Adirondack Thunder looking to regroup heading into long road trip, and some takeaways

GLENS FALLS Playing the Norfolk Admirals for the third time in five days Wednesday night at Cool Insuring Arena, the Adirondack Thunder were hoping for a positive outcome in the rubber match.

The teams had split the first two games, with Adirondack exploding for six goals on Saturday on the way to a 6-1 win, which snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Thunder.

On Sunday afternoon, two late third-period goals by the Admirals led Norfolk to a 4-2 win.

On Wednesday night, the Thunder gave up three goals in the first seven minutes of the game and could not recover as they dropped a 6-2 loss to Norfolk and fell to 14-21-2 on the season.

Tyler Brennan was pulled after the Admirals' third goal of the game.

The Thunder have lost 10 of their 11 games played since New Year's Eve, though they salvaged a point in a Jan.

11 overtime loss.

We need to stay together and take away the positives," Adirondack head coach Pete MacArthur said after Wednesday's game.

"After a tough start it was a 2-2 game until the last goal.

But the integrity was lost when we got down by three eight minutes into the game.

It could have been really bad, but they stayed with it." It's tough to come back from that," forward Kevin O'Neil said.

"We battled OK for the rest of it.

We've got to start on time and be ready to go against a good team." Here are some takeaways from the three-game series against Norfolk: Tending the pipes The Thunder have once again lost goaltender Jeremy Brodeur to Utica, due to the trickle-down effect of New Jersey Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom being out for four to six weeks.

Former Thunder netminder Isaac Poulter has been with the NHL club for the last few weeks.

That leaves Brennan and newest Thunder goaltender, Colby Muise, in between the pipes.

On Saturday, Brennan put on a near-flawless performance, allowing just one goal and making 22 saves in the 6-1 win.

Muise made his first career ECHL start on Sunday, allowing just three goals and making 21 saves in the loss.

Muise, a 26-year-old native of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, was signed by the team last week from the SPHL's Peoria Rivermen, where he went 17-3-3 this season.

He came on in relief of Brennan in Wednesday's game and finished with 19 saves.

When asked about the goaltending and who might play more going down the stretch, MacArthur said, "We will see as we move forward.

The Thunder will need much better play in goal as they get into February and March.

Instant impact The Adirondack Thunder acquired left wing Kishaun Gervais on Jan.

6 from the ECHL's Tulsa Oilers.

Gervais finally made his Thunder debut on Wednesday night and did not disappoint.

He tallied the first goal of the game, as well as an assist on Ryan Francis' goal in the 6-2 loss.

It was a great experience coming in today, but ultimately it doesnt really matter without the victory.

I wish we could have gotten that instead, Gervais said.

It was an exhilarating feeling to finally be out there with the guys and get out of that suit for once." Gervais, a 23-year-old from Yorkton, Saskatchewan, is expected to make a big impact with Adirondack.

I look to be a guy that brings a lot of energy to the team.

I like being the guy that gets the boys going, whether it's with a hit or a goal wherever I can.

I like to get in on the forecheck and use my speed, Gervais said.

I'm really grateful and blessed that I'm here; this is a first-class organization that I am really happy to be a part of.

Gervais is what we expected.

He is going to get better and better as he gets his touches back in game reps," MacArthur said.

"He's going to score goals and do a lot more than that.

He's an agitator, so we are really excited for him." Joining the Thunder It wasnt just Gervais making his Thunder debut on Wednesday so did forward Gustav Muller, who was recently signed out of the SPHL.

A 25-year-old native of Sweden, Muller played with NCAA Division I Long Island University and was a member of the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs of the SPHL.

In 28 games played, Muller had 25 points in Roanoke.

It has been a great experience so far.

Everyone has been great to me," Muller said.

"It's something that I have been working for.

I just need to play my game, and play simple." Muller is versatile, hes got size and he is heavy," MacArthur said of the 6-foot, 196-pounder.

"He has an elite-level shot and he plays both center and wing.

The more he gets comfortable with the pace of play, you will start to see the type of player that he is." The Thunder also recently acquired Adrien Bisson from the Florida Everblades.

Bisson, a defenseman from Cornwall, Ontario, will join the team on its upcoming road trip.

Bisson is in his second ECHL season after winning the Kelly Cup last year with Florida.

Prior to playing with Florida, Bisson spent three seasons with the University of Maine and two at Mercyhurst.

He tallied 33 career points in Division I hockey, and gives the Thunder a much-needed defenseman at this point in the season.

He's got a ring, he is versatile, hes got some size and he skates well," MacArthur said.

"We were back and forth all year with Adrien.

Now push came to shove and he was looking to get close to home.

We were happy to get it to work out." Special teams challenge The Thunder are currently 25th in the ECHL on the power play.

They have scored 20 times on 124 chances for 16.1%.

Adirondack has scored a power-play goal in each of the last three games.

I think the power play is getting great looks, maybe sometimes they force, but we have scored four or five games in a row with a power-play goal," MacArthur said.

"I think that we were very close to getting across the line again tonight.

We're pretty happy, especially with our net-front presence.

We have liked what we have seen the last handful of games." On the penalty kill, the Thunder currently sit at 28th in the league at 72%.

Our PK has been getting smoked lately and we hit on it every single game," MacArthur said.

"When things arent going well, you can look at the special teams and the power play hasnt been good enough as a whole and now the PK is in the same situation.

That's the challenge we find ourselves in.

"There's no time to hang our heads and look over our shoulders and think that help is coming," he added.

"We will just keep watching the video every day and send a clear message to these guys.

Hopefully our special teams can get back on the right track and get over 100%.

I think if we can do that, the results are going to change.

Looking ahead Adirondack hits the road for their next seven games.

The Thunder were scheduled to play at Worcester on Friday night, then play at Reading on Saturday (7 p.m.) and Sunday (3 p.m.).

Next week, Adirondack meets one of the newest ECHL teams, the Tahoe Knight Monsters, in a three-in-three series on Feb.

6-8, in Stateline, Nevada, on Lake Tahoe.

Those games are scheduled to start at 10 p.m.

EST, a late watch for Thunder fans.

The first-year Knight Monsters are coached by former Thunder head coach Alex Loh, MacArthur's predecessor behind Adirondack's bench.

The Tahoe team is co-owned by former NFL player Tim Tebow.

Following that road trip, the Thunder are set to play at Trois-Rivieres on Feb.

12.

They return home to face the Lions on Feb.

14 at Cool Insuring Arena.

"We have a few big (games) this weekend against some teams that we can definitely beat," O'Neil said.

"We just need to take it day by day that's really all we can do.

There's going to be some horrible travel and a lot of sleepless nights.

We just have to do what we can to be ready to go.".

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