AUBURN — Two third-period goals sparked the Twin City Thunder to a 3-2 victory over the South Shore Kings in a USPHL NCDC New England Division game Saturday night at Norway Savings Bank Arena.
Down 2-1 in the third period, Thunder forward Edvin Robertsson cut to the goal after receiving a pass from defenseman Cullen McCormick, and Robertsson’s wrist shot from the slot beat Kings goalie Adam Stevenson.
It was Robertsson’s second goal of the night.
“It was an intense game. Both teams had a great game,” Robertsson said. “We have a great group.”
Roman Wainwright played hero for the Thunder (3-6-1, 7 points) when his off-angle shot beat Stevenson (31 saves) for the game-winner.
“I had a fake shot and the goalie bit on it,” Wainwright said. “I saw a little opening and I was able to put the puck in the net. It was just a relief.”
Thunder coach Dan Hodge said he liked the how the Thunder responded after wasting a 1-0 lead early in the first period.
“We played hard and we didn’t give up,” Hodge said. “We had a goal to get the tie and to get the lead, so it was good.”
Denis Radchenko’s shot from the left point got tipped by Robertsson and the puck beat Stevenson to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead two minutes into the game.
“It was a good shot from Denis,” Robertsson said. “I was just trying to get a touch on it and I hit it up in the net, so it was fun.”
The lead only lasted 10 seconds when, off the ensuing faceoff, Tyler Maxner put home a shot from the slot for the Kings (9-2-1-19 points). Samuel Chrenka assisted when he initially put the puck on Thunder goalie Stefan Carney (39 saves).
Nathan Stachowiak gave the Kings a 2-1 lead three minutes later when he was left open in the slot.
“We had a couple of looks in that first period, three or four,” Kings coach Tyler Holske said. “Those two were kind of similar goals, but in the end, we didn’t do enough in the third to put a team away, and certainly, that’s what you get.”
The Thunder go on the road next Saturday to take on the Jr. Bruins in Marlborough, Massachusetts, at 5:10 p.m.
Wainwright said the way the Thunder won against the Kings could be a turning point for Twin City.
“It could be a turning step; South Shore is one of the best teams in the league,” Wainwright said. “For us to pull one out in our own barn, that’s huge for us. That’s going to help us going forward.”
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