Thunder fall, 6-5, series on the brink
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. » The first four games of the Thunder’s playoff series against Worcester were tight, low-scoring affairs.
Saturday’s Game 5 was more like a Wild West shootout.
When the smoke cleared, the Railers emerged victorious, 6-5, sending the series back to Worcester where Adirondack will try to close things out again Monday, or Wednesday at home, if needed.
The Thunder went ahead, 4-1, at 5:49 of the second period, but saw the lead evaporate in the space of six minutes in one of their biggest meltdowns of the year. Nick Saracino led the Worcester attack with a hat trick that included the gamewinner, a blast from the right point with 5:58 left to play.
“I think it shows a ton of character in our room to claw our way back,” Railers coach Jamie Russell said.
Murphy’s Law seemed to be in effect right from the get-go for Adirondack. Worcester took a 1-0 lead just 35 seconds into the contest on a Josh Holmstrom goal from close range in the slot.
A minute later, Thunder netminder Mackenzie Blackwood writhed in pain on the ice after being steamrolled by a Railers skater. Blackwood, who only allowed three goals in Games 1-4, got back up, but couldn’t continue, giving way to rookie Olivier Mantha.
Thunder coach Brad Tapper declined comment on Blackwood’s condition. The series’ outcome might very well hinge on his ability to return. It was a tough way for Mantha, who only a month ago concluded his college career, to make his pro postseason debut.
The Thunder rallied, however, with three unanswered goals by Ryan Schmelzer, Mike Bergin and Shane Conacher -- two on the power play -- to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.
When Tim Harrison scored, early in the second period, Adirondack appeared headed for certain victory and a date with Manchester in Round 2 of the ECHL’s Kelly Cup
playoffs. Now that’s all very much up in the air.
The Thunder have had difficulty winning at Worcester this year, and after Saturday’s debacle, no bet is a sure one on home ice, either.
Tapper said his team simply stopped doing what they were supposed to.
“We set back on our heels,” he said. “We weren’t very good defending obviously. Our penalty kill needs to be better, but you can’t complain. Each team had four power plays. Each team was 2-for-4. Disappointing, but you know what? We’ve just got to pick ourselves up here and come back with more effort. I think some guys know they didn’t play very well. Some guys need to compete a little bit harder in a deciding game like that. We just had a second period lull again, I don’t know why.”
One of the most critical blunders was a hooking penalty by Bergin, the Thunder captain, at 10:31 of the second stanza. The Railers had just scored three minutes earlier to make it, 4-2, when Bergin went to the box.
Worcester took advantage with a power play goal, which cut the lead to, 4-3. It was the second time in the past two games that Bergin took a penalty, which led to a Worcester score.
A minute later the lead was gone when Railer Matt Lane found the net. When the second period buzzer sounded, the Thunder were glad to be headed for the dressing room without suffering further damage.
The see-saw battle continued 19 seconds into the final session when Brian Ward tipped in a long shot off the stick of Mathieu Brodeur to put Adirondack in front, 5-4. Once again, though, they couldn’t hold the lead.
The Railers knotted things up, 5-5, at 3:32 on Saracino’s second goal and his third was like a dagger in Adirondack’s heart.