Thunderbirds drop home decision to Rock Lobsters

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Twin City Thunderbirds dropped a 4-1 decision on home ice Friday night to the Athens Rock Lobsters. Zach White scored Twin City’s lone goal in the defeat. The Thunderbirds return to action tomorrow night in a road game against the Rock Lobsters. Puck drop for tomorrow’s matchup is scheduled for 7:05pm ET.

Each team failed to score a goal during Friday’s opening period, and the 2^nd period began in a scoreless tie. Twin City outshot Athens by a 13-11 margin during the 1^st period. Gus Ford netted back-to-back goals in the 2^nd period to give the Rock Lobsters a 2-0 lead in the matchup. Ford’s first of the game was scored on the powerplay forty-five seconds into the period. Joe Mack and Carter Shinkaruk each recorded an assist on the play. Ford’s second goal of the night was scored at 3:38 of the period. Garrett Milan and Carter Shinkaruk each assisted on the goal. Zach White netted a goal at 6:59 of the middle period to cut Athens’ lead in half. Roman Kraemer and Jiri Pestuka each collected an assist on White’s goal. The final goal of the 2^nd period was scored by Garrett Milan. The goal was netted at 10:29 of the period, and was assisted by Carter Shinkaruk and Gus Ford. The Thunderbirds were outshot by a 17-14 margin during the 2^nd period, and entered the 3^rd period down by two goals.

Garrett Milan netted the lone goal of the 3^rd period to seal a 4-1 win for Athens. The goal was scored shorthanded at 8:52 of the period. Gus Ford and Devyn Mayea each collected an assist on the play. Twin City outshot Athens 16-13 in the 3^rd period, and 43-41 overall during the matchup.

Boris Babik dropped the game in goal for Twin City in a 37-save-on-41-shot effort. Matt Sayles picked up the win in goal for the Rock Lobsters by making 42 saves on 43 shots during the battle.