Thunder seek to avenge lopsided loss
GLENSFALLS, N.Y. >> Thunder captain James Henry says the team needs to take a good hard look at itself in the mirror before Friday’s game against Worcester.
It’s easy to see why after Adirondack dropped its second straight loss to the last-place Railers, and first shutout of the season, 5- 0, on Wednesday.
“Our work ethic wasn’t there, our execution wasn’t there,” Henry said. “Every single guy in the dressing room is kind of to blame for that.”
But the Thunder can avenge the setback Friday (7 p.m., Glens Falls) in the second contest of a six-game homestand that continues Saturday against the Manchester Monarchs.
The Thunder (31-21-5-2) are second in the ECHL’s North Division, but their lead for the fourth and final playoff spot has slipped to just five points.
They’ve dropped three of their last four outings, primarily result-
ing from injuries, illness and the call-up of several key players to the AHL.
“We have two lines of forwards that are out right now,” Henry said. “They’re 30- goal scorers and point-per-game players. They’re going to be coming back into the lineup at some point.”
The big question is whether Adirondack can hang onto its playoff spot until they arrive.
Number one netminder Alex Sakellaropoulos has missed the past four games with the flu.
In his place, Logan Thompson has been forced into action, coming right out of the college ranks at Brock University, in Canada.
Thompson won his first pro game last Saturday at Manchester, but was in net for the Thunder’s 4-2 loss a day later at Worcester.
The first pair of goals against him on Wednesday were hardly his fault as Thunder skaters committed several key turnovers.
“They waited for us to make mistakes and we certainly obliged them,” Coach Alex Loh said.
The worst blunder was by defenseman Jake Linhart, who for some unexplained reason, carried the puck right into the crease where he turned it over, setting up an easy Railers score.
It was the first of three unanswered, second-period Worcester goals, which decided the outcome long before the game’s conclusion.
“They played the game the right way,” Henry said. “They don’t give you very many scoring
The Thunder are hosting special Stick It To Cancer activities this Friday and Saturday.
On Friday, Trevor Strader, son of late NHL broadcaster Dave Strader, will sing the Star- Spangled Banner prior to the game’s start. Dave Strader, whose career started in Glens Falls, passed away on Oct. 1, 2017 after a battle with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare form of bile duct cancer.
After Friday night’s game, there will be a Paint The Ice event. Fans who donate $10 to the C.R. Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital will be eligible to paint a message on the ice to a loved one affected by cancer. Donations can be made the night of the game at the Glens Falls Hospital table in the main lobby – cash only.
The messages will be iced over, and stay in place for Saturday night’s game.
The Thunder will wear purple, cancerthemed jerseys in both games this weekend. After the completion of Saturday’s contest, the sweaters will be auctioned off via live auction on the ice, with all proceeds benefiting the C.R. Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital.
Tickets for this weekend are available at a special $15 price through online purchase, and each ticket bought includes a “Stick It To Cancer” decal, while supplies last.
To purchase your tickets for either game, go to: http:// bit.ly/ADKSI2C.