Adirondack suffered another weekend sweep and extends their losing streak to five, wiping out their five-game winning streak. On Friday night, Adirondack fell 7-4 to the first place Newfoundland Growlers on a slippery and wet night in Glens Falls. Micheal Sdao would return to the Thunder lineup for the first time since October 25th as he would miss 45 games with an injury.
Stick It To Cancer Night
It was Stick It To Cancer Night and for the first two periods, the Thunder were sticking it to the Growlers. The fun began at the 13:31 when Dylan Vander Esch would decide to fight Michael Sdao. Sdao wouldn’t get on the scoresheet this weekend, but would make his mark when he took down Vander Esch in an old-time hockey fight which Sdao won hands down and got the crowd into the game. When asking coach Alex Loh about what Sdao brings to the lineup, he said, “I think you saw it tonight.”
Adirondack would use the momentum to get on the board first as Casey Pierro-Zabotel would take a pass from Matt Salhany and one-time it from the slot and beat Growlers netminder Angus Redmond to make it a 1-0 game. Pierro-Zabotel would add another goal as he would get his stick on a point shot from Kelly Summers on the power play. “I think it’s just me getting to the front of the net. That’s where I seem to be getting all my goals this year,” said Zabotel.
Newfoundland would get back in the game as Zach O’Brien would use a Sdao screen to put one top-shelf past McAdam to give Newfoundland life. Vander Esch would tie the game after Charlie Curti would block the initial attempt, but couldn’t stop the second attempt which would find the back of the net.
The game got interesting as Newfoundland’s third goal would be a lucky one as it seemed like a Growler would interfere with McAdam. McAdam respectively wasn’t happy with the referee Matt Menniti’s decision and would end up getting tossed from the game. “I don’t know what I said to get thrown out of the game. I just went over and told him he was wrong.” The ECHL is going to start implementing video review for goaltender interference, but the video review doesn’t go into effect until February 12th. Eamon also mentioned, “The emphasis a few years ago officiating wise was to protect goalies, but I don’t know if that’s still that motto.”
Adirondack will hope that the warm weather and change of scenery can help them get back on the right track as they will travel to South Carolina on Valentine’s Day to play the Stingrays before playing the Jacksonville Icemen and Atlanta Gladiators to finish off a week-long road trip. The Thunder will also look to have James Henry back in the lineup on Valentine’s day as he missed Saturday’s game against Newfoundland. It’s unclear what kept Henry out of the lineup.
Goals:
First Period:
ADK: 17:20 Pierro-Zabotel (21) from Salhany and Edwardh
Second Period:
ADK: 7:04 Pierro-Zabotel (22) from Summers and Salhany (PP)
NFL: 16:24 O’Brien (16) from Vander Esch
Third Period:
NFL: 10:12 Vander Esch (4) from O’Brien and Ferguson
NFL: 14:04 Luchuk (18) from Johnston and Conrad (PP)
NFL: 17:59 Woods (11) unassisted