The Adirondack Thunder beat the Toledo Walleye earlier on Wednesday by a score of 3-2. This is the first time the Thunder and Walleye have met since 2017. Adirondack improves to 2-0 in early morning games this season. The Thunder improve to 11-9-0-2 this season which currently has them sitting fourth in the North Division.
Adirondack, once again, got on the board first which has proved to be pivotal for them as they have won seven of the eight games played in which they have led early on, opening the scoring. The goal would come courtesy of Matt Salhany who was wide open on the left side of the net after taking a pass from newly acquired James Phelan to give Adirondack a 1-0 lead. Toledo and Adirondack would exchange goals before the period was over and Adirondack would lead 2-1 after the first twenty minutes of play.
Like most games this year, The Thunder have struggled during second period play. However, they would find a way to keep the Walleye at bay despite being outshot 11-8 in the period. One of those eight Adirondack shots would find the back of the net past Filip Larsson as Charlie Curti would take a shot from the point and net his fourth of the regular season.
Eamon McAdam was forced to keep the Thunder alive in the game’s third period as the Walleye seemed to be all over Adirondack, outshooting Toledo 10-4 in the final frame. McAdam would make a huge save in the final minutes which would lock up the win for Adirondack.
Adirondack will have Thursday off before playing a home-and-home series over the weekend against Jonathan Racine and the opposing Maine Mariners. The Thunder will host the Mariners on Friday night at 7:00pm before squaring off in Maine on Saturday with puck drop scheduled for 6:00pmET.
Goals:
First Period:
ADK: 8:28 Salhany (6) from Phelan and Verbeek
TOL: 12:54 Loggins (3) from Berschback and Kestner (PP)
ADK: 16:45 Szmatula (6) from Payne and Salhany
Second Period:
ADK: 10:32 Curti (4) from Nazarian
Third Period
TOL: 16:49 D’Astous (2) from Kestner and Winquist