Evansville Thunderbolts

Storm Strike Down Thunderbolts in Matinee

by
Anna Headley
October 31, 2022

MOLINE, Ill — The Quad City Storm defeated the Evansville Thunderbolts 8-5 in spite of themselves. Both teams were playing their third game of the weekend, though it was the first time the two teams have met this season. The high-scoring affair took place during a Sunday matinee game that featured dogs and weather-proof trick-or-treating after the game.

“Probably your typical Sunday afternoon game, both teams playing their third in three, and less than 12 hours from the time we got home,” said head coach Dave Pszenyczny. “So you know it’s still no excuse, two points are on the line, you should want them. Power play came out pretty well, [Ryan] Edquist made some great saves when we needed them. But 8-5, 13 goals scored, I’m not too happy about that.”

Both teams appeared tired to start the game, both having been on the road the previous two nights. The Storm began with control of the puck for the first few minutes of the game, but the teams quickly began trading possession of the puck in rapid fire passes. The action moved from one end of the ice to the other in a flurry of sticks and skates, but there were no quality scoring chances for either team.

Logan Nelson opened the scoring for the Storm just under seven minutes into the first period, but the Thunderbolts answered back a few minutes later to tie it up.

It looked like the teams were going to go into the first intermission with a deadlock score of one, but a late penalty by Brendan Harrogate led to the Storm’s first powerplay. This powerplay was productive for the Storm, as they scored midway through the man advantage. They then added a third goal 54 seconds later to take a 3-1 lead into the locker room for the first intermission.

It appeared the Storm fell asleep in the locker room during the intermission, as their second period performance was abysmal. The Storm had only four shots on goal the entire period, as Evansville controlled play.

The Thunderbolts scored twice midway through the game on what was first a 5-on-3 man advantage. The Storm forgot that only five skaters could go on the ice, resulting in a too many men penalty at 7:39 of the second period. While the Storm were still killing that penalty, Dillon Fournier took a seat in the sin bin for hooking at the nine minute mark. The Thunderbolts then scored off the face off following Fournier’s penalty, resulting in Jake Ratcliffe being able to exit the penalty box and leaving Fournier to continue his time of shame. Forty-one seconds later the Thunderbolts scored once more to tie the game at three apiece.

The Storm came out for the third period with a much stronger offense, with Michael Moran scoring an unassisted goal just under two minutes into the frame. Timothy Faulkner took a seat for roughing about five minutes later, beginning the Storm’s comeback, thanks to a powerplay goal. Cole Golka scored on the powerplay at roughly seven and a half minutes of the third period. Just over two minutes later, while Faulkner was once again in the box, Ratcliffe scored on the powerplay to give the Storm their first three-goal lead of the night.

Evansville scored twice in four minutes to draw back within one goal, making the score 6-5. Golka then scored on the empty net, and half a minute later Carter Shinkaruk scored the last insurance goal to make it 8-5.