The Niagara Falls Thunder returned home to the Hyde Park Ice Pavilion and skated to a pair of victories over the visiting Skipjacks Hockey Club. Last weekend, the Thunder went 3-1 over the four games at the Northern Cyclones Showcase in Hudson, New Hampshire. The team is now 6-4 on the season.In Saturday’s game, Bryan O’Mara opened the scoring for the Skipjacks 7:35 into the first period. Trevor Dixon picked up the assist on the goal. Tristan Mock responded for the Thunder, tying the score at 1-1 with 9:17 left in the first frame. Brandon Schweickert and Mickenzie Restle were credited with the assists on the shorthanded marker.
The Thunder poured it on in the second period, scoring four straight goals. Jared Hayden scored unassisted 7:51 into the period to give Niagara Falls its first lead of the night. Pat Faliero picked up a power play goal at 7:30, with Mock and Restle assisting on the play.
Tristan Englehardt made it 4-1 for the Thunder 5:43 of the second. Joe Shanley was credited with the assist. Mock nabbed his second of the night at 3:50, a power play goal with Schweickert and Restle assisting. The Skipjacks were able to get one on the board before the end of the period with a goal by Sage Bittinger Esser with 2:19 left on the clock. Savay Thompson got the assist.
Tommy Muecke extended the Thunder lead 17 seconds into the third period to 6-2. Shanley and Jacob Allan provided the assists. Englehardt struck next for Niagara Falls, with a goal 4:03 into the frame. Muecke and Jeremy Ienco were credited with the assists. Hayden gave the Thunder its eighth and final goal for the contest at 14:22. Mock picked up the lone assist.
O’Mara got his second goal of the contest at 13:42 for the Skipjacks. Henry McKinney and Dixon notched the assists. Nick Zarilli closed out the scoring with a goal for the Skipjacks with 3:51 left in the game. McKinney and Trevor Brown assisted.
Kris Augustine made 34 stops on 38 shots while picking up the win in net for Niagara Falls. Luke Eslinger was able to turn away 31 of 39 shots faced for the Skipjacks. The Thunder was 2 for 4 on the power play.
In Sunday’s game, the Skipjacks skated to a 2-0 lead before Niagara Falls roared back to come away with a 4-2 victory.
For the second straight game in Niagara Falls, Bryan O’Mara initiated the scoring, giving the Skipjacks a 1-0 lead 10:30 into the first period. Trevor Dixon and Nick Zarrilli were credited with the assists.
Trevor Brown gave the Skipjacks a 2-0 on the power play in the second period. Alec Freyberger picked up the assist on the goal, coming 1:52 into the period. Niagara Falls then got on the scoreboard with their own power play marker 3:45 in. The goal was scored by Joe Shanley with Pat Faliero and Mickenzie Restle assisting. Kevyn McElligott scored his own, unassisted power play goal with 2:13 left in the period to tie the game 2-2.
Niagara Falls scored their third straight power play goal off the stick of Shanley with Mock assisting with 9:31 left in the game to give the home team their first lead of the day. Englehardt added the empty net insurance marker with 1:50 left in regulation.
Ryan Pascarella got the win in net for the Thunder, stopping 36 of 38 shots faced. Kolin Grogesky turned away 29 of 32 shots for the Skipjacks. The Thunder was 3 for 7 with the man advantage. The Skipjacks were 1 for 7.
The Thunder will travel to Connecticut for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday against the Connecticut Nighthawks. The Thunder will next be home on November 2 as they take on the Rochester Monarchs at the Hyde Park Ice Pavilion.