GLENS FALLS – Andre Ghantous, Tristan Ashbrook, and Erik Middendorf each scored two points as the Adirondack Thunder defeated the Reading Royals, 5-2, at Cool Insuring Arena on Friday night in front of 4,305 fans.
Ryan Wheeler moved up in the offensive zone and blasted a shot from the left circle over goaltender Nolan Maier’s shoulder, giving Adirondack the lead at 8:44. The goal was Wheeler’s seventh of the season, giving the Thunder a 1-0 lead.
He returned to the squad and scored for the third time this season. After Tristan Ashbrook was denied, Ghantous went to the rebound and beat Maier for a 2-0 lead at 9:23, assisted by Ashbrook and Erik.
Reading responded by scoring when Tag Bertuzzi beat Isaac Poulter from the left circle for his 17th goal of the season. At 11:37 of the first period, Bertuzzi scored with Tyson Fawcett and Yvan Mongo assisting, giving the Thunder a one-goal lead heading into the break.
After no scoring in the second period, Erik Middendorf scored a power-play goal to give the Thunder a 3-1 lead. Andre Ghantous skated into the offensive zone and passed the puck to Middendorf, who beat Nolan Maier for his 18th goal of the season just 55 seconds into the third.
The Royals came back within one goal as Powell Connor trailed the play and beat Isaac Poulter from the hash marks to decrease Adirondack’s lead to 3-2. The goal was Powell’s first with helpers from Jake Bricknell and Ryan Cox at 3:46 of the third frame.
Ryan Smith scored to put the Thunder up by two at 7:17 of the third on a scramble in front of the net. After Nolan Maier made the original save, Smith tracked down the loose puck and beat him for his 26th of the year from Mac Welsher and T.J. Friedmann for a 4-2 lead.
Adirondack added to the lead as Tristan Ashbrook put the puck into an empty net to take a 5-2 lead with 2:42 left in the third. That score held up as the final as Isaac Poulter stopped 20 of 22 for the win.
Adirondack maintains a four-point lead over second-place Norfolk.
The Thunder will return home tomorrow to finish Stick it to Cancer Weekend against Reading. Enjoy $4 Bud Light and stay after the game for a postgame jersey auction to benefit the C.R. Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital.
