Thunder Run Ends in Double-OT Heartbreaker

The Adirondack Thunder had another chance to close out their series with the South Carolina Stingrays and advance to the Kelly Cup Eastern Conference Final on Wednesday in Game 7, but came up just shy. The Stingrays scored the series clincher in double-overtime to eliminate the Thunder. (Adirondack Thunder article)

The Thunder got on the board first 4:43 into the game when Ben Johnson took a pass from Greg Wolfe and fired a long wrist-shot which deflected off a Stingray stick and past the South Carolina goalie Dekanich. The goal was Johnson's 3rd goal of the playoffs and Wolfe's 8th assist and 14th point of the playoffs.

But just 36 seconds later the Stingrays would even the score 1-1 when an Austin Fyten shot hit the post and lay in the crease for an easy tap-in by David Pacan scoring his 1st goal of the playoffs. Caleb Herbert also assisted on the goal for his 12th point in 12 games.

It wasn't until the 19:14 mark of the 2nd period when the deadlock would be broken by the Thunder on the power-play. Ryan Lomberg battled for the puck which popped out to Peter MacArthur who quickly passed it to Mitchell Heard for a one-timer past Dekanich to make it a 2-1 game. The goal was Heard's 5th of the playoffs.

South Carolina tied the game near the midway point of the 3rd period when a wrist-shot from Stingrays defenceman Bobby Shea squeezed through Thunder goalie Ken Appleby to send the game into overtime.

The 1st overtime period would solve nothing and it wasn't until 15:34 in the 2nd overtime period that the Stingrays would put a dagger in the hearts of the Thunder and their faithful fans. Joe Devin batted a bouncing puck of the end-boards past Ken Appleby for the series clincher.

Overall, the Thunder had a great inaugural season and exciting playoff run.

Read more of the Game Summary.

by BizzleJ