Pics avoided being Thunder-struck, win 6 - 3

Twin City might have got on the board first, but it was the third period that was key for the Pics, as the Pics defeated the Thunder 6 – 3 on Saturday night.

The Thunder started off with a goal early in the 1st period, when Gavin Simopoulos was able to capitalize on a power play opportunity to make it  1 – 0.
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A miscue from the second period opening faceoff left Twin City a man short, and the Pics capitalized on the opportunity, scoring a technically shorthanded goal when Nick Foster broke down the wing after getting loose puck from Sean Donoghue who won the face off. Foster one timed it from the point and it went in. Dominick Balboni was credited with the secondary assist.

The Thunder got one back a little over a minute later, but Matthew Tullo tied the game for the Pics when the power play unit was able to capitalize on the loose change and make it 2 – 2. Foster and Tyler Wilson got the assists.

Balboni got one of his own three minutes later when he was able to get the loose puck and spun around and deposited the puck in the back of the net. Luc Fricchione and Alexei Filimonov got the assists.

The Thunder evened it up a few minutes later, but that would be the last goal the Thunder would get during the game.
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Sean Roach put the Pics ahead for good just five minutes into the 3rd period when he shoved in the pass from Aaron Cholewa. Filimonov  was credited with the assist.

Benjamin Goring got the insurance goal with just under 5 minutes remaining in the 3rd when he got a pass from the corner from Nicholas Rodrigues  and set himself up between the faceoff dots right, at the top end of the circles and put in a shot that popped the water bottle. Corey McNally was credited with the secondary assist.

Joe Bouchard got the empty net goal with 1:10 remaining in the game.
The goaltending tandem of Landry Laird and Ben Zaranek stopped a total of 34 goals, with Laird stopping 19, and Zaranek stopping all 15 shots he faced. Zaranek was credited with the win.