Thunder blanked, 3-0, in Game 4; series tied

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. » The Thunder’s red-hot offense suddenly went AWOL prior to Game 4 of their best-of-seven series against Manchester on Thursday.

After finding the net 13 times in Games 1-3, including a pair of five-goal performances, Adirondack fell flat in a 3-0 loss to the Monarchs, which evened the series, 2-2.

The next two contests are on the road Sunday and Monday, followed by Game 7 next Wednesday in Glens Falls, if needed.

“I don’t know why our start was so poor,” Thunder coach Brad Tapper said. “We didn’t make plays again. When we did have the puck we weren’t making the right play. I’m hoping it was just one of those games. I really am.”

The Monarchs outshot Adiron-

dack, 31-18, and allowed only two pucks on net during the entire third period.

Evan Cowley, making his first start of the series, earned the shutout win in Manchester’s goal.

Compounding problems, three Adirondack defensemen were knocked out of the game with injuries, as the series suddenly seems to have turned into a war of attrition.

Forward Shane Conacher was out of the lineup, after exiting Game 3 with an injury.

With four minutes to play in the first period Thursday, Monarch Matt Marcinew crushed Thunder captain Mike Bergin into the boards and was hit with a five-minute major penalty, giving Adirondack its third power play of the frame.

But they failed to capitalize on any of them, and three more in the second period as well.

“We just didn’t play hard enough,” forward James Henry said. “We have to play physical, we have to manage the puck. You don’t want to make excuses. When guys get hurt, other guys have to up their minutes. They outworked us, it’s as simple as that. That’s why they won.”

Manchester’s first goal, by Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman, came at 5:23 of the first period. It could have quickly become much worse if Thunder netminder Drew Fielding didn’t stop Matt Leitner on a shorthanded breakaway.

The Monarchs made it, 2-0, at 13:11 of the second frame and iced the outcome midway through the third period.

The outcome was a dramatic switch from the previous two battles, which Adirondack won by scores of 5-1 and 5-3.

“We didn’t earn the win,” Tapper said. “They deserved to win, they played really well. We didn’t test the goalie. We didn’t generate as much (offense) as we wanted to. It’s frustrating. Alex (associate coach Alex Loh) and I will put a game plan together, see what bodies we have and go from there.”

“We have to respond,” he said. “We have to come back. We’re excited to get ready for Game 5. These guys will be motivated and ready to go, I know that.”