Gameday - Adirondack (38-22-3-4) vs. Reading (37-23-8-0)
March 31, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Adirondack Thunder News Release
WHO: Adirondack Thunder (38-23-3-4) vs. Reading Royals (37-23-8-0)
WHAT: ECHL REGULAR SEASON GAME #927
WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 2018 @ 7:00 PM
WHERE: Cool Insuring Arena - Glens Falls, NY
TONIGHT'S MATCHUP: The Adirondack Thunder continue on their stretch run with their second game of the week, a Saturday evening showdown with the Reading Royals. Adirondack is coming off of a 2-0 loss to the Worcester Railers on Wednesday in its final midweek game of the regular season.
PLAYOFF BOUND: With Wheeling's loss last evening to Toledo, the Thunder clinched a berth in the 2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Adirondack is headed to the postseason for the third straight year, having never missed the playoffs in franchise history. Tonight's opponent, the Reading Royals, also clinched a playoff berth last evening and if the season ended today, the two teams would be scheduled to meet in the first round.
SHAWSHANE REDEMPTION: Thunder forward Shane Conacher enters tonight's action atop the Thunder's scoring chart with 58 points (17-41-58) from 51 games played. Conacher has netted 15 points (6-9-15) from 11 games played during the month of March, also tops on the team. The Canisius College product is one of 11 ECHL players with 40 or more assists on the season as he ranks tied for eighth in the ECHL in total helpers.
STING LIKE AN APPLEBY: The NHL's New Jersey Devils reassigned goaltender Ken Appleby to Adirondack on Tuesday and he turned aside 28 of the 30 shots he faced on Wednesday in Worcester. Earlier this season, the 6-4 netminder made his NHL debut with New Jersey on January 20, 2018 and posted a 1.45 goals against average and a .945 save percentage from three games played with the Devils.
DESMONDS ARE FOREVER: Adirondack defenseman Desmond Bergin enters tonight's action with 15 goals on the season, tied for second in the ECHL in goals by a blueliner. His 15 tallies make him the second Thunder blueliner to reach double digit goals in a season, joining Stepan Falkovsky from a season ago. Bergin has also amassed 42 points (15-27-42), two shy of Alex Wall's franchise record for defensemen, set at 44 last season.
HAVE MERCI: Thunder forward Pierre-Luc Mercier leads his team this season against Reading. The Bowling Green graduate has amassed 16 points (4-12-16) against the Royals and his 12 assists and 16 points top scorers on both teams in the head-to-head matchup this season. Mercier has collected at least one point in 10 of the 13 games between the two teams, including four multi-point efforts.
A ROYAL COMEBACK: The Thunder and Royals square off tonight for the 14th and final time this season. Adirondack has posted a 6-6-1-0 record against Reading and trails the Royals 15-13 in total points. Reading opened the 2017-18 season with six straight wins over Adirondack but the Thunder have fought back with six wins from the last seven head-to-head matchups to move within two points in the season series.
ECHL Stories from March 31, 2018
- Eagles Rally Falls Short in 5-4 Loss to Americans - Colorado Eagles
- Fuel's Playoff Push Rolls on in 5-1 Rout of Fort Wayne - Indy Fuel
- IceMen Get Past Stingrays in Final Matchup - South Carolina Stingrays
- Cyclones Cannot Hold off Walleye - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Wings Slowed by Admirals' Goaltending - Kalamazoo Wings
- IceMen Rout Rays - Jacksonville Icemen
- Walleye Clinch Central Division - Toledo Walleye
- Late Comeback Falls Short as Glads Drop 4-2 Decision to Everblades Saturday Night - Atlanta Gladiators
- Special Teams Lead Railers to 7th Straight Home Win at DCU Center in Front of Big Crowd - Worcester Railers HC
- Nailers Win 5-2 on Fan Appreciation Night - Wheeling Nailers
- Thunder Dominant in 6-2 Win over Reading - Adirondack Thunder
- Reichenbach Makes 46 Saves as Admirals Clip Wings 2-1 - Norfolk Admirals
- Piacentini Records First Pro Point in Beast Loss to Railers - Brampton Beast
- Swamp Rabbits Downed by Solar Bears - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Monarchs Fall to Nailers, 5-2 - Manchester Monarchs
- Royals Outflanked by Thunder, 6-2 - Reading Royals
- Game Preview: Orlando Solar Bears vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits - Orlando Solar Bears
- French Reassigned to Steelheads - Idaho Steelheads
- Spencer reassigned to Adirondack in advance of tonight's game - Adirondack Thunder
- ECHL Transactions - March 31 - ECHL
- Nailers vs. Monarchs Game Day Snap Shot, March 31 - Wheeling Nailers
- Cyclones Game Notes: vs. Toledo - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Steelheads Game Day Storylines vs Utah - Idaho Steelheads
- Mallards Game Day - Quad City Mallards
- Florida Trip Wraps up for Swamp Rabbits in Orlando - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Game Day: Admirals Wrap up Weekend Series with Wings - Norfolk Admirals
- Game Day Preview: Allen vs. Colorado - Allen Americans
- Gameday - Adirondack (38-22-3-4) vs. Reading (37-23-8-0) - Adirondack Thunder
- Monarchs Game Day Capsule, March 31 - Manchester Monarchs
- Sholl Rolls and Steelheads Win Sixth Straight - Idaho Steelheads
- IceMen Close out Stingrays Series - Jacksonville Icemen
- Royals Seek Second in the North Division with Win over Thunder - Reading Royals
- Mallards Fall in Overtime - Quad City Mallards
- Idaho Takes Series Opener - Utah Grizzlies
- 'Blades Power Past Swamp Rabbits 5-3 - Florida Everblades
- Rush Win on "Danny Battochio Night" - Rapid City Rush
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