John Snowden’s debut running the Newfoundland Growlers’ bench didn’t go exactly as he had hoped Tuesday night.
The Growlers’ assistant coach, subbing for an ailing bench boss Ryane Clowe who had the night off, watched as the Growlers dropped a 5-1 decision to the Adirondack Thunder in Glens Falls, N.Y.
The loss leaves the Growlers sitting 5-5 in their first ECHL season. And if nothing else, they’ve been consistent, winning a game and then losing a game since the start of the year.
Tuesday’s loss in upstate New York came on the heels of a 3-1 win over the Brampton Beast Sunday in Ontario.
The game against Adirondack was No. 6 of a grueling 16-day, eight-game road trip.
It continues Friday night in Manchester, N.H. and wraps up Saturday night in Worcester, Mass.
Tuesday night at the Cool Insuring Arena, the Thunder got on the board early when Peter MacArthur scored six minutes after the opening whistle. Desmond Bergin gave the home team a 2-0 lead heading into the first-period intermission with a power play goal at the 12:09 mark.
The Thunder rolled to a 3-0 lead 45 seconds into the second period when Brian Ward beat Michael Garteig, and Adirondack effectively put the game out of reach when Shane Conacher scored another power play goal at 7:02 of the second.
Giorgio Estephan was the only bright spot for the Growlers with his team-leading seventh goal mid-way through the second period, a power play tally.
Adirondack’s Conor Riley closed out scoring with an empty net goal as Newfoundland pulled goaltender Michael Garteig with just over two minutes left in the game.
Garteig finished the night with 30 saves. The Growlers had 35 shots at Adirondack’s Cam Johnson.
