Thunder pull out 2-1 win
Adirondack grab 3-1 playoff series lead
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. » It’s a night the bounces literally went Adirondack’s way.
Ryan Schmelzer’s crossing pass 8:07 into the game hit a Worcester player’s skate, in front of the goal, and trickled through netminder Eamon McAdam’s legs for a 1- 0 Thunder lead.
At 12:44 of the second period, Brian Ward’s tip of a Mike Bergin slapshot sailed 25 feet into Railers net.
It was all the offense needed in the Thunder’s 2-1 victory over Worcester in Game 4 of their firstround ECHL Kelly Cup playoff series on Wednesday. Adirondack holds a 3-1 edge in games and can wrap things up Saturday in Game 5 (7 p.m.), in Glens Falls.
“We’ve been fortunate, we’re playing good hockey so we’re making our own bounces right now,” Ward said.
Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 28 Railer shots to earn his third win of the series in Adirondack’s net. A big save, from close range, 2.5 minutes into the contest set the tone for the rest of the night.
“Blackie’s playing out of his mind right now,” Schmelzer said. “So any time you’ve got that guy in net, it gives you all the confidence in the world to play out in front of him.”
Schmelzer’s marker was his second of the series.
“I saw ( Mathieu) Brodeur coming down the slot,” he said. “I was in the corner and was just trying to throw it to the net and fortunately it went in.
The game’s fiercest action started with 2:18 left on the clock, when McAdam went to the bench in favor of
an extra Railers attacker, and Adirondack clinging to a 2-1 lead. It led to a dramatic series of five face-offs in the Thunder end over the final 1:38. Each time Adirondack cleared the puck, it came right back following an icing call.
The last draw came with 6.3 ticks on the clock, and
time finally ran out for the Railers.
“That’s playoff hockey,” Ward said. “The tipping point, the margin of error is miniscule.”
Worcester’s only score came on a Barry Almeida power-play goal after Thunder captain Mike Bergin was called for highsticking. Before that, Adirondack was a perfect 12- for-12 on the power play during the first three games.
Ward’s goal, his third of the series, came 92 seconds later and put the momentum right back in Adirondack’s favor.
The Thunder had a chance to break things open with a 5- on-3 power play that lasted 1:42 when Railers Matthew Gaudreau and Josh Holmstrom were called for holding, midway through the third period. But they couldn’t manufacture any solid scoring chances, which kept the
score, 2-1.
Adirondack Coach Brad Tapper is impressed by both teams’ determination and competitiveness.
“Both teams want to win really badly,” he said. “That’s what you get, a lowscoring affair in all four games. I’m really proud of our resolve. Our leadership group is awesome, making sure the guys are ready and focused at the start of the game.”