GLENS FALLS, NY – The Adirondack Thunder and Worcester Railers faced off for the fifth time this season Friday night. Worcester was riding an ECHL record nine-game winning streak while Adirondack was coming off their first win of the season, a 6-1 rout of the Trois-Rivières Lions last weekend in Canada. The Thunder were hungry for their first home win of the young season, and with a large crowd in attendance, Friday was the perfect time for it. After again falling behind early, the Thunder scored four straight goals to earn a 4-3 victory and hand the Railers their first loss of the season.
As has happened in every game so far between these two teams, it was the Railers who got on the board first Friday night. Quin Ryan got past defenseman Jarrod Gourley and skated in on Adirondack goaltender Jake Theut, beating him glove side. Steve Jandric appeared to be offsides on the play and it was reviewed, only to be deemed a good goal.
QUIN!! What an effort down the ice! 1-0 Railers!#AllAboutTheW | #RailersHC | #Worcester pic.twitter.com/RK94g8eF14
— Worcester Railers HC (@RailersHC) November 12, 2022
The Railers doubled their lead five minutes later when Jared Brandt‘s shot from the top of the faceoff circle beat Theut. And just like that, there was a strong sense of déjà vu as Worcester has jumped out to 2-0 leads in every game against Adirondack thus far.
Theut: “That second one, it was kind of fluky. It was a slider, and I never expected to see a shot coming off the stick and angle the way it did.”
The Thunder were able to cut the lead in half late in the opening period when newcomer Matt Stief‘s shot was tipped by Patrick Grasso. The change of direction fooled Railers netminder Ken Appleby and the Thunder went into the first intermission trailing by one.
It didn’t take long for Adirondack to tie the score. Less than five minutes into the middle frame, South Glens Falls native Shawn Weller picked up not only his first goal of the season, but also his first goal on home ice since he joined the Thunder via trade last season.
HOMETOWN GUY TIES IT UP! pic.twitter.com/fLnENF8gB0
— Adirondack Thunder (@ECHLThunder) November 12, 2022
Weller: “To score that goal, it’s a big monkey off your back to be honest. It’s my first goal at home here, my parents were both here, I got to see my fiancée, so growing up here, it’s pretty special.”
Weller added another goal with 40 seconds remaining in the period to give Adirondack a lead over Worcester for the first time all season. The Thunder closed out the second period with a 3-2 lead.
Weller: “My first game in the lineup tonight [following an injury to start the season], I was kind of trying to keep it simple and kind of just do whatever I could to bring a little energy and help the guys win.”
Head Coach Pete MacArthur: “He must be really excited because I’ve got the chills right now. I played hockey with Shawn since we were 12, so I know how much he’s put in to get himself back to where he could be a really good player for us.”
Another newcomer, Grant Jozefek, extended Adirondack’s lead sixteen minutes into the third period when he got past Connor McCarthy for a partial breakaway and beat Appleby five hole for the 4-2 lead over his former team.
The Railers added one more goal with 22 seconds remaining in the game when Collin Adams sailed a pass over Gourley laying on the ice. Jandric batted the puck into the net for a final score of 4-3.
Jandric factored in all three of Worcester’s goals, with a goal and two assists. On the Thunder side, Weller ended the night with two goals, while Shane Harper picked up a pair of assists, as did Noah Corson, who also contributed physically, with several big hits throughout the game.
The teams face off yet again Saturday night at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. It will be the sixth of 17 contests between the North Division rivals.
