Time was on the Twin City Thunder’s side at the end of the third period on Thursday.
The Thunder went on a five-minute power play with 2:34 remaining in regulation. Tristan Rand scored with six seconds left in the third to give the Thunder a 3-2 win over the South Shore Kings in a USPHL National Collegiate Development Conference North Division game in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
“It’s one of those things where you don’t want to panic, it’s a five-minute major and the next goal wins type of thing,” Thunder coach Dan Hodge said. “We had time; we wanted to stress that to the guys on the bench and be patient, don’t grip your sticks too tight.”
Blake Tierney had the assist on Rand’s game-winning goal.
The Thunder controlled the third period from start to finish after being down 2-0 after two periods. They outshot the Kings 15-5 in the third.
Trace Norwell put the Thunder on the board in the opening minute of the third period for his 12th goal of the season. Defenseman Trenton Skaggs and forward Nathan Chickering had the assists.
Caden Smith tied the game 2-2 with four minutes remaining in regulation. Rand and fellow forward Tommy Gannon had the assists.
“Our message before the game was good teams take over, coaches just become passengers on the bus,” Hodge said. “The team took over today and guided themselves through (the game). They showed they are a good team, and they are playing for each other.”
The Kings scored quickly in the first period when Dhillon Wilde scored his 20th goal of the year 92 seconds into the game.
Hodge said the puck deflected off a skate before it went in the net.
South Shore stretched out the lead to 2-0 in the final minute of the first period, with Daniel Cavanaugh finding the back of the net.
The Kings capitalized off a Thunder turnover for the second goal.
Hodge kept things positive to the players, being down 2-0.
“I told the guys to keep playing. Keep playing and stick with it,” Hodge said.
The Kings outshot the Thunder 12-11 in the first period, but the Thunder fired 12 shots on net in the second period and South Shore only had eight shots on goal.
Brody Haynes stopped 23 of the 25 shots he saw for the win and Cameron Kunter made 34 saves in the loss.
The win puts the Thunder (21-16-5, 47 points) two points from a first-place tie in the North Division with the Kings (23-15-3, 49 points), Junior Bruins (22-15-5, 49 points) and the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (22-14-5, 49 points). The Thunder have six games remaining in the regular season.
“Every game is huge, but it’s just one game at a time right now,” Hodge said. “You don’t want to be scoreboard watching, but you know the situation.”
The Thunder and Kings game set for Friday in Foxboro has been postponed to March 14 because of the impending storm.
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