READING – Tag Bertuzzi scored twice, and David Fessenden dropped the gloves and stopped 23 of 24 shots as the Adirondack Thunder defeated the Reading Royals on Saturday night 4-1 in front of 2,188 at Santander Arena.
Adirondack scored twice in the first period to take a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. Patrick Polino fired in a wrister from the left circle at 9:21 of the opening frame, beating goaltender Keith Petruzzelli. The goal was Polino’s third of the year with assists from Andre Ghantous and Grant Loven for a 1-0 lead.
Tag Bertuzzi took a Royals turnover and turned it into a 2-0 lead as he sent a shot over the left shoulder of Keith Petruzzelli from the hash marks. The goal was Bertuzzi’s third of the year, unassisted, and came at 15:25 of the first period.
After the period came to an end, a scrum broke out and goaltenders David Fessenden and Keith Petruzzelli dropped the gloves at center ice. To start the second period, Vinnie Purpura replaced Petruzzelli in net.
Adirondack began the second period on the power play and Tag Bertuzzi fired in his second of the night and fourth of the year just 1:11 into the period to give the Thunder a 3-0 lead. Assists on the power-play goal were awarded to Patrick Polino and Brendan Less.
Shortly after, Zach Bannister tipped in a shot from the left point from James Marooney to give the Thunder a 4-0 lead. The goal was Bannister’s third of the year at 2:29 of the second period with Marooney collecting the lone assist. Adirondack took the four-goal lead into the third period.
In the third period, Todd Skirving scored for Reading to decrease the Thunder lead to 4-1. That held up as the final score as David Fessenden stopped 23 of 24 shots in the win.
The Thunder return home on New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31 at 3 p.m. against the Worcester Railers. The first 3,500 fans receive a FREE glow stick courtesy of SkyZone. Also, fans can enjoy $4 Michelob Ultra and $4 Pepsi Products all game.
Season tickets for the 2024-25 season are on sale now! For more information on ticket packages, call the front office at 518-480-3355 or visit www.echlthunder.com/tickets. For all the latest Adirondack Thunder news, follow the team on all social media (ECHLThunder).
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