a 3-on-2 opportunity with a one-timer past Cam Johnson. Nic Pierog led the break for the Monarchs and he slid a pass to Chaz Reddekopp. The defenseman sauced a pass to Marcinew who slammed it home for his fourth score of the year.

Mike Szmatula then netted the game’s next pair of goals before the end of the initial period. His first came on a great backhand shot off a feed from Matt Salhany. The Thunder rookie took the pass and split the Manchester defense before finishing forehand-backhand for his fifth score of the year. The University of Minnesota product added his sixth tally on the power play less than four minutes later. While using a screen from Jakob Reichert in front of the net, Szmatula went bombs away with a slap-shot from the left faceoff circle to make it a 2-1 game with his first professional multi-goal game.

James Henry added to the Thunder lead with another power-play goal less than two minutes into the middle period. Pete MacArthur made a nice hesitation pass to Shane Conacher from the left to right wing. Conacher brought the puck up the right side and fired a pass to Henry who was camped out in front of the net. The Thunder captain redirected it in for his third score of the year and team-leading 20th point. 

It was all downhill for Adirondack after that as Manchester put up five unanswered goals. First it was Spencer Watson who collected a loose puck in front of the net and flipped a backhand by Johnson for his sixth goal in the Monarchs’ last seven games. Joe Pendenza tied the game at 11:36 of the second when he caught Johnson sprawled out on his backside after making an initial save. The newly-acquired Pendenza found the rebound for his fourth goal to make it three goals apiece.

Craig Wyszomirski gave Manchester the lead less than two minutes later when he converted a 2-on-1 opportunity while the Monarchs were shorthanded. Nic Pierog charged out of the defensive zone and found the Monarchs’ alternate captain who delayed with the puck before ripping a wrister top-shelf for his first score of the season. Pendenza made it a multi-goal night for himself before the second period ended when he went inside-out on the Thunder defense and slid a quick shot by the far-side of Johnson.

Joe Sullivan finished off the game’s scoring with the only goal in the third period. After an Adirondack defensive zone turnover, Cory Ward had the puck knocked off his stick and right to Sullivan who dragged inside and fired a wrister by Johnson for a 6-3 Manchester lead.

As we begin the holiday season, Adirondack is thankful for more games this weekend to put this one behind them as quickly as possible. The Thunder will play a home-and-home set with the Reading Royals beginning Friday night at Santander Arena in Reading, PA. The squad will return home to play the Royals on Saturday night – tickets are still available with the UNO’s Four Pack. Call 518-480-3355 or visit ECHLThunder.com to buy your pack today.

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