Thunder come up just short against Mariners

PORTLAND, ME – The Adirondack Thunder came out on the losing end of a back and forth battle against the Maine Mariners on Saturday night at Cross Insurance Arena.

The Mariners struck first just 2:15 into the game as Jake Elmer scored his eighth goal against Adirondack this season, his ninth of the year. After the teddy bears were cleaned off of the ice, the Thunder had a power play which they were blanked on.

Adirondack responded with three goals in a span of 2:51. Colby Sissons picked up his first goal of the season with a snipe over the shoulder of Mariners’ netminder Connor LaCouvee. Thirty-six seconds later, James Henry redirected a Gabriel Verpaelst shot for his fourth goal of the season. The third goal came from a valiant effort by Thunder defenseman Tommy Parran, who chased his own dump-in and took advantage of a LaCouvee misplay for his first ECHL goal.

The Mariners got one back with 1:33 left in the first. Ryan Gropp put a wrist shot over the shoulder of Eamon McAdam for his third goal of the season and the first period ended with the Thunder up 3-2.

Maine tied up the game just 6:11 into the second period. Adirondack’s Charlie Curti blocked a shot that caused the puck to go directly to Maine’s Ryan Ferrill who beat McAdam five-hole for his second goal of the season.

The Thunder got their second power play of the game when Ty Ronning was called for slashing Meirs Moore. Adirondack made Maine pay as Casey Pierro-Zabotel buried a rebound for his team-leading ninth of the season at 14:36.

The Mariners scored twice in the third period, including a breakaway goal from Jake Elmer and a shorthanded goal by Ty Ronning. Adirondack could not find the tying goal in the dying seconds of the third with their goaltender pulled and fell 5-4.

The Thunder outshot the Mariners 42-24 and went 1-for-5 on the power play. Adirondack’s penalty went a perfect 1-for-1.

Up Next: The Thunder battle the Maine Mariners Tuesday night at 7 p.m. from Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine.