Thunder win game three against Manchester, cut series to 2-1

Glens Falls, NY – The Adirondack Thunder rebounded to claim Game 3 by a 3-1 final over the Manchester Monarchs on Tuesday evening at the Glens Falls Civic Center. With the victory, Adirondack cuts Manchester’s series lead to 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Thursday evening.

After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, the Thunder got on the board early in the second period as defenseman Alex Wall collected his third goal of the series to open a 1-0 lead. Thunder forward Dennis Kravchenko skated around the offensive goal and fed a pass in front to Wall, who fired past Manchester netminder Sam Brittain for the game’s first goal. Kravchenko collected the lone assist on the play, his first career Kelly Cup Playoff point.

Adirondack doubled its advantage midway through the middle stanza as Kravchenko collected a goal of his own at the 10:30 mark of the second period. Forward Cam Brown took the puck from the bottom of the right-hand circle and drove the net. After his original effort was turned aside by Brittain, the puck skittered through the slot, off of James Henry’s stick and right to Kravchenko, who beat Brittain through the five hole for his second point of the evening. Henry and Brown collected the assists on the play, the first point of the 2017 playoffs for both forwards.

The Thunder struck again with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation as forward Gunnar Hughes scored his first goal of the 2017 playoffs to push the Adirondack advantage to 3-0. Hughes collected the puck near his offensive goal line and fired a shot on net that beat Brittain from a sharp angle for the insurance goal. Forwards Brian Ward and Henry collected the helpers on the play, Henry’s second of the evening.

With just 22 seconds remaining in the game, Adirondack netminder J.P. Anderson’s shutout bid was ruined as Manchester captain David Kolomatis collected his second goal of the postseason. With the Monarchs on a 6-on-4 power play, with Brittain on the bench, Kolomatis fired a shot from the right-hand circle that beat a screened Anderson for the lone Manchester goal on the evening. Forwards Quentin Shore and Joe Diamond collected the assists on the play, Shore’s sixth point of the playoffs.

The Adirondack Thunder continue the 2017 Kelly Cup Playoffs next week as they return home for Game 4 at the Glens Falls Civic Center on Thursday, April 20, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for Games 3 and 4 at the Glens Falls Civic Center Box Office from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Individual game tickets start as low as $15 with all fees included. Fans can also purchase the “Playoff Four Pack”, with four ticket, four hot dogs and four sodas for $75.